Gabby Petito's parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, are taking legal action against Brian Laundrie's parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. According to the lawsuit, the Laundries purposely withheld information about Gabby's death to inflict distress upon the Petitos.
September 2021 marked the start of Gabby's missing person case after she embarked on a journey with her fiancé, Brian. Just days later, authorities discovered Gabby's lifeless body in Wyoming, attributing her death to strangulation. To many, it appeared as if Brian was to blame, as police found writings near his remains declaring responsibility for Gabby's demise.
Petito's family has been embroiled in a legal battle with the Laundries for over a year now, alleging that Brian had murdered Gabby.
In the recent lawsuit, Brian reportedly called his parents on August 29, 2021, and told them Gabby was missing and that he needed a lawyer. The lawsuit fails to specify how Petito's parents learned about this alleged phone call.
On September 2, 2021, the Laundries contacted lawyer Steven Bertolino and shared information that Brian had disclosed to them, as stated in the lawsuit. On September 2, 2021, the Laundries also made a payment to cover Bertolino's legal fees for counseling a Wyoming-based criminal defense law firm.
As indicated in the lawsuit, Brian Laundrie was appointed as the law firm's representative. CNN requested comments from Laundry's and Bertolino's legal representatives but received no response.
Petito's parents initially claimed that the Laundries knew about Brian's killing of Gabby in the spring of 2022. However, they later amended their claim, stating that the Laundries were aware of the murder and were aware of Gabby's body's whereabouts during the missing persons investigation, yet did not inform authorities.
In light of these claims, the Roundrys sought damages for emotional distress in their lawsuit, which went to trial and concluded with a confidential settlement in February 2024. The Laundries paid $3 million to settle the case.
Gabby's case garnered significant attention and continues to affect both families severely, as they both seek justice and closure in this heartbreaking tragedy.
