The storyline about an August 2021 traffic stop in Utah involving Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie takes a wild new turn.
The former couple were traveling cross country on a National Parks tour when they were pulled over by the Moab County Police Department.
A passerby claimed to have seen Laundrie hitting Petito and called in a domestic violence incident. The traffic stop occurred on August 12, 2021.
Moab County PD Faces New Pressure From Gabby Petito’s Family
An outside investigation found the two responding officers in Moab, UT made several mistakes.
On November 3, 2022, Petito’s parents and legal team filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department in Utah.
One of the family’s lawyer, James W. McConkie, also announced that new information was found by Gabby’s family that one of the officers, Eric Pratt, who spoke to their daughter during the traffic is accused of having a history of domestic abuse.
“[Pratt] was a domestic abuser, who has used authority and threats of physical violence to control and intimidate sexual partners,” according to another Petito family attorney, Brian Stewart.
Officer Pratt Was “Biased” & “Ignored Gabby”
He believes the officer was “fundamentally biased and likely ignored Gabby.”
Her parents have amended the lawsuit and claim Officer Pratt said Laundrie “seemed like a mental and emotional bully,” but treated him like the victim instead of the aggressor.
“Officer Pratt has also admitted, ‘I thought he was an emotional threat to her. I thought he was a mental threat to her.’ Similarly, he says he concluded during the traffic stop that Brian ‘seemed like a mental and emotional bully,'” the amended complaint said.
The amendment also states, “Officer Pratt has also colorfully admitted, ‘I know these kind of guys. Brian didn’t get away with anything for being cute. Brian showed more red flags than a Chinese communist rally.'”
Brian Laundrie Treated Like The Victim, NOT The Aggressor
Laundrie and Petito were separated for the evening, but were able to go on their way the next day.
About two weeks later, Petito’s parents believe this is when Laundrie strangled her to death.
The amended lawsuit accuses Officer Pratt and other officers of afiling to properly investigate the incident.
“Gabby’s murder might have been prevented if the officers had acted properly,” it claims.
Last month The Blast reported on an unearthed photo of Petito looking bruised and bloodied.
The law firm for Parker & McConkie first mentioned the existence of the photo in a November 2022 wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department.
The disturbing photo was taken by Gabby shortly before the cops pulled over her white conversion van for erratic driving. Laundrie was driving the car at the time of the traffic stop.
Gabby Took Photo Of Bruised & Bloodied Face Prior To Traffic Stop!
Please use caution looking at the photo.
“According to available data, the image was taken at 4:37 p.m., at or before the approximate time of the initial 911 call,” the family’s attorneys said in a statement Tuesday.
The civil complaint states that “Gabby took a photograph of her injury, which shows blood across her nose and left eye.”
Gabby reportedly showed her injury to Moab Police Officer Eric Pratt.
Her family argues that Officer Pratt ignored her and “did nothing more to investigate or document the injury.”
