Gabby Petito's Parents Reveal Fate Of The White Camper Van She Traveled In Before Her Tragic Death

Gabby Petito's family has finally disclosed what they did to the van she traveled in with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.

The white camper van was the vehicle the late Gabby used for her cross-country journey before her tragic death at the hands of Laundrie.

A Netflix docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," recently shared new evidence in the case, including Brian Laundrie's alleged attempts to fabricate an alibi through staged text messages.

Gabby's parents have taken steps to prevent the white camper van she traveled in with Laundrie from becoming a morbid collector's item.

Speaking to NewsNation, they shared that they decided to have the van destroyed, with her father, Joe Petito, stating, "We crushed the van. We didn't want the van to be out there and someone owning the van and then saying, 'Here's the van that Gabby was…' So, we had it crushed."

Despite this, he and Gabby's stepmother, Tara Petito, retained the gasoline cap and a sticker from the Great Smoky Mountains as personal mementos.

Meanwhile, Gabby's mother, Nichole Schmidt, shared that she has forgiven Laundrie for her daughter's death, stating, "I have forgiven Brian, and I know that's what Gabby would have wanted, and I'm moving forward so that I can help other people."

She added: "I don't think everyone has to forgive. They can when they're ready, or they might never be ready. But for me personally, I needed to forgive to let that anger go."

In 2021, 22-year-old Gabby embarked on a cross-country journey with her boyfriend, Laundrie, in a converted camper van, sharing their experiences on social media.

Laundrie, however, returned to Florida without her as she tragically disappeared during the trip, leading to a nationwide search.

Authorities discovered her remains on September 19, 2021, at a campsite in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest; an autopsy confirmed she died by strangulation.

On October 20, 2021, Laundrie's body was found near the Carlton Reserve in Florida with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Near his body, investigators discovered a notebook in which Laundrie confessed to ending Gabby's life, claiming it was a "merciful" act after she "begged for an end to her pain."

Following the tragic loss of their daughter, Gabby's family established the Gabby Petito Foundation.

This nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting efforts to locate missing persons and providing assistance to survivors of domestic violence.

In June 2022, Brian Laundrie's family's lawyer, Steven Bertolino, released images of his journal, where he had written about his murderous act.

"I ended her life," Laundrie wrote in the book, per People Magazine. "I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock. But from the moment I decided, took away her pain, I knew I couldn't go on without her."

It was believed that Gabby had a "small bump on her forehead that eventually got larger," along with other injuries during the cross-country trip, allegedly spurring her to beg "for an end to her pain."

However, these claims, including the idea that Gabby's death was a "mercy" killing, were refuted by the lawyer representing the Petito family.

Gabby's mom slammed his remarks, noting that Laundrie was trying to paint himself as the "good guy."

She told NBC News, "That was his character, even in his last moments. He wanted to make sure he looked like the good guy. That's ridiculous. We know how she died."

The recently released Netflix docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," delves deeper into the tragic events surrounding Gabby's death, unveiling new evidence and insights.

One significant revelation involves text messages that Laundrie, Gabby's fiancé, allegedly sent to fabricate an alibi after her death.

According to the series, Laundrie used Gabby's phone to stage conversations between their devices, attempting to create the illusion that she was still alive.

On August 28, 2021, after Gabby's presumed death, Laundrie reportedly hiked from their last known location in Grand Teton National Park to a different area within the park.

The following day, he sent a message from his phone to Gabby's, stating, "Hey Hunny, just calling to let you know I made it to Colter Bay! I think the campground is still a little way up the road, I'm gonna go check it out! LMK when your [sic] on your way, no rush [smiley face]."

He further emphasized there was "no rush" for her to join and added, "Can't wait for you to see the mountains across the water!"

Speaking to the Netflix cameras, FBI Special Agent Loretta Bush discussed Laundrie's alleged attempts to fabricate an alibi, noting that "the activity between the two phones was almost instantaneous."

"Brian was holding both phones and talking directly to himself. It was an apparent that he was trying to create an alibi," she explained, per E! News.

As reported by Peoplein February 2024, Gabby's family reached an agreement to settle their emotional civil suit against the Laundries.

Gabby's parents had claimed that the Laundries knew that Brian killed their daughter and where her body could be found while investigators spent weeks searching for her, thereby prolonging their anguish.

They sought at least $100,000 in damages for the alleged deceit but ditched their plans to head to trial in May in favor of a settlement.

Steve Bertolino, the lawyer for the Laundrie family, confirmed the decision in a statement to the press after the settlement.

"Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family, and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved," he said of the decision, adding that "the terms of the resolution are confidential."