The parents of Gabby Petito, a Florida woman whose body was found in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming last summer, have filed a lawsuit against the parents of Brian Laundrie, who confessed to the slaying before taking his own life weeks later.
Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt accused Chris Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie of knowing their son killed their daughter and planning to help him escape from the country.
Gabby Petito’s parents filed the civil lawsuit Thursday in Sarasota County.
Her family reported her missing Sept. 11 after not hearing from her for several days during her road trip with fiance Brian Laundrie. Search teams found Petito’s body Sept. 19 in a camping area in the national forest.
The lawsuit accuses the Laundries of knowing about Gabby Petito’s death Aug. 28, before her parents even reported her missing. The engaged couple shared a home with Chris Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie in Florida, and Brian Laundrie returned home early from the road trip without Gabby Petito on Sept. 1.
“It is believed, and therefore averred that … Brian Laundrie advised his parents, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, that he had murdered Gabrielle Petito,” the lawsuit reads. “On that same date, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie spoke with attorney Steve Bertolino and sent him a retainer on Sept. 2, 2021.”
The lawsuit accused the Laundries of refusing to cooperate with law enforcement in their search for Gabby Petito.
“While Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt were desperately searching for information concerning their daughter, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie were keeping the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie secret, and it is believed they were making arrangements for him to leave the country,” the lawsuit reads.
The lawsuit seeks at least $100,000 in damages for pain and mental anguish.
Bertolino told WFLA-TV in Tampa, Fla., that his clients didn’t have a statement in response to the lawsuit.
“Assuming everything the Petitos allege in their lawsuit is true, which we deny, this lawsuit does not change the fact that the Laundries had no obligation to speak to law enforcement or any third party, including the Petito family. This fundamental legal principle renders the Petitos’ claims to be baseless under the law,” he said.
Police named Laundrie a person of interest in the case, but his parents reported him missing Sept. 17. Investigators found his body and some personal belongings, including a notebook, at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park a month later.
Medical examiners said he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, while Gabby Petito died of strangulation.
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“The engaged couple shared a home with Chris Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie in Florida, and Brian Laundrie returned home early from the road trip without Gabby Petito on Sept. 1.: No doubt about it—the Laundries had to know something.
“Assuming everything the Petitos allege in their lawsuit is true, which we deny, this lawsuit does not change the fact that the Laundries had no obligation to speak to law enforcement or any third party, including the Petito family. This fundamental legal principle renders the Petitos’ claims to be baseless under the law,” he said. Now, Mr Slick Attorney comes along and tries to bend the law in their favor. Must be Democrats—they think they don’t have to cooperate with an investigation. If it were my daughter, you had best believe that I would be gunning for answers—and I wouldn’t stop until I got them.
Exactly. I would get the truth out of them with “enhanced interrogation” techniques, then administer the appropriate justice myself. These scum made every attempt to help their son escape justice, and they should pay way more than $100,000 for their treachery.
NOTHING compelled them by law, to cooperate with investigators. LET ALONE Petito’s kin. As you said.
AND as we’ve seen time and time again, FAMILIES WILL DO ANYTHING, to help their own. SO i see nothing wrong in what the landri’s did.
You see NOTHING wrong with what the landri’s did? REALLY? Protecting a murderer, and causing undue suffering to the family of the murdered girl isn’t wrong? I am surprised with your response.
FOR ONE THING, he wasn’t CHARGED WITH murder till later. SO Saying that “they were protecting a muderer” is wrong..
SECONDLY AS I stated, we’ve ALL seen instances where normal common good judgement, goes out the window, when it comes to family…
Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, how do you spell “scum and lowlife”, because that is what you are and that is what your son was, as a so – called human being.
First, I have read nothing, zip, zero about the parents helping him try to leave the country. They were told that if they did not move his car out of the park, it would be impounded. I believe the parents said the park was the last place they knew he was. I think this lawsuit is striking at someone and fishing for dollars try. I do understand her parents justifiable anger and anguish. Remember, his parents also lost a child, no mater how badly he behaved, he was their child. I have no idea how I would feel if a child of mine killed someone like that, I just can’t picture it. I don’t know what he told them. He may have said “I just need a little time by myself to think, and then I will go to the police”. When they heard nothing, and his car was located, they likely suspected the worst (perhaps for the best??).