Justice for Gabby: Parents Turn Tragedy into a Mission After Uncovering Troubling Messages
Feb 25, 11:00 AM
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What began as a dream adventure for Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie ended in tragedy, sparking a nationwide movement against domestic violence. Almost four years after her murder, Petito’s parents continue to uncover new insights into her relationship with Laundrie, revealing chilling warning signs.
Gabby Petito, a young woman from Blue Point, New York, set off on a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in 2021. With aspirations of becoming a travel influencer, she documented their journey through social media. However, behind the carefully curated images and videos, her relationship with Laundrie was deteriorating.
The couple’s travels took a dark turn in Moab, Utah, when a witness called police after seeing a man striking a woman. Bodycam footage from the encounter showed a distressed Petito, while police ultimately determined she was the aggressor. Officers separated the couple for the night, but no arrests were made, and they continued their trip.
On August 27, Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, received an unusual text from Gabby’s phone: “Can you help Stan? I keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.” Gabby never referred to her grandfather by his first name, raising red flags. Another text mentioned they were heading to Yosemite instead of Yellowstone, adding to the family's concerns.
Days later, Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, driving Petito’s van. Her family reported her missing on September 11, launching a nationwide search. On September 19, investigators discovered her body in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. An autopsy later confirmed she died from strangulation.
“They said we found remains consistent with your daughter,” Gabby’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, recalled in an interview with ABC’s 20/20. “I remember I was crying, and I said you have to be sure.”
Laundrie quickly became the sole person of interest but refused to speak with police. Shortly after, his parents reported him missing. Following an intense 37-day manhunt, his remains were found in a Florida nature reserve. Authorities determined he had died by suicide, and a notebook recovered from the scene contained his confession to Petito’s killing.
Recently, Petito’s parents revealed previously unseen text messages and letters they discovered on her phone after her death. In one message, Gabby pleaded with Laundrie: “Don’t try to control me because it only makes me mad. I love you so much, but it’s the way you speak to me that hurts me the most.” A letter she wrote to him read, “Brian, you know how much I love you. Just please stop crying and stop calling me names. You in pain is killing me.”
These discoveries paint a clearer picture of the emotional turmoil she endured.
"I liked Brian," Nichole Schmidt admitted in a recent interview. "He was very soft-spoken. He would sit and do art with the girls… He got along with her brother, TJ, and he just seemed like a nice person."
The couple’s relationship intensified when they moved to Florida to live with Laundrie’s parents. They got engaged in 2020, but Gabby’s family only learned about it through Facebook. “I’m an old-school person,” her father, Joe Petito, said. “You go up to the father… ask them for their hand in marriage. That didn’t happen.”
With their wedding plans delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided to embark on their van-life adventure instead. What started as an exciting journey ended in a devastating tragedy that shook the nation.
In the aftermath of their loss, Petito’s family channeled their grief into advocacy, founding the Gabby Petito Foundation. The organization works to combat domestic violence and support the search for missing persons.
“She made a difference,” Joe Petito said. “People saw a beautiful soul, and she had an impact that changed the lives of a lot of people and the world. There's no more amazing legacy that you could have."
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
#GabbyPetito #JusticeForGabby #DomesticViolenceAwareness #TrueCrime #BreakTheCycle #SurvivorSupport #SpeakUp
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The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
Gabby Petito, a young woman from Blue Point, New York, set off on a road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in 2021. With aspirations of becoming a travel influencer, she documented their journey through social media. However, behind the carefully curated images and videos, her relationship with Laundrie was deteriorating.
The couple’s travels took a dark turn in Moab, Utah, when a witness called police after seeing a man striking a woman. Bodycam footage from the encounter showed a distressed Petito, while police ultimately determined she was the aggressor. Officers separated the couple for the night, but no arrests were made, and they continued their trip.
On August 27, Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, received an unusual text from Gabby’s phone: “Can you help Stan? I keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.” Gabby never referred to her grandfather by his first name, raising red flags. Another text mentioned they were heading to Yosemite instead of Yellowstone, adding to the family's concerns.
Days later, Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, driving Petito’s van. Her family reported her missing on September 11, launching a nationwide search. On September 19, investigators discovered her body in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. An autopsy later confirmed she died from strangulation.
“They said we found remains consistent with your daughter,” Gabby’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, recalled in an interview with ABC’s 20/20. “I remember I was crying, and I said you have to be sure.”
Laundrie quickly became the sole person of interest but refused to speak with police. Shortly after, his parents reported him missing. Following an intense 37-day manhunt, his remains were found in a Florida nature reserve. Authorities determined he had died by suicide, and a notebook recovered from the scene contained his confession to Petito’s killing.
Recently, Petito’s parents revealed previously unseen text messages and letters they discovered on her phone after her death. In one message, Gabby pleaded with Laundrie: “Don’t try to control me because it only makes me mad. I love you so much, but it’s the way you speak to me that hurts me the most.” A letter she wrote to him read, “Brian, you know how much I love you. Just please stop crying and stop calling me names. You in pain is killing me.”
These discoveries paint a clearer picture of the emotional turmoil she endured.
"I liked Brian," Nichole Schmidt admitted in a recent interview. "He was very soft-spoken. He would sit and do art with the girls… He got along with her brother, TJ, and he just seemed like a nice person."
The couple’s relationship intensified when they moved to Florida to live with Laundrie’s parents. They got engaged in 2020, but Gabby’s family only learned about it through Facebook. “I’m an old-school person,” her father, Joe Petito, said. “You go up to the father… ask them for their hand in marriage. That didn’t happen.”
With their wedding plans delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, they decided to embark on their van-life adventure instead. What started as an exciting journey ended in a devastating tragedy that shook the nation.
In the aftermath of their loss, Petito’s family channeled their grief into advocacy, founding the Gabby Petito Foundation. The organization works to combat domestic violence and support the search for missing persons.
“She made a difference,” Joe Petito said. “People saw a beautiful soul, and she had an impact that changed the lives of a lot of people and the world. There's no more amazing legacy that you could have."
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
#GabbyPetito #JusticeForGabby #DomesticViolenceAwareness #TrueCrime #BreakTheCycle #SurvivorSupport #SpeakUp
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com