Laundrie Lawyer Blasts Gabby Petito Netflix Doc: 'Inaccuracies and Misstatements'

Brian Laundrie’s parents are facing renewed criticism.

Following the release of Netflix’s detailed account of the 2021 murder of Gabby Petito by her boyfriend, as depicted in the documentary “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” the lawyer representing Brian’s parents offered insights about its portrayal of events, stating that the narrative presented was what the Laundrie family had anticipated.

Attorney Steven Bertolino stated to The Sun, “One point of view is portrayed as ‘the truth,’ yet each party considers their viewpoint accurate. It’s challenging to perceive things from the other side amidst all the commotion and mistrust.

The lawyer pointed out, nonetheless, that Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, did not provide any conflicting information with respect to what was presented in the Netflix documentary released on February 17th.

“The documentary contained many inaccuracies, incorrect juxtapositions of timelines, and misstatements and omissions of fact—perhaps deliberate to capture their ‘truth,’ perhaps due to simple error,” the attorney continued, not specifying what was wrong in the documentary. “We all know Brian took Gabby’s life and Brian then took his own as well.”

He added, “Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn them in peace.”

We’ve contacted both the legal representative of the Laundries and Netflix for their responses regarding his recent comments, according to our latest report from TopMob News.

Gabby’s parents, such as mother Nichole Schmidt, stepfather Jim Schmidt, biological father Joe Petito, and stepmother Tara Petito, were featured in the documentary, where they disclosed details about their daughter’s relationship with Brian, from before her tragic murder up until its aftermath.

In the summer of 2021, Gabby and Brian embarked on a journey across the country together. However, Gabby’s family suddenly lost contact with her in August. Upon returning home to Florida in September, Brian was alone. This prompted Gabby’s family to report her missing. Sadly, Gabby’s body was discovered in September 2021, and her death was later confirmed as a homicide by strangulation. A month after this tragic event, Brian, who had been identified as a person of interest in the still-unsolved murder case, took his own life and left behind a note admitting to killing Gabby.

In the course of the documentary, Loretta Bush, a special agent with the FBI’s Tampa Division, disclosed that they discovered a letter from Brian’s mother amongst his belongings following his disappearance. This letter contained the instruction, “destroy upon reading.

In Roberta’s letter, she expressed her unwavering love for him, stating, “No matter what happens, I will always be your devoted supporter.” She assured him that nothing could or would ever come between them. If he found himself in a challenging situation such as being imprisoned, she vowed to bake a cake with hidden tools. If he needed assistance disposing of something, she promised to arrive prepared with a shovel and garbage bags. However, in 2023, when questioned about the letter, Roberta clarified that it was written before Brian’s cross-country trip with Gabby, emphasizing that the letter had no connection to Gabby.

In the documentary, Gabby’s stepmom referred to the letter as “disgusting.”

The 22-year-old’s biological mother added of the note, “It made me sick to my stomach.”

Keep reading to see more details from American Murder…

In Netflix’s “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” Nichole Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s mom, described Brian Laundrie as being somewhat socially awkward but always very polite.

Jim Schmidt remarked that it was somewhat peaceful, but Joe Petito countered by saying, “Brian acknowledged you with a firm handshake and met your gaze.

Gabby and Brian became a couple following high school graduation – it was love at first sight for him, as he often recounted the instant he laid eyes on her outside a deli and stopped his car to chat with her. After just under nine months of dating, she relocated to Florida in December 2019 to be nearer Brian’s family.

In Florida, Rose Davis, whom Gabby became acquainted with, expressed that spending time together for the first time with both her and Brian felt akin to having a parent monitor a play date, finding it quite unusual. Brian was described as being quite pleasant, but Rose recalled sharing with her mother afterwards that there seemed to be something odd about him.

As our friendship developed, Rose explained, it became increasingly apparent; Brian had a rather ominous aspect to his personality.

In July 2020, Brian made a proposal. Nicole learned that Gabby was engaged when Brian’s mother, Roberta Laundrie, announced it on Facebook.

“She didn’t want to tell anybody,” Nichole said. “I thought that was really strange.”

Gabby’s stepmother, Tara Petito, expressed a tad of surprise that Brian didn’t seek Joe’s permission before proposing to their daughter.

Initially, Gabby was brimming with joy and enthusiasm. However, over the course of time, her initial excitement seemed to diminish slightly, as Nichole pointed out.

Gabby cherished her role at Taco Bell, a position she secured to finance her adored 2012 Ford Transit Connect van. However, Brian admitted to experiencing a sense of neglect and growing possessiveness towards Gabby, as she shared.

In the text conversations displayed within the show, he criticized her profession and referred to the individuals she worked with as “unrefined characters,” expressing it was “extremely distasteful” that she associated herself with such people.

She skillfully made him feel guilty for causing his own misery, leading her to believe she didn’t deserve Brian’s affection. This was precisely what he aimed to achieve, as Rose put it.

As a devoted observer, I felt there was a pivotal instance preceding Gabby’s nomadic lifestyle where her awareness seemed to broaden, Rose noted. Over time, I sensed that the pieces were falling into place for her, causing her growing frustration.

Even though the footage from July 2021 showed Brian’s journey with Gabby on their #VanLife adventure, he appeared friendly and approachable.

As per Rose’s words, I wasn’t particularly supportive of my fiancée’s aspirations; instead, I mostly accompanied her, primarily seeking to keep her by my side exclusively.

Rose expressed that if he could free her from her job, he would have her all to himself since she only had him as a companion. And soon enough, they were no longer there.

Gabby informed Rose that Brian considered her vlog idea to be unwise. However, she pointed out, “His concern might have been about the truth being captured on film. It’s possible he might say something inappropriate or react incorrectly during the recording process.

On August 12, 2021, someone dialed 911 to inform authorities that they witnessed a man striking a woman near the roadside in Moab, Utah. Following the incident, the pair got into a vehicle which later collided with a curb as they drove away.

The body camera recordings of the Moab City Police’s interaction with Brian and Gabby on that specific day were shown publicly several weeks afterwards, during the inquiry into Gabby’s circumstances.

However, it’s surprising that Gabby appears to accept accountability for the physical confrontation, explaining to the officers that she was struggling with anxiety and severe OCD, stating that Brian was causing her stress, yet she was attempting to manage him peacefully.

Brian explained to the police that he had scratches on his face because he was trying to keep Gabby at bay when she was reaching for the car keys.

When an officer inquired about the bruises on Gabby’s face and arm, she repeatedly responded, “I have no idea.” However, she claimed that she had argued with him, and later informed the police, “It seems I may have struck him first.

According to the video evidence, one officer said to the other that “it appears she is the main instigator in this situation.

After that, an officer guided Brian towards a local hotel commonly recognized as a sanctuary for individuals suffering from domestic violence. Meanwhile, Gabby received the van’s keys along with instructions about a location where she could find a budget-friendly shower facility, which the officer described as a place to help her relax and alleviate some stress.

The pair were instructed not to interact or message each other until the following day; however, they reconnected that very evening and quickly set off for Salt Lake City.

In the show, I mentioned, “I didn’t hear it from her directly, but their argument in Moab… I’ve sensed that kind of distress in Gabby before, and it was always connected to him.

Reflecting on the moment she learned about the 911 call and saw the police footage for the first time that September, Gabby’s mother Nichole remarked in the series, “I saw my daughter looking terrified beyond words. That’s when it hit me that things were far more serious than I had ever thought possible.

Seeing my daughter distressed while the officers were jesting with Brian instead of offering comfort left me shocked, as it seemed she was being unfairly labeled as the aggressor.

Gabby’s former partner, Jackson (last name not provided), mentioned in the series that she contacted him unexpectedly on August 22, 2021. They had been dating for approximately a year before she began seeing Brian, he pointed out, and they had discussed embarking on a #VanLife journey together. Consequently, upon learning about her adventure with Brian, he felt a hint of nostalgia but was also pleased for her.

She wrote in a message displayed in the show, “I’m probably not the one you’d prefer to receive a message from.” She also mentioned that she would be solo until the next day, suggesting that they might have a conversation before then if it was possible.

He later considered her reaching out “a cry for help.”

According to Jackson’s memory, during their conversation, Gabby implied they had a disagreement with Brian. She also mentioned having a plan and considering leaving him, but she was still figuring out the best time to do so.

According to Jackson, she seemed uncertain about his actions or capabilities. It appeared as though she wanted to escape, yet she was unsure of the best way to do so.

Gabby messaged him via Snapchat on August 27th, expressing that being in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, brought back memories of him. She also phoned him later the same day at 1:45 p.m., but he was working and couldn’t take the call. That was the last contact he had with her.

He mused, “Perhaps had I answered the phone call, things might have turned out differently or I may have been able to offer assistance.

On August 27th, Gabby messaged her mother: “I’m okay. I managed to persuade Brian to go camping in the woods so I can use the van alone. That’s what he prefers, anyway. I don’t mind. He agreed that I could have the van if I paid him for it.

Gabby clarified that she was not breaking up when Nichole asked, instead explaining that she had the potential to earn more money as a solo female van dweller. Now, she’s on her way to a camping site.

Subsequent messages to Gabby remained unanswered. On August 30th, Nicole received a text from her daughter’s phone that seemed peculiar to her because it referred to Gabby’s grandfather by his personal name, Stan, rather than the usual “grandpa.

Since I haven’t received any message from Gabby since then, Nicole texted Brian’s mom, Roberta, on September 10th and didn’t get a response. When she tried again, she mentioned that the chat bubble had changed from blue to green, which could mean either Roberta’s phone was turned off or Nicole might have been blocked.

In the series, Gabby’s father, Joe, attempted to reach out to Roberta and Brian’s father, Chris Laundrie, as well as his sister Cassie Laundrie, without success. According to him, when he sent texts, they were contacting the authorities.

TopMob News attempted to get a response from the Laundries’ legal representative, but did not receive one. The series indicated that they were declined a comment through their lawyer. (At the time, Cassie shared with reporters that she and her husband were receiving updates about the case via media outlets, and had no personal insights into their parents or brother’s situation. “We are just as troubled, frustrated, and emotionally distressed as everyone else,” she expressed.)

On September 11th, police officers from North Port, Florida, visited the residence of Roberta and Chris to inquire if they knew anything about Gabby’s location.

The police body camera video captures Chris informing officers that Brian was present, without offering any additional comments; they were then free to contact Brian’s legal representative.

From the video and audio evidence, it appeared that law enforcement officials in North Port and Suffolk County, where Gabby’s relatives resided, found themselves unsure of their next steps, as they hadn’t yet discovered any concrete evidence indicating a crime had taken place.

As a devoted follower, I found myself in a situation where the vehicle we had been traversing was stationed in the Laundry’s driveway. Since Gabby’s name was the sole proprietor listed on the title, authorities swiftly towed it away without further ado.

Reflecting on it later, Nichole remembered from the show, “My body just wouldn’t stop trembling…I could sense that something terrible had occurred.

Added Gabby’s dad Joe, “We started screaming.” Stepmom Tara said, “I collapsed.”

Friend Rose admitted, “To tell the truth, I completely lost my composure. I was shouting questions like, ‘What on earth did he do? Did he really do something?’

In a recollection made in the series, FBI Special Agent Loretta Bush from the Tampa Division stated that when authorities visited the Laundrie residence on September 17th, Brian’s parents claimed he wasn’t home, they hadn’t seen him for three days and expressed their concerns by reporting him missing.

In the items found at the residence, the agent pointed out, there was a letter from his mom that carried instructions for him to destroy it upon reading.

Regardless of what happens, you’ll always have my love. Nothing can change that, not even being separated by any circumstances. If you ever find yourself in trouble like being imprisoned, I would make a cake with a hidden tool inside. And if we ever need to deal with something difficult such as disposing of evidence, I’d be there ready to help with a shovel and some garbage bags.

In the series, both Rose and Tara called the letter “disgusting.”

Nichole said, “It made me sick to my stomach.”

On the 29th of August, Brian had numerous conversations with his parents, as reported by Busy. It appears they communicated frequently. We discovered that he informed them about Gabby’s absence and his need for a legal representative. At this juncture, his parents transferred money to the lawyer.

Joe found himself reflecting, “Are you really planning to spend $25,000, money you’ve worked so hard for, on a lawyer from Wyoming? You didn’t even inquire about her location? That sounds suspicious to me.

In simpler terms, Jim claimed that the sum could not have been for anything other than to act as a representative for a case involving murder.

In a chilling discovery, investigators found out through cellular data that he had been sending messages to Gabby, pretending she was still alive. However, these messages weren’t read until he returned to the Spread Creek Dispersed camping area in Bridger-Teton National Forest – the location where her phone was.

According to Special Agent Bush, communication between the two devices happened swiftly. He was seen holding both phones simultaneously, engaging in what seemed like a conversation with himself. It appeared he was attempting to fabricate an alibi.

On August 30th, Brian initiated his journey to Florida. He utilized Gabby’s debit card at various fuel stations during his trip, as reported by the FBI. He also sent a text about Gabby’s grandfather to her mother and transferred $700 from Gabby’s account to his own using Zelle, giving the impression that it was payment for the van from Gabby.

The transaction memo read, “Goodbye Brian, I’ll never ask you for anything again.”

On September 19, 2021, the search team discovered Gabby’s remains at the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area.

In a hoodie, she was found curled up on her left side, in a fetal position. The medical examiner concluded that she had suffered both strangulation and blunt impact injuries to her head and neck.

In the show, they observed that her position wasn’t normal, which made them suspect that she might have been killed somewhere else, and the crime scene could have been deliberately set up.

Jim, Gabby’s stepfather, had arrived in town for the search. Upon seeing a photo of her lifeless body, he felt devastated, describing it as being left like discarded trash by someone who was supposed to care for her deeply. He vividly remembered collapsing to the ground after this shocking sight. Subsequently, he contacted Nichole, Joe, and Tara.

Joe stated that he received a call which indicated he would never get to see his daughter again, and Tara referred to that day as one of the hardest they had ever experienced.

Joe went on, expressing that he often ponders over the final instances. He believes Tara must have been terrified. Since fear always prompted her to reach out to either him, Jim, or her friends Nicki or Tara, he’s unsure as to whom she might have called for help.

On October 20, the remains of Brian were discovered at the Carlton Memorial Reserve. The cause of his death was determined as suicide, due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A watertight sack close by contained photographs of Brian and Gabby, along with a water-resistant journal where he penned down that she had been hurt and he ended her existence as a means to alleviate her suffering.

But from that moment, he added, “I knew I couldn’t go on without her.”

Additionally, there were letters found within the bag, containing one that said, “Kindly avoid causing further distress for my loved ones, as they’ve already lost both a son and a daughter.

In the series, Nicole mused, “It’s always seemed peculiar to me that he chose to exclude my parents from this situation, as they are innocent and haven’t done anything wrong.

It was discovered through Gabby’s autopsy that none of Brian’s accounts were accurate regarding her death. Instead, she died from being strangled, which is quite different from what he claimed.

In a wrongful death lawsuit filed in 2022, Gabby’s family received $3 million from Brian’s estate, decided by a judge. A separate suit against his parents for causing intentional and reckless emotional harm was resolved in a settlement reached in February 2024.

2025-02-19 20:18

Laundrie Lawyer Blasts Gabby Petito Netflix Doc: ‘Inaccuracies and Misstatements’

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