The tragic homicide of Gabby Petito by her fiancé Brian Laundrie is the main focus of Netflix’s American Homicide: Gabby Petito, a three-part documentary that appears not simply to offer solutions about what occurred, however to present the general public a greater thought of who Gabby Petito was, her relationship with Brian Laundrie. The documentary additionally examines the occasions that led to her tragic demise, and what occurred afterward.
That includes actual textual content messages, video footage, and private journals from Petito, in addition to never-seen-before interviews with members of her household, together with her dad and mom Nichole and Joseph, and her stepparents, the documentary doesn’t present a lot in the way in which of recent data, nevertheless it does present context on what occurred between Petito and Laundrie.
With American Homicide: Gabby Petito now out, there’s been a renewed curiosity within the case and in what precisely occurred to the “van life” vlogger. However how precisely did Petito die? How and the place did they discover Gabby Petito’s physique? Right here’s every little thing we all know.
How and the place they discovered Gabby Petito’s physique
Gabby Petito was first reported lacking on September 11, 2021, after she didn’t contact her dad and mom for weeks. Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito had beforehand tried to contact Brian Laundrie’s dad and mom, Roberta and Christopher, however their messages went unanswered. That day, when the police arrived on the Laundrie’s residence, they have been knowledgeable that Brian Laundrie was certainly again, however his dad and mom refused to reply every other questions and redirected the police to their lawyer.
Just a few days later, police arrived at Laundrie’s home solely to learn he had been lacking for days after heading out on a hike within the close by Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. This all occurred earlier than Gabby Petito’s demise was confirmed and Laundrie was named an individual of curiosity within the investigation.
Simply eight days after being reported lacking and three weeks after the final confirmed sighting of Petito, on surveillance footage strolling with Brian Laundrie via a Entire Meals in Jackson, Wyoming, her physique was discovered on the Unfold Creek Dispersed Tenting space in Wyoming after 1000’s of suggestions are obtained, one which talked about a Ford Transit Join van—just like the one Petito and Laundrie have been in. The realm the place her physique was found is close to the border of Grand Teton Nationwide Park.
Her demise was dominated a murder, with the reason for demise confirmed to be strangulation and blunt-force accidents to the top and neck. By the point her physique was discovered, Petito had been useless for about three weeks. Her household was instantly notified.
Just some days later, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Brian Laundrie. Nonetheless, nearly a month later, Laundrie’s stays have been discovered. Police decided he died by suicide from a gunshot wound.
Alongside his stays, police discovered a pocket book that contained a confession letter. In it, Laundrie claimed the killing was “merciful,” and the results of Gabby struggling a head damage in a fall. “Please don’t make life more durable for my household,” Brian Laundrie wrote. “They misplaced a son and a daughter. Probably the most great woman on this planet. Gabby I’m sorry.”
Nichole Schidmt, Gabby Petito’s mom, stated at CrimeCon 2024, “I converse for myself right here once I say Brian, I forgive you.” She, nonetheless, wasn’t feeling so charitable about his dad and mom, significantly his mom Roberta. “As for you, Roberta — and I name you out individually since you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your loved ones and thoughts together with your evil methods — I see no empathy in your eyes, no regret in your coronary heart, and no willingness to take duty to your actions,” she stated, including, “You don’t deserve forgiveness. You need to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil.”
In 2022, Gabby Petito’s dad and mom filed a lawsuit in opposition to Brian Laundrie’s dad and mom, accusing them of serving to their son cowl up Gabby’s homicide and making an attempt to assist him flee the nation. That lawsuit has since been settled. There aren’t any public particulars out there in regards to the settlement.
In the event you or somebody you understand is experiencing home violence, assist is on the market. Name the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) for confidential help.
In the event you or somebody you understand is experiencing a psychological well being disaster, assist is on the market. Name the Suicide and Disaster Lifeline at 988 without spending a dime and confidential counseling.