As a seasoned observer of human dynamics, I find myself deeply saddened by the story of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie. The narrative unfolding before us is all too reminiscent of countless lives that have been shattered by the cruel grip of intimate partner violence.
The apparent argument taking place on the side of the road was growing so heated, a passing driver called 911.
On August 12, 2021, Officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Scott Robbins from the Moab City Police Department stopped a white Ford Transit Connect van in eastern Utah. Upon stopping the vehicle, they discovered Gabby Petito, who was breathless and crying, seated in the passenger seat, with tears streaming down her face.
The officers asked the 22-year-old to step into their car for a conversation, intending to create some space between her and the person driving the vehicle, who was her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
She apologized, as shown in the police body camera video obtained by NBC News. She explained, “We’ve had a disagreement this morning due to some personal matters.” Laundrie added, “It’s been quite a day. We were camping the day before.
Police asked Laundrie how his face got scratched.
He clarified that she had her phone and was asking for my keys. I responded by suggesting we both take a moment to relax and catch our breath, but she managed to distract me with her phone instead.
In summary, Robbins’ final report indicated that the man attempted to put space between them by suggesting Gabbie go for a walk to cool down. However, Gabbie refused to be apart from the man, instead striking him. In response, he grabbed her face and pushed her away as she continued to push towards him near the van.
In the surveillance footage, it appears that Petito was emotional in the police vehicle. According to the recording, she expressed that she had been feeling extremely anxious that morning and had hastily tossed several items into their van. She apologized to her fiancé for becoming so anxious, admitting that she has OCD. She explained that occasionally, despite not intending to, she can display an unpleasant demeanor, but she is not trying to be unkind. She was offering an apology at the time, but it seemed harsh and he became upset, locking her out of the car and instructing her to take a break.
That only made her more upset, she continued.
As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it this way: In a police report, according to CNN, it was mentioned that I, in a heated moment, slapped my partner. Following this, I reacted by holding her face gently and stepping back, as she continued to push against me and the vehicle. At that time, I had minor scratches on my face, while it appeared my partner was experiencing an agitated or manic state.
Throughout his investigation, Robbins noted that Gabrielle was consistently weeping, taking deep breaths, and had difficulty writing sentences without wiping away tears, blowing her nose, or rubbing her knees with her hands, as stated by CNN.
In the recorded video, an officer can be heard telling another, “The witness claims he didn’t see him strike her, only push her, but it wasn’t clear if it was an attack or a defense. As things stand, unless the man himself is shouting that he should be jailed for hurting her, it appears to me that she might have been the initial aggressor.
According to Robbins, it seemed more like a mental health predicament than a case of domestic violence. However, he advised the couple to separate for the night, an advice they accepted.
In his writing, Robbins suggested that Brian and Gabrielle should use this separation time to unwind their feelings, and if feasible, he recommended they refrain from contacting each other until the next day. He also mentioned that he facilitated a hotel room booking for Laundrie through Safe Haven, an organization that assists victims of trauma.
In the end, no legal action was taken against the couple, and they were never seen again by the Moab police. This couple had embarked on what appeared to be a #VanLife journey, which they documented on social media and their website called Nomadic Statik. The desire for a simpler life, often sought after by leaving society behind, has been popularized as travel inspiration on Instagram using the hashtag. This tag was initially promoted by a dedicated group of influencers who advocated living more minimally yet beautifully while road-tripping full time.
On August 10, 2021, in Moab, Jaye Foster, a fellow road-dweller with a customized VW bus, shared with The Daily Beast his encounter with the couple. They were holding hands and appeared overjoyed about their van’s reconstruction, he said. What struck him odd was that despite their cool demeanor, there didn’t seem to be any issues between them at all.
The goal was to connect with nature in some of the most stunning landscapes this nation presents, carrying only what could be crammed into their van as their belongings. However, the adventure that started on July 2 unfortunately concluded for Petito around or shortly after August 27, which was the last reported day she was seen at a restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming.
On August 24, her mother, Nichole Schmidt, mentioned they last communicated via FaceTime, and exchanged texts the following day. The unusual message she received from Petito, which she reported to police later, was sent on August 27. According to their lawyer, another text arrived on August 30, stating “No service in Yosemite”, but the family began to doubt whether Petito actually wrote it. Schmidt filed a report with the Suffolk County Police Department on September 11, reporting Petito missing.
At a press conference with law enforcement on September 12 in upstate New York, a worried mother expressed her thoughts to reporters. She said, “I thought she was in an area without any service,” as she grew increasingly anxious by day eight or nine. “I figured she couldn’t be out of reach for that long,” she explained further. She also mentioned the possibility that Petito might be alone somewhere or stranded in the wilderness and needing assistance.
Gabby’s dad, Joseph Petito, shared with The Daily Beast that they kept in touch with her as she traveled. He spoke to her once a week or so, while her mom spoke to her two or three times a week. His son communicated with her frequently via Snapchat and FaceTime, and his niece was constantly in contact with her.
As a devoted follower, let me share this perspective: On September 1st, I made my way to my parents’ residence in North Port, Florida, alone. Six days later, on September 6th, I, along with my mom and dad, spent the night camping at Fort De Soto Park. We all returned home together, as confirmed by our family attorney to NBC New York.
Following Petito’s disappearance, officers from North Port Police visited Laundrie’s family residence to speak with him; however, according to a police representative, they were unable to locate him and were instructed to reach out to the family’s legal counsel instead.
Joseph Petito shared with The Daily Beast that he has opinions regarding his daughter’s fiancé, but unfortunately, he’s unable to disclose them. He wishes he could discuss it further, but he currently cannot.
On August 29th, two women, including one named Miranda Baker, recounted stories of giving a ride to Laundrie, who was allegedly hitchhiking, in Wyoming during the evening. Miranda Baker stated on her TikTok post dated September 17th that she and her boyfriend had picked up Laundrie around 5:30 PM, but he became anxious when they mentioned their destination as Jackson and requested to be let off. They subsequently dropped him near Jackson State Dam.
Norma Jean Jalovec admitted that it was not until she saw Baker’s TikTok post that she recognized he had also been in her car the same night. This revelation came to her later, as she had given him a ride at approximately 6:15 p.m., after she had left church service.
According to Jalovec, he mentioned that him and his fiancee reside in a van and are traveling across the nation, documenting their journeys through a blog. As she was engrossed in blogging and managing their website, he said, he often went hiking by himself.
According to Jalovec, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him. However, as they neared the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area, where he claimed his van was located, he became restless.
She remembered that he grew upset when I suggested, ‘Shall I drive you past the gate and down the road?’ Instead, he replied emphatically, ‘No, no, no, no, no. This is sufficient.’ He asked me to stop there, saying, ‘Go ahead and let me out here.'” As soon as the car came to a halt, he quickly jumped out, according to Jalovec.
On September 19th, I sadly confirmed the discovery of remains that were later identified as Gabby Petito in Wyoming’s breathtaking Bridger-Teton National Forest, close to Spread Creek. Following an exhaustive autopsy, the coroner of Teton County officially declared her death a tragic homicide caused by strangulation.
With more and more allegations surfacing, Laundrie’s family informed authorities that he left their house on foot on September 14th. They claimed he was supposedly en route to Florida’s extensive Carlton Reserve, yet left behind his backpack but didn’t take his cell phone or wallet.
Investigators, along with officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, delved into a 24,000-acre expanse of swampland and wilderness for their investigation. Additionally, Duane “Dog” Chapman, famously known as “Dog the Bounty Hunter,” lent his expertise to the case by offering his voluntary services.
At one point, Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, informed authorities that they were unaware of their son’s whereabouts. They emphatically denied assisting him in hiding, even when he was initially viewed as a person of interest in Gabby Petito’s disappearance and subsequently faced a federal arrest warrant accusing him of illegally using a debit card and PIN number to withdraw over $1,000.
At a September 28th press conference, Richard Stafford, attorney for the Petito family, expressed that “The Laundries were not instrumental in locating Gabby. They are certainly not going to aid us in finding Brian.” In essence, he was requesting that anyone with information on Brian’s whereabouts should turn themselves in to either the FBI or the nearest law enforcement agency for the sake of justice in the case of Brian.
The next day, Mom Nichole Schmidt and the group displayed newly-inked tattoos that mirrored each other, with the words “Let it be” and “Believe” written in Petito’s unique style, as he was an up-and-coming artist.
Dad Joseph Petito expressed, ‘This is the final chapter,’ emphasizing the importance of finding positivity amidst the unfortunate incident. He stressed that we should not let her memory be tarnished; instead, we need to focus on constructive outcomes. This is our mission.
The hunt for Brian Laundrie persisted until October 20, 2021, when his skeletal remains were discovered in Florida’s Carlton Reserve, a place that was once submerged underwater, as stated by the North Port Police. Dental examination confirmed that these remains belonged to Laundrie. Additionally, his backpack was found along with a notebook containing his written confession regarding the murder of Gabby Petito.
According to the FBI, Laundrie wrote, “I took her life. At the time, I believed it was a compassionate act, one she desired, but I realize now all my errors. I acted out of fear, I was stunned.
An autopsy subsequently confirmed that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Over the past nearly three years, I’ve been overwhelmed by the heartrending revelations about what happened to Gabby Petito. Despite the sweet moments their relationship seemed to capture in photos, her radiant smile concealed a deeply troubling, escalating danger.
In the batch of heavily censored files published by the FBI on June 11, there was a letter written by Petito (undated) in which she expressed her apologies to Laundrie over an unspecified offense or mistake.
I understand you might feel overwhelmed right now, but let’s try to keep the negativity at bay. After all, we’re in this together, and I’m here for you. I admit, I can get emotional sometimes, and it’s often because your energy sparks something within me that I can’t help but feel deeply for you.
On August 27th, a few days after Petito was confirmed deceased, a couple from Louisiana informed CNN that they had observed an altercation between the young woman and Laundrie at Merry Piglets Tex-Mex in Jackson. The woman appeared distressed, while Laundrie, who seemed angry, repeatedly got up from their table and entered and exited the restaurant multiple times. The manager of the establishment also witnessed this incident and contacted the FBI on September 22nd, according to CNN’s report.
On August 27th as well, vloggers Kyle and Jenn Bethune recorded footage on their GoPros of a white van belonging to a couple, which was parked in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area, approximately 25 miles from the restaurant, between 6:00 pm and 6:30 pm.
“We figured maybe they were out hiking or they were just chilling inside,” Kyle told CNN.
The last text Schmidt received from her daughter’s phone Aug. 27 read, “Can you help Stan, I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls.” “Stan” was Petito’s grandfather, Schmidt said, but Gabby didn’t call him that. The message made her “concerned that someone was wrong with her daughter,” noted the timeline of events North Port Police compiled to get a search warrant—obtained by Florida’s NBC 8 News—for an external hard drive found in the Ford van.
In their frequent conversations before she went missing, there seemed to be increasing strain or friction between Petito and Laundrie.
Many people gathered with Petito’s family to pay tribute to her at a memorial held on September 26 in Holbrook, New York. A significant number of others followed the live-streamed service from afar. However, the inquiries regarding her destiny far outnumber the solutions available at this time.
As an ardent follower, I’ve got some exciting news to share! On September 27, 2021, the city of Moab confirmed that they’ll delve into the police response regarding the 911 call about the heated exchange between Petito and Laundrie. This move comes after an outside complaint over how the situation was managed initially. The city, in a statement released through CNN, expressed their current understanding that no Police Department policies were violated during this incident. Nevertheless, they’ve vowed to carry out a thorough investigation. Based on the findings, they’re prepared to take further action if necessary.
Despite receiving positive comments too, it was only natural for the city to encounter some resistance since an enormous number of amateur investigators scrutinized every action taken before Gabby Petito’s disappearance and the heartbreaking end of the search.
In this unique situation I find myself discussing, neither party involved has reported any instance of violence between them. Instead, they have expressed their heartfelt love, shared engagement, and eagerness to marry. Interestingly, they have a deep concern that no one should face legal charges. Notably, there were no severe injuries reported, and it’s been disclosed that the female, Gabbie, experiences debilitating anxiety.
It’s uncertain if the officers knew specifically what the 911 caller had described at the moment they responded.
City officials acknowledged that people can perceive the same situation differently and admitted that the later death of Ms. Petito in Wyoming could spark speculation about events in Moab where an incident occurred previously. The aim of the City’s comprehensive investigation is to collect accurate facts and evidence to make a well-informed assessment of any actions taken during the Moab incident.
In my role as a dedicated lifestyle advisor, I’d like to share that, in a similar context, I would emphasize transparency and commitment to resolving issues effectively. So, if a situation arises where concerns need to be addressed, I would engage an impartial third party for a comprehensive investigation. I assure you that we always treat every complaint with utmost seriousness, and are fully committed to thoroughly addressing these concerns.
If Petito didn’t opt to file charges against her fiancé or report any suspected abuse, the police were legally restricted from making an arrest – even if they had harbored concerns about his behavior. Regrettably, such situations are not uncommon.
Occasionally, you may encounter situations where people refuse to acknowledge wrongdoing when presented with evidence, and it becomes clear they are lying directly to you. This can be dangerous, as more trouble seems imminent if the situation is not addressed. In such instances, making an arrest is a simpler choice, as expressed by National Park Service ranger Melissa Hulls after responding to a call about a potential domestic assault and finding that the individuals involved did not fully comprehend the gravity of the situation.
In video footage captured by a second officer’s body camera (obtained by TMZ on October 1, 2021), the officer seems to observe signs of injury on Gabby Petito’s face and arm, and inquires if she had been struck. “Well, yes, but I hit him first,” Petito responds, mimicking how Laundrie supposedly grabbed her face, possibly causing a mark. The officer comfortingly says, “Don’t worry, just be truthful. Where did he hit you?
She explains that he didn’t physically strike her in the face through any conventional means such as hitting or punching, but she was grabbed by him, causing discomfort and leaving a visible mark on her. Touching the affected area causes pain.
In the body camera video aired on 48 Hours, an officer can be heard inquiring Laundrie if his fiancée has any specific items, to which he chuckles and responds, “She’s just eccentric. No, no, I don’t believe she does.
In simpler terms, Ruth Glenn, head of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, stated to USA Today that Petito and Laundrie’s behavior towards law enforcement is common in such cases. Petito appears distressed and self-blaming, while Laundrie remains calm and also points fingers at her.
The individual who called 911 previously mentioned described an incident to the dispatcher, as heard on broadcast news, saying “We passed by and saw a man striking a woman. They were running up and down the sidewalk. He then attacked her again, got into the vehicle, and they sped away.
At the scene, an unnamed witness referred to as Chris reportedly penned a statement to the police, according to CNN. In this statement, Chris described the two individuals as engaging in a heated conversation that seemed confrontational. Chris also mentioned he believed he heard Petito say to Laundrie something along the lines of “Why must you always be so harsh?
Hulls, the Park Service ranger and visitor and resource protection supervisor for Arches National Park, admitted that she had a bad feeling about the overall situation between Petito and Laundrie.
In an interview with Deseret News, Hulls admitted he may have been overly honest with her. He was urging her to reassess their relationship, questioning whether she was content in it and suggesting this could be a chance for her to alter her life course. She seemed troubled about being apart from him, and I believed if anything would prompt change, it would happen upon their return to Florida.
And then she heard that a body had been found, matching the description of the missing woman.
The ranger admitted, “I haven’t reviewed my body camera recording from that night. The situation is still heavy on my mind because I feel like I could have expressed more compassion towards her. It’s tough not to question myself and wish I had said something different or found the right words to make her understand that she deserved better.
The independent investigation into the police response concluded it was “unascertainable” whether Brian Petito would have survived if the police had acted differently, but officers Pratt and Robbins were found to have made several mistakes, as reported in the findings released in January 2022 by TopMob News.
According to a 99-page report, it was found that they neglected to contact the person who phoned 911 about a man striking a girl; they did not document or note Brian Laundrie’s girlfriend’s injuries in their written record, and they should have arranged for the couple to receive mental health assistance. Additionally, the report suggests that Brian Laundrie should have been taken into custody for suspected domestic violence.
In a report, Captain Brandon Ratcliffe of the Price City Police detailed that they had responded to a verified case of domestic violence and discovered proof indicating an assault. As a result of his investigation, he suggested a comprehensive review of departmental policies and recommended placing Pratt and Robbins on probation. However, a representative from the Moab City Police Department declined to confirm whether or not these individuals were indeed placed on probation.
In November 2022, Petito’s parents submitted a lawsuit for $50 million due to wrongful death, claiming that police officers from the Moab Police Department neglected their duty by not adhering to the law, and thus did not safeguard their child.
The city refuted any liability, asserting in a public statement that when police officers stopped Laundrie and Petito on August 12, 2021, it was impossible to foresee the subsequent tragedy that unfolded weeks later and hundreds of miles away. Consequently, the City of Moab plans to vigorously contest this lawsuit, as the situation has evolved since the filing of the suit (with Pratt having been promoted to detective).
Throughout their prolonged struggle, Petito’s parents have consistently made efforts to emphasize their battle against the problem of domestic violence as a significant part of their daughter’s lasting memory when discussing her legacy.
At a CrimeCon 2024 panel on May 31 in Nashville, as reported by Fox News, Schmidt expressed, “Regarding Brian, I personally extend forgiveness.” She felt it was essential to free herself from the shackles of anger and resentment, choosing not to let his reprehensible action control any more of her life. (It seemed she had no desire to hear from Laundrie beyond the grave.)
She emphasized, as reported by People, that we should make sure this doesn’t occur for others again. It strengthens us. Gabby’s spirit lives on in us. We can’t stand idly by. Instead, let’s advance and work to transform the world together.
It wasn’t long before the viral response to Petito’s disappearance started to cannibalize itself, the outsized attention paid to her story serving as a pointed reminder that, historically, only certain victims—particularly photogenic white women—have ended up with their faces leading every newscast. At the aforementioned Sept. 28, 2021, press conference, her father urged those who devoted so much time to his daughter’s case to apply their online sleuthing skills to the forgotten victims. But the timeline of events leading up to her death are all too familiar to a depressing number of women from all walks of life.
Approximately one-third of women living in the U.S. have experienced some form of domestic or intimate partner violence, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control.
As the story of Petito dominated the media, both local and federal authorities, as well as amateur investigators who were meticulously gathering potential clues from Reddit posts and TikTok videos, seemed to treat it like their job. Friends of Petito and Laundrie, however, painted a different picture of their relationship, one that didn’t align with the seemingly perfect image portrayed in the couple’s Instagram photos.
I’ve been so caught up, I never managed to share these treasured moments!” stated a smitten fan, referring to the photo of the couple locking lips in October 2020. “Just imagining reliving our memories over and over again would be heavenly, and I’ve never felt this deep an affection for anyone else.
Friend Rose Davis shared with CBS News’ 48 Hours that she often heard from Petito about their activities together. Laundrie would prepare breakfast for Petito, and the couple would have sweet dinners, which always seemed adorable to Davis.
But Laundrie had “toxic traits” as well, Davis said.
She clarified, “When Brian desires something, he’ll make sure to acquire it, not in a coercive manner, but by manipulating the circumstances to his advantage. I don’t want to label him as a master manipulator, but his actions suggest as much. One instance is when he took her ID to prevent her from going out with me one night, as you need an ID to get into a bar. This action was particularly upsetting to her, especially given their engagement.
As a lifestyle expert, I found myself deeply moved by the body camera footage showing a distraught Petito. In my professional opinion, it was evident that this wasn’t just a minor spat. A woman doesn’t cry or act in such a way without a compelling reason. It wasn’t merely a slap; it was clearly a sign of something deeper and more troubling.
Davis openly confessed her apprehension about the pair embarking alone on their adventure since, as she put it, “their relationship seemed uncertain the last time I saw them.
According to a friend of Laundrie’s named Ben Matula, who knew the couple when they were high school sweethearts in New York, he told People that the relationship was full of ups and downs. “Sometimes they would be deeply affectionate towards each other, but then Brian would suddenly say they were fighting,” Matula recalled, implying that their relationship was often marked by drama.
Alyssa Chen, a friend of Petito’s, portrayed a bond that appeared charming yet undeniably stormy.
She shared with People that there were moments when their relationship was unhealthy and times when it appeared much more harmonious,” she said. “Their highs were extremely high and their lows incredibly low, yet they always seemed deeply in love. When things went well, you’d wonder, ‘Why can’t I have a connection like that?’ During the tough times, you’d think, ‘Oh my goodness, just part ways to avoid the turmoil and sparing everyone else from hearing about it.’
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2024-09-24 22:25