TGF 039 Gabby Petito: Uncovered

Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 2 (00:05):
Thank you, bog In.

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Welcome back to The Guilty Files, the podcast where every
case gets a second look, a deeper dive, and two
distinct takes that keep you coming back for more. I'm
your host, Brian, and I'm here to bring you the unfiltered,
no nonsense breakdown of this week's crime. A little about me,
I've spent sixteen years in law enforcement, with ten of

(00:30):
those years pounding the pavement as a beat cop in
the streets of Atlanta. I've seen crime up close, the chaos,
the aftermath, and the cold, hard truths that never make
the headlines. That's why my focus is simple. I'll take
you through the facts of the case step by step
with nothing left to speculation. But that's only half of

(00:52):
what we do here. My co host Danny is your
guide to the other side of the story. He dives
into the untold possibility, uncovers hidden motives, and imagines the
what ifs that make you question everything you thought you knew. Together,
we bring you two unique perspectives on every case, because
in true crime, the truth is rarely as simple as

(01:13):
it seems. Every week we promise you this two cops,
one crime, two stories told. If you're a fan of
the details, the drama, and the darker side of human nature.
You're in for a ride, so grab your headphones, lock
the door, and let's get into the Guilty Files, where
every case comes with a twist and the truth is

(01:34):
just the beginning. In the digital age of curated lives
and filtered realities, two young souls set out to capture
the perfect adventure. They painted their story in sun drenched
Instagram posts and YouTube videos filled with laughter, love, and

(01:54):
the promise of endless horizons. The hashtag van life became
their anthem and rode their church and a converted Ford
Transit van their sanctuary. But beneath the carefully crafted facade
of wanderlust and romance, darkness was already creeping in, invisible
to the thousands who followed their journey, undetectable to those

(02:15):
who envied their freedom. What began is a dream would
end as a nightmare that captivated a nation and exposed
the deadly reality that sometimes the person who promises to
love you forever becomes the one who ensures forever ends
far too soon. This is the story of Gabrielle Vanora
Petito and Brian Christopher Laundry, a tale of love, manipulation, violence,

(02:40):
and the tragic intersection of domestic abuse and social media's
perfect lies. Gabrielle Vanora Petito entered the world on March nineteenth,
nineteen ninety nine, in Blue Point, New York, arriving with
what her mother, Nicole Schmidt, would later describe as unstoppable energy.
The moment she came into the world, she was like

(03:00):
she was ready to go fun Toddler never stopped. She
gave me a run for my money, Schmidt recalled years later,
her voice carrying both pride and the weight of unimaginable loss.
Gabby was born into a family that, while not traditional,
was bound by love and commitment to her well being.
Her parents, Nicole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, had separated amicably

(03:23):
when Gabby was just a baby, but both remained deeply
involved in their daughter's life. Nicky and I realized that
we were not good together, but we both agreed to
put Gabby's needs ahead of our own, and it's been
that way ever since. Joseph would later explain their mature
approach to co parenting created a stable foundation for Gabby,

(03:44):
who grew up surrounded by love from both sides of
her extended family. Nicole later married Jim Schmidt in April
two thousand and five, while Joseph married Tara Patito soon
after in July. Rather than creating division, these new relationships
expanded gabby circle of love and support. She thrived in
this environment, becoming the protective big sister to five younger

(04:06):
siblings and half siblings who looked up to her with
admiration and adoration. Growing up in the suburban landscape of
Long Island, Gabby was a vibrant child who seemed to
contain multitudes. She was artistic and creative, often losing herself
in drawing and crafting projects that would cover every surface
of her room. Her smile, as those who knew her

(04:28):
would often say, could fill a room and lift the
spirits of everyone around her. She had an infectious laugh
and a natural warmth that drew people to her like
a magnet. Gabby's love for adventure and exploration manifested Early
family trips and local excursions were never just about reaching
a destination. For Gabby, the journey itself was where the

(04:50):
magic happened. She had an eye for beauty in the
mundane and a gift for finding wonder in everyday moments.
This perspective would later trans late into her passion for
photography and her dream of becoming a travel influencer. As
she grew older, Gabby's artistic talents became more focused. She
created amazing works of art, often inspired by nature and

(05:13):
her travels. Her Instagram account would later become a gallery
of not just her adventures, but her artistic vision, each
post carefully curated to share not just where she had been,
but how she saw the world. By high school, Gabby
had developed a large circle of friends at Bayport Blue
Point High School. She was known for her kindness, her loyalty,

(05:35):
and her ability to make anyone feel included. Teachers remembered
her as engaged and creative, someone who brought positive energy
to every classroom she entered. She wasn't just popular, she
was beloved. It was during these high school years that
Gabby first encountered Brian Christopher Laundry. They were friends, initially

(05:55):
part of the same social circle that included many teenagers
navigating the typical dramas and joys of adolescence. For Gabby,
these were formative years where she was discovering her identity,
her passions, and her dreams for the future. After graduating
in twenty seventeen, Gabby was filled with the typical excitement
and uncertainty of young adulthood. She had dreams of travel,

(06:18):
of creating content that would inspire others, and of building
a life filled with adventure and meaning. She was eighteen
years old, beautiful, talented, and full of hopes for.

Speaker 2 (06:28):
What lay ahead.

Speaker 1 (06:30):
The tragedy of Gabby's story is not just that her
life ended too soon, but that the person who would
ultimately take it from her was someone who had been
part of her journey from these innocent, hopeful days.

Speaker 2 (06:41):
The girl who had touched.

Speaker 1 (06:42):
So many lives with her warmth and creativity had no
way of knowing that the boy from her high school
would one day become the central figure in a story
that would horrify the world. Brian Christopher Laundry was born
on November eighteenth, nineteen ninety seven, in what sources suggest
was initially New York, though much of his early childhood
was spent in the suburban confines of Northport, Florida. Unlike

(07:07):
Gabby's story, which was filled with warm family memories and
clear signs of a nurturing environment, Brian's early life remains
largely shrouded in the silence that would become characteristic of
both him and his family. Brian was the son of
Christopher and ROBERTA Laundry, a couple who would later become
business owners, operating Juicer Services, a company that sold and

(07:29):
serviced commercial juicing equipment. Christopher served as president, while Roberta
held the position of vice president, though the business would
later be listed as temporarily closed during the intense scrutiny
that followed their son's actions. The Laundry family also included
Brian's older sister, Cassandra, born in nineteen eighty nine, who

(07:50):
would later become one of the few family members willing
to speak publicly about the tragedy that engulfed their lives.
After leaving Long Island, the Laundry settled in Northport, a
suburban neighborhood, where they established their life in business.

Speaker 2 (08:05):
ROBERTA.

Speaker 1 (08:05):
Laundry had previously worked as a secretary for the Office
of Water Resources in Suffolk County from twenty eleven to
twenty twenty, suggesting a stable middle class upbringing for Brian.
The family lived in a well maintained home on Wabasso Avenue.
Unlike Gabby, whose childhood was filled with documented moments of
joy and creativity shared by family members. Brian's early years

(08:29):
remain largely undocumented in public records.

Speaker 2 (08:32):
What is known is.

Speaker 1 (08:33):
That he developed what would be described as a craftsman lifestyle,
showing talent in creating designs and drawings that he would
later showcase on his Instagram account. Brian was described by
those who knew him as having a survivalist lifestyle. He
was interested in outdoor activities, hiking, and spending time in nature,

(08:54):
interests that would later play a crucial role in both
his relationship with Gabby and the final tragic chapters of
their story. His Instagram account, which would eventually gain over
two hundred seventy thousand followers, posthumously showcased various designs and drawings,
revealing an artistic side that he shared with Gabby. Those
who encountered Brian in his teenage years described him differently

(09:16):
than Gabby. Where she was universally described as warm, inclusive,
and energetic, Brian was characterized as soft spoken and interesting
by Gabby's mother. He was someone who seemed to observe
more than participate, someone who could sit quietly and engage
in artistic activities with Gabby's younger sisters. The contrast between

(09:38):
the two families approaches to openness and communication would become
starkly apparent during the investigation into Gabby's disappearance. While Gabby's
family would later bear their souls to the public and
desperate attempts to find their daughter, the Laundryes would retreat
behind lawyers and silence, a pattern that may have been
established long before the tragedy unfolded. When Brian graduated from

(10:01):
Bayport Bluepoint High School alongside Gabby in twenty seventeen, he
appeared to be a typical teenager with interests in art
and the outdoors. However, the seeds of what would later
become controlling and ultimately violent behavior may have already been present,
invisible to those around him, but already beginning to influence
his relationships and worldview. Brian's transformation from a quiet, artistic

(10:27):
teenager to someone capable of taking the life of the
person he claimed to love remains one of the most
disturbing aspects of this case. Unlike some cases where warning
signs are obvious in retrospect, Brian's progression toward violence was
largely hidden making the ultimate tragedy even more shocking to
those who thought they knew him. The boy who would

(10:48):
become a killer was, by most outward appearances, unremarkable. He
worked alongside Gabby at a public's grocery store in Northport,
where she served as a pharmacy technician and he worked
in the grocery department. They seemed like a typical young
couple navigating.

Speaker 2 (11:04):
The early stages of adult life together.

Speaker 1 (11:07):
The transformation of Gabby Patito and Brian Christopher Laundry from
high school acquaintances to romantic partners began in March twenty nineteen,
when both were navigating the uncertain terrain of young adulthood.
Gabby was twenty years old, Brian was twenty one, and
both were searching for direction in their post graduation lives.

(11:27):
Their romantic relationship blossomed quickly with an intensity that was
immediately apparent to those around them. However, from the very beginning,
there were signs that this relationship was different from typical
young love. Gabby became unusually secretive about the early days
of their courtship, a marked change from her normally open
and sharing personality. Gabby was tight lipped in the early

(11:51):
days of their courtship, family members later recalled. By the
time she led her loved ones in on the relationship,
it was clear that the two were already very having
moved past the casual dating phase into something much more
intense and committed. The speed of their relationship's progression was remarkable.
About nine months into dating, the couple made a significant

(12:12):
decision that would dramatically alter the trajectory of both their lives.
They decided to move to Florida to be closer to
Brian's family. This meant Gabby would be leaving her hometown
of Bluepoint, New York, her extended family, and the support
system that had nurtured her throughout her life. The move
to Northport, Florida, represented more than just a change of address.

(12:34):
It was Gabby's first major step into independence and adult life.
She was moving in with Brian and his parents, Christopher
and Roberta Laundry, entering into a living situation that would
prove challenging in ways she couldn't have anticipated. Initially, the
relationship between Gabby and Brian's family seemed positive. Roberta Laundry
would later testify in a deposition that when Brian first

(12:57):
brought Gabby home in twenty nineteen. I thought thought they
were very sweet together, very playful together. They enjoyed each other,
and I thought it was a nice, good relationship. Christopher
Laundry echoed these sentiments, recalling Gabby as being very nice,
very respectful, and stating he didn't have any serious concerns
about her relationship with his son. The Laundries were accommodating landlords,

(13:20):
offering the young couple a place to live in an
investment condo they owned in Northport, where Gabby and Brian
lived rent free for about a year. This arrangement seemed
ideal on the surface, young love, supported by family, financial stability,
and the opportunity to build a life together. However, beneath
this seemingly perfect arrangement, cracks were already beginning to show.

(13:45):
While living with the Laundries, Gabby began to experience what
her friends would later describe as an uncomfortable situation. The
initial warmth from Roberta seemed to cool over time, with
Roberta appearing to resent her son's girlfriend as their relationship
became more serious. Brian's behavior during this period also began
to show concerning patterns that would later be recognized as

(14:07):
signs of controlling and manipulative behavior. In one documented instance
revealed in the American Murder Gabby Petito documentary, Brian stole
Gabby's wallet and id to prevent her from going out
with her friend Rose Davis, demonstrating an early pattern of
controlling her freedom and social interactions. Despite these warning signs,

(14:28):
the relationship continued to intensify. In July twenty twenty, after
dating for a little over a year, Brian proposed to
Gabby during a camping trip. The engagement was memorable, not
for a traditional ring, but for what the couple interpreted
as a magical sign. At the moment Brian asked Gabby
to marry him, a firefly landed on her finger. They

(14:51):
took this as a good omen a sign that their
love was blessed by nature itself. Significantly, Gabby's parents didn't
learn about the engagement when it happened. Instead, they found
out when someone congratulated them on Facebook, highlighting how Gabby's
communication with her family had changed since entering this relationship.
This was particularly noteworthy given her previously close relationships with

(15:14):
her parents and step parents. Rather than focusing on traditional
wedding planning, After their engagement, Gabby and Brian became captivated
by a different dream, the Van Life movement. They decided
they wanted to purchase a van and travel across the country,
documenting their adventures and potentially building a social media following.

(15:34):
This decision would prove to be the foundation for both
their greatest happiness and their ultimate tragedy. Their shared love
of travel and adventure seemed like the perfect foundation for
a relationship. Both were artistic, both loved nature, and both
were drawn to the idea of freedom and exploration that
the Van Life movement represented. For Gabby, this aligned perfectly

(15:56):
with her dreams of becoming a travel influencer and sharing
beautiful places with others. In December twenty twenty, Gabby purchased
a twenty twelve Ford Transit Connect van that had been
converted into a camper. This van would become their home,
their vehicle for adventure, and ultimately the setting for the
beginning of the end of their relationship. The purchase represented

(16:19):
their commitment to the dream they had built together four
months traveling across America, visiting national parks, and documenting their
journey for the world to see. To fund their dream trip,
both Gabby and Brian took on additional work. Gabby began
working fifty hour weeks at Taco Bell while also working
as a nutritionist. Brian took a job at an organic

(16:40):
juice bar. Their dedication to making their dream a reality
was evident. They were willing to work long hours and
save every penny to make their van life adventure possible.
In late twenty nineteen and early twenty twenty, they had
already embarked on a cross country drive from New York
to California, visiting Las Vegas, Yosemite National Park, Pismo Beach,

(17:02):
and other points of interest. This earlier trip had gone well,
giving them confidence that a longer, more ambitious journey would
be successful. The stage was set for what should have
been the adventure of a lifetime. They had a plan,
they had a vehicle, they had savings, and they had
each other. The couple that had begun as high school
acquaintances had transformed into engaged partners ready to take on

(17:26):
the world together. But beneath the excitement and anticipation, the
troubling patterns that had emerged during their time in Florida
continued to develop. Brian's controlling behavior, Gabby's increasing isolation from
her family and friends, and the complex dynamics of living
in close quarters were all factors that would prove explosive

(17:47):
when combined with the stress of extended travel. July Sewod,
twenty twenty one dawned with promise and excitement as Gabby
Petito and Brian Laundry embarked on what was intended to
be a four month cross country adventure. Their white twenty
twelve Ford Transit Connect van, converted into a mobile home,
complete with sleeping quarters and basic amenities, represented freedom, independence,

(18:11):
and the realization of their shared dream. The plan was ambitious.
They would travel from Florida to New York, then head
west across the United States, visiting national parks and scenic
locations while documenting their journey on social media. Gabby had
created a YouTube channel called Nomadic Static and was actively
posting on her Instagram account at Gab's Petito, where she

(18:34):
described herself as loving art, yoga, and veggies. The early
days of their journey seemed to fulfill every promise the
Van Life movement had offered. Their social media posts showed
a young couple radiantly happy, exploring beautiful landscapes and living
what appeared to be an enviable lifestyle of freedom and adventure.
Photos showed them hiking through stunning vistas, preparing meals in

(18:58):
their converted van, and enjoy going romantic moments against backdrops
that seemed almost too perfect to be real. For the
first month of their trip, everything appeared to go according
to plan. They traveled through Colorado, Utah, and into Wyoming,
stopping at various national parks and scenic locations. Gabby's photography
skills were evident in every post. She had an eye

(19:21):
for composition and a talent for capturing the beauty of
the American West.

Speaker 2 (19:25):
Her followers grew steadily.

Speaker 1 (19:27):
As people were drawn to her authentic enthusiasm and the
gorgeous imagery she shared. Brian also maintained his own social
media presence, sharing his artistic drawings and designs alongside photos
from their travels. To outside observers, they seemed like the
perfect couple living the perfect life, embodying the freedom and
adventure that so many people dreamed of but never pursued.

Speaker 2 (19:50):
However, those closest to.

Speaker 1 (19:52):
Gabby began to notice subtle changes in their communications. While
she maintained regular contact with her family during the early
part of the trip, the nature of those communications began
to shift. She became less open about any challenges they
might be facing and more focused on presenting a positive
image of their adventure. Stay tuned for more of the
Guilty files will be right back after these messages. The

(20:18):
reality of van life, living in close quarters with another person,
dealing with mechanical issues, navigating unfamiliar territories, and maintaining a
social media presence was more challenging than their idyllic posts suggested.
The pressure to constantly document their journey and presented as
perfect added stress to an already demanding lifestyle. Friends and

(20:41):
family later revealed that there had been ongoing tensions between
Gabby and Brian throughout their relationship, but these issues became
more pronounced during the stress of extended travel. The confined
space of the van, the pressure to maintain their online presence,
and the general challenges of van life began to exacerbate
existing problems in their relationship. Gabby's dedication to creating content

(21:04):
was intense. She was determined to build a successful travel blog.

Speaker 2 (21:08):
And YouTube channel.

Speaker 1 (21:10):
This meant constantly planning shots, writing captions, editing videos, and
engaging with followers. For someone with Gabby's perfectionist tendencies and
desire to share beauty with the world. This represented both
a passion and a significant source of pressure. Brian's role
in their social media presence was less defined, and this

(21:30):
may have created additional tension. While he was artistic and
creative in his own right, the Van Life content was
primarily Gabby's vision and brand. This dynamic may have contributed
to feelings of resentment or control issues that were already
present in their relationship. On August twelfth, twenty twenty one,
exactly one month and ten days into their journey, their

(21:53):
private struggles would become devastatingly public. What had begun as
a dream adventure was about to take a turn that
would change everything for both of them, their families, and
the thousands of people who had been following their journey online.
The irony was devastating. Their social media presence, which had
been created to document their happiness and freedom, would ultimately

(22:15):
become evidence in a murder investigation. The beautiful photos and
videos they had created to inspire others would become exhibits
in a case study of domestic violence and tragedy. August twelfth,
twenty twenty one, started like many other days of their
van life adventure, Gabby Petito and Brian Laundry were in
Moab Utah, a picturesque town that serves as a gateway

(22:39):
to Arches National Park and is beloved by outdoor enthusiasts
for its stunning red rock formations and endless hiking opportunities.
For a couple documenting their travels, Moab represented the perfect
backdrop for content creation, But beneath the surface of their
curated online presence, tensions that had been building throughout their
journey were re a breaking point. The stress of living

(23:02):
in close quarters, the pressure of maintaining their social media image,
and underlying relationship issues were creating a volatile situation that
would explode into public view in the most devastating way possible.
At approximately four thirty pm, moeb Police received a nine
to one one call that would later prove to be
a crucial moment in understanding the dynamics of Gabby and

(23:25):
Brian's relationship. The caller, who had witnessed an incident near
the Moonflower Community Cooperative, reported a domestic disturbance involving a
couple and a white van with Florida license plates. We
drove by and the gentleman was slapping the girl, the
witness told the emergency dispatcher, Then we stopped. They ran
up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her,

(23:47):
hopped in the car, and they drove off. This eyewitness
account would later prove to be tragically accurate, describing what
investigators now believe was a pattern of physical violence that
had been escalating throughout their journey. The witness had observed
Brian hitting and slapping Gabby in public, an indication that
their private conflicts had reached a level where they could

(24:09):
no longer be contained within the confines of their van.
Police located the white Ford Transit van after officers observed
it exceeding the speed limit, abruptly leaving its lane, and
striking a curb, all behaviors consistent with a vehicle being
operated by someone under extreme stress. When officer Eric Pratt
approached the passenger side of the vehicle, he encountered Gabby

(24:32):
in an emotional state that would be captured forever on
his body camera. The footage shows Gabby crying uncontrollably, struggling
to speak coherently, and exhibiting all the classic signs of
someone who had just experienced a traumatic event. We've just
been fighting this morning, she managed to tell the officer
through her tears throughout the entire encounter, which lasted over

(24:54):
fifty two minutes. Officer Pratt noted that Gabby never stopped crying,
breathing heavily, or compose a sentence without needing to wipe
away tears, wipe her nose, or rub her knees with
her hands. When questioned separately, Gabby and Brian provided accounts
that were superficially consistent but revealed troubling details about their
relationship dynamics. Gabby told officers that she and Brian had

(25:18):
been having little arguments throughout the day, tensions that had
been building over what she described as her OCD tendencies,
particularly around cleaning their van. I was apologizing to him
and saying I'm sorry that I'm so mean, because sometimes
I have OCD and sometimes I can get really frustrated,
Gabby explained in the body camera footage, her voice breaking

(25:42):
as she took responsibility for the conflict. This statement reveals
a critical aspect of abusive relationships, the victim's tendency to
blame themselves for their partner's violent behavior. Gabby, even in
the immediate aftermath of being physically assaulted, was apologizing for
her own behavior and characterizing herself as the problem in

(26:02):
their relationship. Brian's account to police was notably different in
tone and content. He appeared calm and composed, speaking in
measured tones about Gabby's emotional state and positioning himself as
the reasonable party trying to de escalate the situation. He
claimed that Gabby had gone into a manick state and
that he had been trying to separate from her so

(26:24):
they could both calm their emotions. According to Brian's version
of events, when he got into the van to create
space between them, Gabby became afraid that he was going
to leave her in Moab without a ride and began
hitting him.

Speaker 2 (26:37):
He claimed he pushed her.

Speaker 1 (26:38):
Away to avoid being struck, and that she had scratched
his face during the altercation. The officers noted scratches on
Brian's arm and face, which seemed to support his claim
that Gabby had been the physical aggressor. However, they failed
to properly investigate the scratches on Gabby's neck and arms,
or to consider that these injuries might be defensive wounds

(26:59):
from someone trying to protect herself from an attack. This
failure to properly assess the situation would later be identified
as one of several critical mistakes made by the responding officers.
An independent investigation conducted months later found that the officers
had misclassified the incident and failed to follow proper domestic
violence protocols. During the encounter, both Gabby and Brian repeatedly

(27:23):
stated that they loved each other and were engaged to
be married. They desperately didn't want either person to be
charged with a crime, a common response in domestic violent
situations where victims fear that police intervention will make their
situation worse. Officer Pratt, despite having probable cause to arrest
someone for domestic violence, made the decision to separate the

(27:45):
couple for the night rather than making an arrest. Under
Utah law, domestic violence incidents require mandatory arrest, but the
officers characterized the situation as a mental health crisis rather
than domestic violence. Brian was given lodging assistants and spent
the night at the Bowen Motel in Moab, while Gabby

(28:05):
remained with the van. Both were given the other's cell
phone number in case of emergency, and the officers believed
they had successfully de escalated a volatile situation. The body
camera footage from this encounter would later become some of
the most watched and analyzed video evidence in recent criminal history.
Domestic violence experts who reviewed the footage identified multiple red

(28:28):
flags that the responding officers missed or misinterpreted. Gabby's emotional state,
her tendency to blame herself, her fear of being abandoned,
and Brian's calm, controlled demeanor were all classic indicators of
an abusive relationship dynamic. The fact that witnesses had seen
Brian hitting Gabby, combined with her visible injuries and emotional trauma,

(28:50):
should have resulted in his arrest. Instead, the couple was
allowed to continue their journey the next day, a decision
that domestic violence experts believe may have contribute to the
escalation that would ultimately lead to Gabby's murder just two
weeks later. The Moab incident represents a tragic missed opportunity,
a moment when intervention might have saved Gabby's life. It

(29:13):
also highlights the challenges that law enforcement faces in properly
identifying and responding to domestic violence, particularly when victims are
reluctant to cooperate, or when abusers are skilled at manipulating
situations to their advantage. For Gabby and Brian, August twelfth
marked a turning point in their relationship and their journey.

(29:33):
The facade of their perfect van life adventure had been
publicly shattered, their private struggles exposed to law enforcement and
eventually to the world. The countdown to tragedy had begun
Following their separation and reunion after the Moab police encounter.
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundry continued their journey westward, but

(29:53):
something fundamental had changed in their relationship dynamic. The public
nature of their conflict and the intervention of law enforcement
had escalated tensions rather than resolving them, setting the stage
for the tragic events that would unfold in the days ahead.
On August nineteenth, twenty twenty one, exactly one week after
the Moab incident, Gabby and Brian posted their first and

(30:16):
only video to their YouTube channel, Nomadic Static. The eight
minute video, titled Van Life Beginning Our Van Life Journey,
showcased what appeared to be a collection of happy moments
from their trip. The footage showed them laughing, kissing, running
on beaches, and exploring beautiful landscapes, a carefully curated presentation

(30:37):
of their relationship that contrasted sharply with the reality of
their situation. The video would eventually amass more than seven
million views, becoming a haunting artifact of their journey and
a stark reminder of how social media can mask the
reality of domestic violence.

Speaker 2 (30:55):
Viewers who watched the video after.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
Learning of Gabby's fate would analyze every frame for signs
of the trouble that was brewing beneath the surface. August
twenty first marked another significant date, Gabby's final FaceTime call
with her father, Joseph. During this conversation, Joe noticed no
obvious red flags that would indicate his daughter was in
immediate danger. Gabby appeared to be in good spirits and

(31:20):
excited about the next phase of their journey.

Speaker 2 (31:23):
This call would later.

Speaker 1 (31:24):
Torment her father, who would spend countless hours wondering if
there had been signs he missed or words he should
have said. On August twenty fourth, Gabby was seen leaving
a hotel near Salt Lake City International Airport alongside Brian.
Staff at the hotel would later remember the couple, though
they couldn't have known, they were witnessing some of Gabby's
final hours. From Salt Lake City, the couple planned to

(31:47):
head to Grand Teton National Park in northwestern Wyoming, a
destination that represented the climax of their van life adventure.
August twenty fifth proved to be a day of final communication.
Gabby posted what would be her last photo to Instagram,
an image of herself that would later take on heartbreaking significance.

(32:08):
She also spoke to her mother, Nicol Schmidt, for what
would be their final conversation. During this call, Gabby told
her mother about their plans to visit Grand Teton and
Yellowstone National Parks, locations that should have provided the perfect
backdrop for the content she loved creating. However, by August
twenty seventh, the situation had deteriorated dramatically. On this date,

(32:32):
Gabby was seen with Brian around one PM and Jackson,
Wyoming at a restaurant called Mary Piglets. A witness later
reported that the couple appeared to be fighting during this meal,
providing evidence that their conflicts had continued and possibly intensified
since the Moab incident. Security camera footage from a nearby
Whole Foods captured the couple at two thirteen pm that

(32:54):
same day, marking one of the last confirmed sightings of
Gabby alive. The mundane nature of this footage, a young
couple shopping for groceries, makes it all the more heartbreaking
in retrospect. On this same day, August twenty seventh, Gabby
placed a phone call to her ex boyfriend, but he
was working and unable to answer. This detail, revealed in

(33:17):
the American Murder Gabby Petito documentary, suggests that Gabby may
have been seeking help or trying to reach out to
someone outside of her immediate situation. The fact that she
was attempting to contact an ex boyfriend indicates she may
have been feeling isolated or desperate. Brian's actions on August
twenty ninth reveal the calculated nature of what would happen next.

(33:39):
According to his parents' later testimony, Brian called his mother
that day, and as their conversation was brought to an end,
his tone completely changed. When his father contacted him back,
Brian told him that Gabby's gone and that he may
need a lawyer, without providing further details. This phone call
suggests that by August twenty nine, Brian knew that Gabby

(34:01):
was dead and was already planning how to cover up
his crime. The fact that he immediately requested legal representation
indicates a level of premeditation and awareness of his culpability
that would later influence how investigators viewed the case. August
twenty ninth also marked the beginning of Brian's attempts to
create an alibi and distance himself from the crime scene.

(34:23):
On this date, he made numerous phone calls to his
parents saying Gabby was gone and he needed help. His
family called an attorney immediately after these conversations, suggesting they
understood the gravity of the situation. Most disturbingly, August twenty
ninth was when Brian began his elaborate deception campaign. He

(34:44):
hitchhiked two separate times to get from where he had
placed Gabby's body back to their van. During these hitchhiking incidents,
he told multiple lies to the people who picked him up,
creating false stories about camping alone and needing transportation. A
TikTok user named Maria Baker later came forward to report
that she and her boyfriend had picked up Brian hitchhiking

(35:04):
at Colter Bay in Grand Teton National Park on August
twenty ninth, Baker said Brian claimed he had been camping
for multiple days without his fiancee and needed a ride
to Jackson, Wyoming. When Baker mentioned they were actually heading
to Jackson Hole, Brian became agitated and insisted on being
let out of the vehicle immediately. This hitchhiking incident is

(35:26):
particularly significant because it shows Brian actively creating false narratives
about his situation and Gabby's whereabouts. He was already lying
to strangers, practicing the deceptions he would later use with
law enforcement and the public. On August thirtieth, Brian sent
the final text message from Gabby's phone to her mother.

(35:47):
The message simply said no service in Yosemite, but Nicol
Schmidt immediately knew something was wrong. Gabby never referred to
her grandfather by his first name, Stan, as the message
did in the location was wrong. They weren't supposed to
be in Yosemite. This text message represents the beginning of
Brian's attempt to manipulate the timeline and create confusion about

(36:09):
Gabby's disappearance. He was using her phone to send messages
that would make it appear she was alive and in
contact with her family when she was already dead. Between
August twenty seventh and August thirtieth, text messages were also
sent between Brian and Gabby's phones, and a zel transaction
of seven hundred dollars was made from Gabby's account to
Brian's with the message goodbye, Brian, I'll never ask you

(36:33):
for anything again. These activities, all conducted by Brian, were
designed to create the impression that Gabby was alive and
that their relationship was ending amicably. The calculated nature of
these deceptions reveals the extent to which Brian was capable
of manipulating evidence and covering his tracks. He wasn't acting
in a panic or out of passion. He was methodically

(36:55):
creating a false narrative that would protect him from prosecution.
In September first, twenty twenty one, Brian Laundry returned alone
to his parents' Northport home in the Ford Transit connect van.
He arrived without Gabby, without explanation, and immediately assumed a
stance of silence that he would maintain until his death.

(37:16):
His return home marked the beginning of what would become
a national obsession and one of the most high profile
missing persons cases in recent American history. The journey that
had begun with such hope and excitement on July second
had ended in tragedy.

Speaker 2 (37:30):
Just two months later.

Speaker 1 (37:32):
Gabby Petito was dead and Brian Laundry had become a killer.

Speaker 2 (37:36):
When Brian Laundry.

Speaker 1 (37:37):
Returned to his parents Northport, Florida home on September first,
twenty twenty one, without his fiancee, he brought with him
a silence that would become one of the most frustrating
and damning aspects of the entire case. While Gabby's family
grew increasingly desperate for answers, the Laundry family retreated behind
lawyers and refused to cooperate with any efforts to locate

(37:59):
the missing young woremen. The contrast between the two families
responses would become stark and telling. Gabby's parents, step parents,
and extended family would bear their souls to the public,
pleading desperately for any information that might help them find
their daughter. They gave interviews, held press conferences, and used
social media to spread awareness about Gabby's disappearance. Meanwhile, the

(38:22):
Laundryes remained silent, offering no assistance to the search efforts
and refusing to answer even the most basic questions about
when they had last seen Gabby or what Brian had
told them about their trip. For ten agonizing days, this
dynamic continued, Gabby's family tried repeatedly to contact Brian and
his parents, seeking any information about their daughter's whereabouts. Their

(38:45):
calls went unanswered, their texts were ignored, and their desperate
pleas for help were met with silence. On September eleventh,
twenty twenty one, Gabby's mother, Nicole Schmidt, officially reported her
daughter missing to the Suffolk County Police Department. The missing
person's report marked the beginning of what would become a
massive search effort involving local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.

(39:10):
The case immediately attracted significant media attention, partly because of
the compelling nature of the story a young couple on
a van life adventure, with one partner returning home alone
and refusing to explain what had happened to the other.
The fact that their journey had been extensively documented on
social media added another layer of public interest, as people

(39:31):
could see the progression of their trip through Gabby's Instagram
posts and their YouTube video. However, The intense media coverage
of Gabby's case would later raise important questions about missing
persons cases and which stories received national attention. Media critics
pointed out that Gabby's case exemplified missing white woman syndrome,
a term describing the news media's disproportionate focus on missing

(39:54):
person cases involving young, attractive, white, upper middle class women.
All cases involving people of color received significantly less attention.
Stay tuned for more of the guilty files will be
right back. After these messages, several outlets compared Gabby's case
to the approximately seven hundred ten Indigenous people reported missing

(40:18):
in or near the same Wyoming location between twenty eleven
and twenty twenty, highlighting the stark disparity in media coverage.
Joseph Petito initially expressed discomfort with this criticism, but later
recognized the disparities it underscored and used his platform to
advocate for greater attention to missing persons cases involving marginalized groups.

(40:41):
Despite the problematic aspects of the media coverage, the attention
did serve to mobilize an unprecedented search effort. Social media
users became amateur investigators analyzing Gabby's posts for clues and
sharing information that they hoped might help Locator. Online sleuths
poured over every detail of the couple's social media presence,

(41:02):
looking for anything that might provide insight into where Gabby
might be. On September fourteenth, twenty twenty one, after days
of mounting public pressure, the Laundry family attorney Stephen Berdolino,
released their first and only considerable public statement. This is
understandably an extremely difficult time for both the Potito family

(41:23):
and the Laundry Family. It is our understanding that a
search has been organized for Miss Potito in or near
Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. On behalf of the
Laundry Family. It is our hope that the search for
Miss Potito is successful and that Miss Potito is reunited
with her family. On the advice of Council, the Laundry

(41:43):
Family is remaining in the background at this juncture and
will have no further comment. This carefully worded statement expressed
hope for Gabby's safe return while simultaneously refusing to provide
any useful information about her disappearance. The phrase remaining in
the background would prove prophetic, as the family would maintain
their silence, even as the case evolved from a missing

(42:06):
person's investigation to a murder case. The public's frustration with
the Laundry family's silence manifested in protests outside their Northport home.
Groups of supporters gathered regularly, holding signs demanding answers and
chanting Where's Gabby. The neighborhood became a focal point for
media attention and public anger as people struggled to understand

(42:29):
how a family could remain silent when a young woman's
life was potentially at stake. On September fifteenth, twenty twenty one,
Brian Laundry was officially named a person of interest in
Gabby's disappearance. This designation meant that while he wasn't formally
charged with a crime, law enforcement considered him to have
information relevant to the case and wanted to speak with him. However,

(42:52):
attempts to interview Brian were met with the same silence
that had characterized his family's response to Gabby's disappearance. The
family his attorney made it clear that Brian would not
be speaking to law enforcement, exercising his constitutional right to
remain silent, even as the search for his missing fiance intensified.
The decision to remain silent, while legally permissible, struck many

(43:14):
observers as morally reprehensible. If Brian truly had nothing to hide,
critics argued, why wouldn't he help with the search for
the woman he claimed to love. His silence seemed to
confirm what many already suspected, that he knew exactly what
had happened to Gabby and was protecting himself rather than
helping defind her. On September seventeenth, twenty twenty one, the

(43:37):
case took another dramatic turn when Brian's parents reported him missing.
According to his family, Brian had left their home on
September thirteenth with a backpack, telling them he was going
hiking in the Carlton Reserve, a twenty five thousand acre
nature preserve in Sarasota County. He had not returned, and
his family claimed they were concerned for his safety. The

(43:58):
timing of Brian's disappear apearance was particularly suspicious, just as
law enforcement pressure was mounting and public attention was reaching
a fever pitch, the main person of interest in Gabby's
disappearance had vanished. Many observers speculated that Brian's disappearance was
not accidental. That he had either fled to avoid prosecution
or had taken his own life out of guilt. The

(44:21):
Carlton Reserve, where Brian allegedly went hiking, was a vast,
challenging wilderness area with dense vegetation, swampland, and dangerous wildlife,
including alligators and venomous snakes. If Brian was indeed in
the reserve, finding him would be extremely difficult and dangerous
for search teams. The search for Brian began immediately, but

(44:42):
it would prove to be as frustrating and fruitless as
the earlier search for Gabby. Law enforcement agencies deployed boats, helicopters, drones,
and specialized search teams to comb through the Carlton Reserve,
but the challenging terrain and vast size of the area
made the search extremely difficult. Meanwhile, the search for Gabby
continued in Wyoming, where investigators focused their efforts on the

(45:06):
areas around Grand Teton National Park, where she was last
known to have been. The FBI coordinated the search efforts,
working with local law enforcement and specialized search and rescue
teams to cover the vast wilderness areas where Gabby might
be found. The parallel searches for both Gabby and Brian
created a surreal situation where the victim and the suspected

(45:27):
perpetrator were both missing, both the subject of massive search efforts,
and both the focus of intense media and public attention.
The case had become a national obsession, with people across
the country following every development and hoping for a resolution
that would bring Gabby home safely. September nineteenth, twenty twenty one,

(45:48):
dawned like any other day in the massive search effort
for Gabby Petito, but it would end with the discovery
that would shatter any remaining hope that this story might
have a happy ending. Days searchers had combed through the
wilderness areas of Wyoming, following every lead and checking every
location where Gabby might have been. The breakthrough came when

(46:09):
investigators focused their attention on the Spread Creek dispersed camping
area in the Bridger Teton National Forest near Grand Teton
National Park. This remote area had been of interest to
investigators because it matched the general location where Gabby was
believed to have been when she last contacted her family. Ironically,
the discovery was aided by technology and social media. The

(46:33):
same forces that had helped document Gabby and Bryan's journey.
A Tampa family who had been vacationing in the area
had unknowingly captured footage of what appeared to be Gabby
and Bryan's white Ford Transit van parked near Spread Creek
on August twenty seventh, twenty twenty one. When this family
learned about the search for Gabby, they reviewed their footage

(46:54):
and contacted authorities with the potential evidence. This video evidence
helped narrow the search areag nificantly, providing investigators with a
specific location and time frame to focus their efforts. The
footage showed the van parked along a dirt road near
Spread Creek in the late evening hours, exactly when investigators
believed Gabby had gone missing. On Sunday afternoon, September nineteenth,

(47:18):
searchers made the heartbreaking discovery that everyone had feared but
hoped would never come. Human remains were found in the
Spread Creek area that were consistent with the description of
Gabby Petito. The location was remote and difficult to access,
explaining why previous search efforts had not uncovered the remains.

Speaker 2 (47:37):
Earlier.

Speaker 1 (47:38):
FBI Supervisory Senior Resident Agent Charles Jones announced the discovery
at a press conference held at the Craig Thomas Discovery
and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park earlier today.
Human remains were discovered consistent with Gabrielle Petito, Jones told
the gathered media and the world watching. Full forensic identification

(47:59):
has not been completed to confirm one hundred percent that
we found Gabby, but her family has been notified of
this discovery. The announcement sent shockwaves through the thousands of
people who had been following the case. While many had
feared this outcome, the confirmation that a body had been
found transformed the case from a missing person's investigation into

(48:20):
what everyone suspected would become a murder case. Jones declined
to provide details about the condition of the remains or
the specific circumstances of their discovery, citing the ongoing investigation. However,
he did confirm that the cause of death had not
yet been determined, and that a full autopsy would be
needed to establish both the identity of the remains and

(48:42):
the manner of death. The impact of the announcement was
immediate and profound. Gabby's father, Joseph Petito, posted a heartbreaking
message on Twitter shortly after the news broke. The image
showed Gabby with painted wings behind her, captioned simply with
a broken heart emoji and the words she touched the world.

Speaker 2 (49:03):
This phrase would.

Speaker 1 (49:04):
Become a lasting tribute to Gabby's impact on the thousands
of people who had followed her story. On September twenty first,
twenty twenty one, the Teton County Coroner's Office officially confirmed
what everyone had already known in their hearts. The remains
found near Grand Teton National Park were those of gabrielle
Venora Petito. The preliminary determination was that she had died

(49:27):
by homicide, though the specific cause of death was still
pending the completion of the full autopsy. The confirmation of
Gabby's identity and the ruling of homicide transformed the case completely.
What had begun as a missing person's investigation was now
officially a murder case, and Brian Laundry had gone from
being a person of interest in a disappearance to being

(49:48):
the primary suspect in a homicide. The location where Gabby's
remains were found painted a tragic picture of her final moments.
The Spread Creek area is remote and beautiful, surrounded by
the kind of natural beauty that Gabby had loved to
photograph and share with her followers. The contrast between the
stunning landscape and the horror of what had happened there

(50:10):
was heartbreaking for everyone who had followed her journey. Investigators
began the painstaking process of documenting the crime scene and
gathering evidence that might help them understand exactly what had
happened to Gabby. The remote location meant that any evidence
would be challenging to process, but it also meant that
the scene had been largely undisturbed since the crime occurred.

(50:33):
An apparent stone memorial was later discovered near the location
where Gabby's body was found, though it was unclear who
had created it or when it had been placed there.
This memorial became a focal point for people who wanted
to pay their respects to Gabby and honor her memory
in the place where her life had ended. The discovery
of Gabby's remains also renewed urgency in the search for

(50:54):
Brian Laundry. With the case now officially a homicide investigation,
finding Brian became even more critical. He was no longer
just a person of interest who might have information about
a missing person, he was now the prime suspect in
a murder case. On September twenty second, twenty twenty one,
a federal warrant was issued for Brian's arrest, though notably

(51:16):
not for murder. Instead, the warrant charged him with the
unauthorized use of a debit card, alleging that he had
used Gabby's debit card and pen to withdraw more than
one thousand dollars between August thirtieth and September first. While
this charge seemed minor compared to the suspected murder, it
provided law enforcement with the legal authority to arrest Brian

(51:38):
when he was found. The FBI made it clear that
while the warrant allowed for Brian's arrest, the investigation into
Gabby's murder was ongoing. While this warrant allows law enforcement
to arrest mister Laundry, the FBI and our partners across
the country continued to investigate the facts and circumstances of
Miss Petito's homicide. FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider

(52:01):
said in a statement the discovery of Gabby's remains brought
closure to one part of the investigation, but opened many
new questions, how exactly had she died, what had led
to the violence that ended her life, and where was
Brian Laundry, the man who investigators believed held the answers
to these questions. For Gabby's family, the confirmation of their

(52:23):
worst fears was devastating, but also brought.

Speaker 2 (52:26):
A measure of closure.

Speaker 1 (52:28):
They now knew that their daughter was never coming home,
but they also knew that she had been found and
that the process of seeking justice could begin. The attorney
representing Gabby's family released a statement asking for privacy as
they grieved. The family and I will be forever grateful
to the agencies that had worked to find Gabby. The
statement also thanked the public for their support and asked

(52:51):
that they continued to help other missing persons cases with
the same energy they had brought to Gabby's search. The
discovery that had ended the search for Gabby Petit marked
the beginning of a new phase in the case, the
hunt for her killer and the quest for answers about
what had happened in those final days of her life.
With Gabby Petito confirmed dead and Brian Laundry missing, one

(53:13):
of the most intensive man hunts in recent American history
began in earnest, the search for Brian transformed from looking
for a person of interest who might have information to
hunting for the prime suspect in a murder case.

Speaker 2 (53:27):
The stakes had.

Speaker 1 (53:28):
Changed completely, and law enforcement agencies across the country mobilized
to find him. The Carlton Reserve in Sarasota County, Florida
remained the focal point of the search efforts. This twenty
five thousand acre nature preserve was where Brian's parents claimed
he had gone hiking on September thirteenth and never returned.
The reserve presented enormous challenges for searchers. It was a

(53:51):
vast wilderness area with dense vegetation, swampland, and dangerous wildlife,
including alligators and venomous snakes on any Sheriff Carmine Marsino
described the treacherous conditions that search teams faced. These are very,
very difficult conditions. You're searching in areas that you just
can't walk up and look. It's not like you're searching

(54:12):
a house.

Speaker 2 (54:13):
Or a car.

Speaker 1 (54:14):
These areas are huge and they're covered by water. Search
teams often found themselves working in nearly chest high water,
navigating through terrain that was both dangerous and difficult to traverse.
The search effort involved multiple law enforcement agencies and specialized teams.
The FBI took the lead, coordinating with local police departments,

(54:36):
sheriffs offices, and specialized search and rescue units. Helicopters flew overhead,
while boats navigated the waterways, and teams on foot carefully
searched the areas that were accessible on land. Cadaver dogs
were brought in to help locate human remains, and specialized
equipment was used to search underwater areas and dense vegetation.

(54:57):
The scope and intensity of the search reflected both the
high profile nature of the case and the determination of
law enforcement to find Brian before he could potentially flee
the area or harm himself. However, the search was hampered
by several factors. The Carlton Reserve had been experiencing significant flooding,
which meant that large areas that might normally be accessible

(55:20):
to search teams were under water. This flooding also meant
that any evidence or remains in the area might have
been moved or contaminated by the water. Additionally, the vast
size of the reserve meant that even with significant resources,
deployed searchers could only cover a fraction of the area
each day. The reserve contained more than eighty miles of

(55:40):
hiking trails, numerous camping areas, and vast expanses of wilderness
that had never been mapped or searched. The search for
Brian was also complicated by the fact that he was
familiar with the area. According to his family, Brian had
hiked in the Carlton Reserve before and knew the terrain.
This local nightee could have given him a significant advantage

(56:02):
in evading searchers, allowing him to find hiding places or
escape routes that law enforcement might not immediately discover. Public
interest in the search was intense, with news crews and
curious onlookers gathering near the reserve to follow the developments.
The search became a daily news story, with updates on
the progress and new areas being searched. Social media users

(56:25):
tracked every development, analyzing photos from the search scene and
speculating about where Brian might be hiding. Celebrity bounty hunter
Dwayne Dog Chapman joined the search efforts, bringing additional attention
to the case. Chapman, famous for his television show Dog
the bounty hunter conducted his own search efforts and claimed
to have received tips about Brian's possible whereabouts. While his

(56:48):
involvement generated significant media coverage, it did not result in
any breakthroughs in locating Brian. The search efforts extended beyond
the Carlton Reserve as law enforcement investigated other possible locations
where Brian might have gone. Tips poured in from across
the country, with reported sightings from multiple states. Each tip

(57:10):
had to be investigated, stretching law enforcement resources and adding
to the complexity of the search. The FBI conducted searches
of the Laundry family home, removing boxes of evidence and
towing away vehicles for examination. These searches were designed to
gather any evidence that might provide clues about Brian's whereabouts
or shed light on what had happened during the van

(57:32):
life trip. The Laundry families continued silence, frustrated investigators and
the public alike. While they had reported Brian missing and
claimed to be cooperating with the search efforts, they provided
minimal information about his mental state, his possible plans, or
any statements he might have made about Gabby's disappearance. Their attorney,

(57:53):
Stephen Berdolino maintained that the family was cooperating fully with
law enforcement within the bounds of protecting their legal intereststs. However,
this cooperation appeared limited to providing basic information about when
Brian had left and where he said he was going.
The family's behavior during this period was closely scrutinized by
both law enforcement and the public. Critics argued that if

(58:16):
they truly wanted to help find their son and get
answers about Gabby's death, they would be more forthcoming with information.
Supporters countered that they were following legal advice and protecting
their constitutional rights in a complex situation. As the days
turned into weeks, the search for Brian became increasingly challenging.
The initial areas of focus had been thoroughly searched without results,

(58:40):
forcing investigators to expand their search to more remote and
difficult areas of the reserve. Weather conditions also complicated the
search efforts. The Florida climate meant that search teams had
to deal with intense heat, humidity, and frequent thunderstorms. These
conditions made the work more dangerous for searchers and potentially
altered the crime scene or evidence that might help locate Brian.

(59:04):
The psychological pressure of the search was enormous for everyone involved.
Law enforcement knew that every day Brian remained free was
another day he could potentially flee or destroy evidence. The
media pressure was constant, with updates expected daily on the
progress of the search. For Gabby's family, the search for
Brian represented their best hope of getting answers about what

(59:25):
had happened to their daughter.

Speaker 2 (59:27):
They wanted him found alive.

Speaker 1 (59:29):
So that he could face justice and potentially provide information
about Gabby's final days. The search for Brian Laundry had
become more than just a man hunt. It was a
symbol of the pursuit of justice for Gabby Petito and
a test of the ability of law enforcement to find
someone who seemed to have vanished into the wilderness. October twentieth,

(59:50):
twenty twenty one, began as another day in the frustrating
search for Brian Laundry, but it would end with the
discovery that would close one chapter of the case while
opening newquestions about the final weeks of the manhunt. Stay
tuned for more of the guilty files. We'll be right
back after these messages. After more than a month of

(01:00:12):
intensive searching, the breakthrough would come not from the coordinated
efforts of hundreds of law enforcement officers, but from a
morning search conducted by Brian's own parents. On this Wednesday morning,
Christopher and ROBERTA. Laundry contacted the FBI and Northport Police
Department to inform them that they wanted to help search
for their son. According to their attorney, Stephen Bertolino, the

(01:00:34):
parents had decided to go to the Maacahatchie Creek Environmental Park,
an area adjacent to the Carlton Reserve where Brian was
known to hike. The timing of the parent's decision to
join the search was immediately controversial. After weeks of remaining
largely silent and refusing to provide significant assistance to the
search efforts, their sudden decision to actively participate raised suspicions

(01:00:56):
among law enforcement and the public. Sickx questioned why they
had waited so long to help and whether they might
have had additional information about Brian's whereabouts. The maaca Hatchie
Creek Environmental Park had been closed to the public for
more than a month as part of the search efforts,
but it had recently reopened. The one hundred and sixty

(01:01:17):
acre park connects to the much larger Carlton Reserve and
features heavily wooded areas with trails and camping areas, exactly
the type of terrain where Brian might have been hiding.
According to Bertolino's account, the Laundry parents arrived at the
park and were met by FBI agents and Northport Police officers.
The family then began searching an area that Brian was

(01:01:38):
known to frequent, focusing on trails and areas where he
had hiked before his disappearance. After a brief search off
a trail that Brian frequented, some articles belonging to Brian
were found, Bertolino explained. Christopher Laundry himself found a white
bag that belonged to his son, while law enforcement officers
discovered a backpack and notebook in the same general area.

(01:02:01):
The discovery of these personal items led to a more
intensive search of the immediate area. It was during this
expanded search that investigators made the grim discovery they had
been expecting but hoping to avoid. Human remains were found
near Brian's belongings. FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael McPherson
announced the discovery at a press conference that afternoon, earlier Today,

(01:02:24):
investigators found what appears to be human remains, along with
personal items such as a backpack and notebook belonging to Brian.

Speaker 2 (01:02:31):
Laundry.

Speaker 1 (01:02:31):
McPherson told the Gathered media these items were found in
an area that up until recently, had been underwater. The
location of the discovery was significant for several reasons. The
area had been searched multiple times during the previous month,
but it had been underwater due to flooding for much
of that period. As the water levels receded, the remains

(01:02:53):
and personal items became visible to searchers. The fact that
the area had been underwater also explained why previous search efforts,
including those using cadaver dogs, had been unsuccessful. The water
had likely masked any scent that might have helped dogs
locate the remains, and the flooding had made the area
inaccessible to ground search teams. The discovery location was described

(01:03:16):
as being about two to three miles inside the Calton Reserve,
or about a forty five minute walk from the entrance
at Maacahatchie Creek Environmental Park. This was a remote area
that would have required significant effort to reach, suggesting that
if Brian had indeed died in this location, he had
made a deliberate effort to get as far from civilization

(01:03:37):
as possible. On October twenty first, twenty twenty one, the
FBI confirmed what many had already suspected. Dental records had
positively identified the remains as those of Brian Christopher Laundry.
The confirmation brought an end to the massive manhunt that
had captivated the nation for more than a month. The
circumstances of the discovery raised immediate questions about how the

(01:04:00):
remains had been missed during previous searches. Law enforcement had
been searching the Carlton Reserve for weeks, using sophisticated equipment
and specialized teams. The fact that Brian's remains were found
only when his parents joined the search seemed suspicious to
many observers. Some critics suggested that the parents might have
known where Brian was all along and had finally decided

(01:04:23):
to lead authorities to his body. Others speculated that the
remains might have been moved, or that Brian had died
more recently than his disappearance dates suggested. However, law enforcement
officials maintained that the discovery was legitimate and that the
previous failure to find the remains was due to the
challenging search conditions rather than any deception or cover up.

(01:04:45):
The flooding in the area had genuinely made it impossible
to search effectively until the water levels receded. The condition
of the remains also supported the timeline suggested by Brian's disappearance.
The body was described as skeletal, indicating that decomposition had
been occurring for an extended period, consistent with Brian having

(01:05:05):
died shortly after he went missing in mid September. Along
with the remains, investigators recovered several items that would prove
crucial to understanding what had happened in Brian's final days.
These included a backpack, a dry bag, clothing, and, most importantly,
a notebook that might contain information about Gabby's death and
Brian's final thoughts. The notebook was found outside of the

(01:05:29):
dry bag and had been clearly affected by water damage. However,
sources close to the investigation indicated that it might still
be salvageable and that investigators would use careful techniques to
dry it out and attempt to recover any written content.
The discovery of Brian's remains brought a complex mix of
emotions for everyone involved in the case. For law enforcement,

(01:05:51):
it represented the end of a challenging and resource intensive manhunt,
but it also meant that the primary suspect in Gabby's
murder would never fail trial or be able to provide
answers about what had happened. For Gabby's family, Brian's death
was both a relief and a.

Speaker 2 (01:06:07):
Source of frustration.

Speaker 1 (01:06:09):
While they were glad that he could no longer harm
anyone else, his death meant that they might never get
the answers they desperately wanted about their daughter's final days
and the circumstances of her murder.

Speaker 2 (01:06:20):
The discovery also raised.

Speaker 1 (01:06:22):
Questions about how Brian had died. While the cause of
death could not be immediately determined from skeletal remains, investigators
would later determine that he had died from a self
inflicted gunshot wound. This finding suggested that Brian had taken
his own life rather than face prosecution for Gabby's murder.
The end of the man hunt marked a turning point

(01:06:42):
in the case, but it did not provide closure. Instead,
it opened new questions about what Brian might have written
in his notebook, whether he had left any confession or
explanation for his actions and what the final weeks of
his life had been like as he hid in the
Florida Wilderness. January twenty first, twenty twenty two, brought a

(01:07:03):
development that many had hoped for but few expected. The
FBI announced that Brian Laundry had confessed to killing Gabby Patito.
The confession came not through police interrogation or courtroom testimony,
but through written words discovered in the water damage notebook
found near his remains in the Carlton Reserve. FBI Denver

(01:07:24):
Division Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider made the announcement
that would finally provide some answers to the questions that
had haunted the case. The investigation did not identify any
other individuals other than Brian Laundry directly involved in the
tragic death of Gabby Patito. The notebook, which had been
carefully processed by FBI forensic experts to recover its contents

(01:07:47):
despite significant water damage, contained what amounted to Brian's final
confession and his attempt to explain or justify his actions. However,
the contents of the confession would prove to be as
controversial and problems as Brian's behavior throughout the entire case.
In June twenty twenty two, Brian's family attorney released the

(01:08:07):
full notebook entry, providing the public with Brian's own words
about what had happened to Gabby. The confession, written in
Brian's handwriting, painted a picture that law enforcement and experts
immediately challenged as self serving and inconsistent with the physical evidence.
I ended her life, Brian wrote in the notebook. I
thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted.

(01:08:30):
But now I see all the mistake I made. I
don't know the extent of Gabby's injuries, only that she
was in extreme pain. I panicked, I was in shock,
but from the moment I decided to take away her pain,
I knew I couldn't go on without her. Brian's account
claimed that Gabby had fallen into water and injured herself,
and that he had killed her as an act of

(01:08:51):
mercy to end her suffering. He portrayed his actions as
compassionate rather than violent, suggesting that he had been trying
to help rather than the woman he claimed to love.
The confession continued with Brian's plans for his own death.
I am ending my life not because of a fear
of punishment, but rather because I can't stand to live
another day without her. However, experts and investigators immediately identified

(01:09:17):
serious problems with Brian's version of events. The confession did
not match the physical evidence or the timeline of events
that had been established through the investigation. Michael Alcazar from
the John Jay College of Criminal Justice was among those
who rejected Brian's account. He characterized Brian as someone who
doesn't want to own up to what he did, and

(01:09:39):
described the confession as Brian trying to find justification for
the actions he did. The autopsy results provided clear evidence
that contradicted Brian's mercy killing narrative. Gabby had died from
manual strangulation. She had been strangled to death by human hands,
not killed quickly to end suffering from an accidental injury.

(01:10:00):
The coroner estimated that she had been dead for three
to four weeks before her body was found, and there
was no evidence of the type of accidental injuries that
Brian described. The location where Gabby's body was found also
contradicted Brian's story. She was discovered in a remote camping area,
not near water, where she might have fallen and been injured,
as Brian claimed, The positioning of her remains and the

(01:10:24):
crime scene evidence suggested a deliberate act of violence rather
than an impulsive mercy killing. Patrick Riley, a lawyer for
the Petito family, dismissed Brian's confession as nonsense. The family
had waited months for answers about what had happened to
their daughter, and Brian's final words provided only more manipulation
and deception rather than the truth they desperately wanted. The

(01:10:48):
confession revealed the extent to which Brian was willing to
lie and manipulate, even in his final moments. Rather than
taking responsibility for his actions, he attempted to portray himself
as a tragic figure who had acted out of love
and compassion. This final deception was consistent with his behavior
throughout the entire case, from his silence after returning to

(01:11:09):
Florida without Gabby to his family's refusal to cooperate with
the search efforts. The timing of the confession's release also
raised questions about Brian's family and their knowledge of his actions.
The fact that they had maintained their silence and refused
to cooperate with investigators took on new significance once it
became clear that Brian had indeed killed Gabby and had

(01:11:30):
written about it before his own death. The confession did
provide some closure to the investigation, allowing the FBI to
officially close the case into Gabby's murder. With Brian dead
and his admission of guilt documented, there would be no
trial and no further investigation into potential co conspirators or
additional suspects. However, the confession also highlighted the limitations of

(01:11:54):
the justice system in cases where the perpetrator dies before
facing trial, He's family would never have the opportunity to
confront Brian in court, to hear him answer questions about
his actions, or to see him held publicly accountable for
what he had done. The confession became part of the
broader conversation about domestic violence and the ways that abusers

(01:12:15):
manipulate narratives to avoid responsibility for their actions. Even in death,
Brian was attempting to control the story and present himself
as something other than what he was, a man who
had killed the woman he claimed to love in a
moment of rage and violence. For experts who worked with
domestic violence cases, Brian's confession was unfortunately typical of how

(01:12:37):
abusers think about their actions. Rather than acknowledging the harm
they have caused, they create narratives that minimize their responsibility
and portray themselves as victims of circumstances or as well
intentioned people who made mistakes. The release of the confession
marked the official end of the investigation into Gabby Petito's murder,
but it did not provide the closure that many had

(01:12:59):
hoped for. Instead, it served as a final reminder of
Brian's capacity for deception and his refusal to take true
responsibility for the destruction he had caused. The conclusion of
the Gabby Petito case marked the beginning of a broader
conversation about domestic violence, social media, missing persons cases, and
the criminal justice system. The impact of Gabby's story extended

(01:13:23):
far beyond the specific details of her murder, touching on
systemic issues that affect thousands of people every year. The
case had a profound impact on how law enforcement responds
to domestic violence incidents. The Moab police encounter became a
case study in how warning signs can be missed and
how proper training might have prevented a tragedy. An independent

(01:13:45):
investigation found that the officers had made several unintentional mistakes,
including failing to cite Gabby for domestic violence despite having
probable cause for an arrest. The investigation's findings led to
recommendations for additional try training and domestic violence investigation and
legal training to ensure officers understand state laws and statutes.

(01:14:07):
The case highlighted the importance of recognizing that domestic violence
incidents often involve complex power dynamics where the apparent aggressor
may actually be the victim defending themselves. In response to
the lessons learned from Gabby's case, Florida enacted new legislation
changing how law enforcement responds to domestic violence incidents. These

(01:14:28):
legal changes were designed to ensure that future cases would
be handled more appropriately and that potential warning signs would
not be missed. The case also sparked important conversations about
missing persons cases and media coverage. Critics pointed out that
Gabby's case exemplified missing white woman syndrome, highlighting how cases

(01:14:48):
involving young, attractive white women receive disproportionate media attention, while
cases involving people of color, Indigenous people, and other marginalized
groups are largely ignored. Joseph Patito, Gabby's father, initially expressed
discomfort with this criticism, but later recognized the disparities it highlighted.

(01:15:09):
He has since used his platform to advocate for greater
attention to missing persons cases involving marginalized groups, working on
projects like the television series Faces of the Missing and
the Gabby Patito Foundation. Gabby's family established the Gabby Patito
Foundation as a lasting legacy to their daughter's memory. The
foundation focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence, while also

(01:15:33):
supporting organizations that assist in locating missing persons and provide
aid to victims of domestic violence. The foundation's work ensures
that Gabby's story continues to help others who might be
in similar situations. The Foundation has also lobbied for tougher
laws and policies regarding how police respond to reports of

(01:15:54):
intimate partner abuse and missing persons. We have to prevent
this from happening to other people people, Nicole Schmidt has said,
it keeps us strong. Gabby works through us. We can't
not do it. We have to move forward and change
the world together. In twenty twenty two, Gabby's parents donated
one hundred thousand dollars to the National Domestic Violence Hotline

(01:16:16):
in an effort to support the organization's critical work. This
donation was part of their ongoing commitment to turning their
tragedy into something that could help others. The case also
highlighted the role of social media in both domestic violent
situations and missing persons investigations. Gabby's social media presence had
created a curated image of a perfect relationship and adventure,

(01:16:40):
masking the reality of the abuse she was experiencing. This
raised important questions about how social media can be used
to hide domestic violence and how the pressure to maintain
perfect online images can prevent victims from seeking help. At
the same time, social media played a crucial role in
the search for Gabby. Online and Sleuth's analyzed her posts

(01:17:01):
for clues, shared information about her disappearance, and helped maintain
public attention on the case. The power of social media
to mobilize people in search efforts was unprecedented, though it
also demonstrated how online attention can be unevenly distributed. The
increased interest in Gabby's case led to the discovery of
five bodies of other missing persons during the search efforts.

(01:17:24):
While this demonstrated the positive potential of widespread search efforts,
it also highlighted how many people go missing without receiving
similar attention or resources. The case became the subject of
multiple documentaries, television movies, and media analyzes. A Lifetime movie
called The Gabby Petito Story was released in October twenty

(01:17:45):
twenty two, followed by various documentary treatments, including Netflix's American
Murder Gabby Petito in February twenty twenty five. These productions
have helped keep Gabby's story in the public consciousness while
also educating people about the warning signs of domestic violence.
For the families involved, the aftermath of the case has

(01:18:06):
been a complex journey of grief, healing, and advocacy. Gabby's
parents and step parents have described how their shared loss
has brought them closer together, creating bonds that helped them
navigate their ongoing grief while working to honor their daughter's memory.
We lean on each other one day at a time,
Joe Patito has said about the relationship between Gabby's four parents.

(01:18:29):
The tragedy has created a unique family unit, bound together
by their love for Gabby and their commitment to ensuring
her death was not in vain. The case also resulted
in various legal proceedings. Beyond the criminal investigation, Gabby's family
filed lawsuits against both the Moab Police Department and Brian's parents,
seeking accountability for actions they believe contributed to Gabby's death

(01:18:53):
or caused additional emotional distress to their family. The lawsuit
against the Moab Police Department sought fifty million dollars in damages,
alleging that the officer's negligence in handling the August twelfth
domestic violence call contributed to Gabby's death. The family's attorneys
argued that if the officers had properly followed Utah's domestic

(01:19:14):
violence laws and arrested someone during the incident, Gabby might
still be alive today. The lawsuit against Brian's parents, Christopher
and ROBERTA. Laundry, was filed in March twenty twenty two,
seeking more than thirty thousand dollars in damages for the
mental anguish the family suffered due to what they alleged
was the Laundry's deception and lack of cooperation. The suit

(01:19:36):
claimed that Brian's parents knew about Gabby's death while her
family was desperately searching for her, and that they helped
their son conceal the murder and potentially planned to flee
the country. The lawsuit also alleged that instead of helping
locate Gabby, the Laundry parents went on vacation with Brian
and ignored pleas for help from Gabby's family. Stay tuned

(01:19:57):
for more of the guilty files. We'll be right back
after these messages. It claimed that Roberta blocked Nicole's phone
number and Facebook profile to avoid contact while Nicole sought
answers about what happened to her daughter. In February twenty
twenty four, the lawsuit against the Laundry parents was settled

(01:20:17):
out of court. The details of the settlement were not disclosed,
but all parties reluctantly agreed to the settlement to avoid
further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. According to a
statement from the Potito family's lawyer, our hope is to
close this chapter of our lives to allow us to
move on and continue to honor the legacy of our

(01:20:38):
beautiful daughter, Gabby. The Laundry family, through their attorney, has
maintained that they acted appropriately throughout the ordeal and that
they were following legal advice in their decisions not to
cooperate with the initial search efforts. They have expressed sympathy
for the Potito family's loss while defending their own actions
during an impossible situation. The case ought also revealed troubling

(01:21:01):
details about the Laundry family's knowledge of the situation. A
letter from ROBERTA. Laundry to Brian was found with his
remains marked burn after reading. The letter, which he later
claimed was written months earlier during a strained period in
their relationship and was unrelated to Gabby's disappearance, contained disturbing
language about helping him dispose of a body and get

(01:21:23):
out of prison if needed. I just want you to
remember I will always love you, and I know you
will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can
make me stop loving you. Nothing will or could ever
divide us.

Speaker 2 (01:21:37):
No matter what.

Speaker 1 (01:21:38):
We do, or where we go, or what we say,
we will always love each other, the letter read, according
to CNN. While the family claimed this letter was unrelated
to Gabby's murder, its contents added to questions about what
the family knew and when they knew it. The Gabby
Petito case became more than just a tragic story of
domestic violence and murder. It became a cultural phenomenon that

(01:22:02):
sparked nationwide discussions about relationships, social media, law enforcement, and justice.
The case's impact extended into multiple areas of American society,
influencing everything from police training to social media awareness to
domestic violence advocacy. One of the most significant impacts was
on domestic violence education and awareness. Gabby's story became a

(01:22:26):
teaching tool for recognizing the warning signs of abusive relationships,
particularly for young people who might see themselves in her situation.
The contrast between her social media presence showing a happy
couple and the reality of what was happening behind the
scenes became a powerful example of how abuse can be hidden.
Domestic violence advocates used Gabby's case to educate people about

(01:22:49):
the cycle of abuse, the tactics that abusers used to
control their victims, and the challenges that victims face in
seeking help. The case illustrated how abusers can appear charming
and normal to outsiders while terrorizing their partners in private.
The case also highlighted the particular vulnerabilities of young women
in relationships with controlling partners. Gabby's age, her move away

(01:23:13):
from her support system, and her financial dependence on Brian
were all factors that made it harder for her to
recognize the abuse or seek help. These dynamics are common
in domestic violent situations and were clearly illustrated in Gabby's story.
Law enforcement agencies across the country began using the case
as a training tool for officers responding to domestic violence calls.

(01:23:36):
The Moab incident became a case study in how to
properly assess domestic violent situations, how to recognize when the
apparent aggressor might actually be the victim, and how important
it is to follow proper protocols even when both parties
claim they don't want anyone arrested. The case led to
changes in police training curricula, with more emphasis placed on

(01:23:57):
understanding the dynamics of domestic violence and the tactics that
abusers use to manipulate both their victims and law enforcement
Officers are now better trained to recognize signs that someone
is being coached or intimidated, and to understand that the
person who appears calm and collected might actually be the perpetrator.
The influence on social media culture was equally significant. Gabby's

(01:24:21):
case became a powerful example of how social media can
be used to create false narratives and hide serious problems.
The disconnect between her Instagram posts showing happiness and adventure
and the reality of her situation resonated with many people
who recognized similar disconnects in their own lives or relationships.

(01:24:42):
The case sparked conversations about the pressure to present perfect
lives on social media, and how this pressure can prevent
people from seeking help when they need it. Many people
shared their own stories of staying in bad relationships, partly
because they were embarrassed about how different their reality was
from their own online presentation. The van life community was

(01:25:03):
particularly affected by the case. What had been seen as
a largely positive movement promoting freedom, adventure, and alternative lifestyles
became associated with danger and isolation. The case highlighted the
particular risks of the van life lifestyle for women, especially
those traveling with partners, who might become abusive when isolated

(01:25:24):
from outside support systems. The case also had a significant
impact on missing persons investigations and public awareness. The massive
public response to Gabby's disappearance demonstrated the power of social
media to mobilize search efforts and maintain attention on missing
persons cases. However, it also highlighted the disparities in which

(01:25:45):
cases receive attention and resources. The concept of missing white
woman syndrome became widely discussed as people recognized that cases
involving white, attractive young women from middle class backgrounds received
disproportion media attention compared to cases involving people of color,
Indigenous people, LGBTQ plus individuals, and people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.

(01:26:11):
This awareness led to increased advocacy for missing persons cases
that had been ignored or undercovered. Gabby's father, Joe, became
an advocate for these overlooked cases, using the platform his
daughter's case had created to bring attention to other missing
persons who needed help. The case influenced legislative changes beyond

(01:26:31):
the domestic violence training requirements. Some states began examining their
missing person's protocols to ensure that cases involving marginalized communities
would receive adequate attention and resources. The case became a
catalyst for broader discussions about equity and law enforcement, and
criminal justice. The psychological impact of the case on the

(01:26:52):
American public was substantial. For many people, especially young women,
Gabby's story felt personal and frightening. The fact that it
could happen to someone who seemed to have everything going
for her youth, beauty, an adventurous spirit, and what appeared
to be a loving relationship made many people examine their
own relationships and safety. The case also demonstrated the power

(01:27:16):
of collective action and public engagement in criminal cases. The
thousands of people who followed Gabby's story shared information about
her disappearance and maintained pressure for answers showed how public
attention could influence law enforcement investigations and keep cases in
the spotlight. However, the case also raised concerns about the

(01:27:36):
potential negative effects of such intense public attention. The harassment
of the Laundry family, while understandable given their silence and
apparent lack of cooperation, demonstrated how public anger could sometimes
cross the line into vigilanti behavior. The treatment of the
case by various media outlets became a subject of analysis

(01:27:56):
and criticism. While the coverage helped maintain attention on the
search for Gabby, it also sometimes veered into sensationalism and
speculation that may have interfered with the investigation or caused
additional pain to the families involved. The Gabby Petito case
serves as a tragic, but powerful educational tool that continues
to influence how society understands and responds to domestic violence,

(01:28:21):
missing persons cases, and the intersection of social media and
real life. The lessons learned from her story have the
potential to save lives if they are properly understood and applied.
One of the most important lessons is about recognizing the
warning signs of domestic violence, particularly in relationships that appear
healthy from the outside. Gabby's case showed how abusers can

(01:28:43):
be charming and manipulative, presenting themselves as loving partners while
systematically controlling and isolating their victims. The warning signs that
were present in Gabby and Bryan's relationship included his controlling
behavior such as stealing her wallet and id to prevent
her from going out with friends, her increasing isolation from

(01:29:03):
her family and friends, his attempts to manage her interactions
with others, and the pattern of emotional and eventually physical
violence that escalated over time. Gabrielle Venora Petito lived for
twenty two years, but her impact on the world extends
far beyond the brief span.

Speaker 2 (01:29:20):
Of her life.

Speaker 1 (01:29:22):
The young woman who dreamed of sharing beautiful places with
people through her travel blog ended up sharing something much
more important, a story that has educated millions about domestic violence,
inspired changes in law enforcement training, and motivated countless people
to examine their own relationships and safety. Gabby's story is
tragic not just because of how it ended, but because

(01:29:44):
of how preventable it was. The warning signs were there
in Brian's controlling behavior, in the escalating conflicts during their trip,
in the Moab police encounter that should have resulted in
intervention rather than separation. Each missed opportunity represents a chance
that could have saved her life. Her father's words after
her body was found she touched the world, have proven prophetic.

(01:30:08):
Through her death, Gabby has indeed touched the world, reaching
people she never met and helping to save lives she
never knew were in danger. The case also serves as
a stark reminder of the prevalence of domestic violence in
our society. Gabby's story resonated so powerfully because it could
happen to anyone. She was young, beautiful, educated, and from

(01:30:30):
a loving family with resources. If it could happen to her,
it could happen to anyone. This universality is both terrifying
and important. It forces us to confront the reality that
domestic violence crosses all boundaries of class, race, education.

Speaker 2 (01:30:46):
And background.

Speaker 1 (01:30:48):
Brian Laundry's actions robbed the world of whatever contributions Gabby
might have made during a full lifetime. We will never
know what beautiful places she might have shown us, what
art she might have created, what lives she might have
touched through her authentic enthusiasm and warmth. The loss of
her potential is immeasurable. But perhaps the most important lesson

(01:31:09):
from Gabby's story is that love should never hurt. Real
love doesn't involve controlling behavior, physical violence, emotional manipulation, or
isolation from friends and family. Real love supports, encourages.

Speaker 2 (01:31:24):
And protects.

Speaker 1 (01:31:26):
The relationship between Gabby and Brian was not a love
story gone wrong. It was a story of abuse that
escalated to murder. For anyone who may hear this and
that recognizes themselves or their relationship in Gabby's story, her
legacy includes this message, you deserve better. You deserve to
be safe. You deserve to be treated with respect and kindness.

(01:31:49):
Help is available, and you.

Speaker 2 (01:31:50):
Are not alone.

Speaker 1 (01:31:51):
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides twenty four to seven
support for people in abusive relationships. Local domestic violence organisations
offer shelter, counseling, legal assistance, and other crucial services. Friends,
family members, teachers, counselors, and others can provide support and
help create safety plans. Gabby Patito's story ended in tragedy,

(01:32:15):
but her legacy lives on in every person who recognizes
warning signs in their own or other's relationships, every police
officer who receives better training and domestic violence response, every
person who feels empowered to speak up when they see
something wrong, and every life that is saved because people
learned from her story. The van life adventure that began

(01:32:37):
with such hope and excitement ended in unimaginable horror. But
from that horror has emerged education, awareness, and action that
honor Gabby's memory and work to ensure that her story
helps prevent others from suffering the same fate. In this way,
Gabby Patito continues to touch the world. Long after her
journey ended. Three years have passed since Gabby Petito's body

(01:33:01):
was found in that remote Wyoming wilderness, and the ripple
effects of her story continue to spread across the American landscape,
like stones thrown into still water. In living rooms across
the country, parents have difficult conversations with their daughters about
relationships and warning signs. In police academies, rookie officers study

(01:33:21):
body camera footage from Moab, learning to see what their
predecessors missed. In courtrooms and legislative chambers, lawmakers debate new
protections for domestic violence victims, often invoking Gabby's name as
they argue for change. The anniversary of her death each
August brings a renewed wave of attention to her case,

(01:33:41):
but for those who knew and loved her, every day
carries the weight of her absence. Her Instagram account remains
active posthumously, managed by her family, with over a million
followers who continued to engage with her content and share
memories of how her story affected them. The comment sections
have become virtual memorials where strangers share their own stories

(01:34:03):
of survival, recovery, and escape from abusive relationships. She's still
helping people. Her stepfather, Jim Schmidt reflected during a recent interview.
Every day we get messages from someone who says Gabby's
story help them recognize what was happening in their own relationship,
or gave them the courage to leave, or help them
help someone else. That's how we know she's still with us.

(01:34:27):
The van life community, once shaken by the association with
Gabby's murder, has also evolved in response to her story.
Many van life influencers now regularly share safety tips and
resources about domestic violence. Solo female travelers have developed networks
of support and checking systems designed to prevent isolation and
provide help when needed. The community has largely embraced the

(01:34:50):
responsibility that comes with promoting a lifestyle that can be
particularly vulnerable to abuse. Gabby's story made us realize that
we had a responsibility to talk about safety, not just adventure,
explained Sarah Martinez, a popular van life YouTuber who has
incorporated domestic violence awareness into her content. We can't just

(01:35:11):
show the beautiful sunsets and amazing hikes anymore without also
talking about how to stay safe, especially if you're traveling
with a partner. The Moab Police Department underwent significant changes
following the independent investigation into their handling of Gabby and
Bryan's domestic violence incident. Officer Eric Pratt, who was the
lead officer during that fateful encounter, received additional training and

(01:35:35):
was later promoted to detective, a development that sparked controversy
among some advocates, who felt he should have faced more
serious consequences for his role in missing the warning signs. However,
Chief Brett Edge defended the decision, arguing that Pratt's experience
with the case had made him a more effective officer
who could train others. Officer Pratt carries the weight of

(01:35:57):
that day with him every day, Edge explained, but rather
than let it destroy him, he's used it to become
better at recognizing domestic violence situations and helping other officers
do the same. The department now uses the body camera
footage from Gabby and Bryan's encounter as a training tool,
showing officers exactly what warning signs to look for and

(01:36:18):
how seemingly calm demeanor can mask dangerous intentions. The training
has been adopted by police departments across the country, turning
Gabby's final crisis into a teaching moment that could save
other lives. Utah changed its domestic violence response protocols partly
in response to the Moab incident, requiring officers to receive

(01:36:39):
specialized training before they can respond to domestic violence calls.
The new protocols also mandate that officers contact domestic violence
advocates during certain types of calls, providing additional expertise and
support for both officers and victims. The legal battles stemming
from Gabby's case have also reached resolution. The settlement between

(01:37:01):
the Petito family and the Laundry family was finalized in
early twenty twenty four, with both sides agreeing to confidential
terms that allowed them.

Speaker 2 (01:37:10):
To move forward.

Speaker 1 (01:37:11):
While the details remain private, sources close to both families
suggest that the settlement included provisions for the Laundries to
participate in domestic violence awareness efforts, turning their painful experience
into an opportunity to help others. The lawsuit against the
Moab Police Department continues to work its way through the courts,
with both sides preparing for what could be a landmark

(01:37:34):
case about law enforcement liability in domestic violence situations. The
outcome could have significant implications for how police departments across
the country handle similar cases, and what level of responsibility
they bear when their response to domestic violence calls proves inadequate.
Christopher and Roberta. Laundry have largely retreated from public view,

(01:37:56):
living quietly in Northport while dealing with their own grief
and trauma. Their attorney, Stephen Berdolino, occasionally issued statements on
their behalf, usually expressing sympathy for the Petito family and
asking for privacy as both families continue to heal. There
are no winners in this situation, Bertolino said in a
rare interview. Two young people are dead, two families are

(01:38:18):
forever changed, and all we can do is try to
learn from this tragedy and work to prevent others like it.
The media attention surrounding Gabby's case has also evolved over time.
The initial intense coverage, which some critics described as sensationalistic,
has given way to more thoughtful examinations of domestic violence,

(01:38:39):
social media culture, and systemic issues in law enforcement and
criminal justice. Several major news organizations have used the anniversary
of Gabby's death to launch investigations into missing persons cases
involving marginalized communities, helping to address some of.

Speaker 2 (01:38:55):
The disparities that her case highlighted.

Speaker 1 (01:38:58):
Netflix's documentary series American Murder Gabby Petito, released in February
twenty twenty five, marked a new phase in how her
story is told. Rather than focusing on the sensational aspects
of the case, the series used extensive interviews with her
family and friends to paint a fuller picture of who
Gabby was as a person, while also providing educational content

(01:39:20):
about domestic violence and its warning signs. We wanted people
to see Gabby as a whole person, not just a victim,
explained the series director. She was creative, funny, ambitious, loving.
She had so much life ahead of her. But we
also wanted to make sure that anyone watching who might
be in a similar situation could recognize the signs and

(01:39:42):
get help. The series has been praised by domestic violence
advocates for its sensitive handling of the subject matter and
its focus on education rather than exploitation. Stay tuned for
more of the guilty files. We'll be right back after
these messages. It has also sparked renewed interest in other

(01:40:02):
missing persons cases, with viewers using social media to share
information about unsolved disappearances and advocate for more resources for
search efforts. Gabby's influence on social media culture continues to evolve.
Her case has contributed to a broader conversation about authenticity
online and the pressure to present perfect lives on platforms

(01:40:24):
like Instagram and TikTok. Many influencers now make a point
of sharing both the highlights and the struggles of their lives,
creating more honest and realistic portrayals of relationships and travel.
Gabby's case taught us that we need to be more
real with our followers, explained Jessica Chen, a travel blogger
who has incorporated discussions about relationship safety into her content.

(01:40:47):
It's not enough to just show the pretty pictures anymore.
We have a responsibility to talk about the reality of
what we're doing and to make sure people know that
what they see online isn't always the whole story. As
time passes, new aspects of Gabby's legacy continue to emerge.
Her artistic works, which her family has preserved and occasionally shared,

(01:41:10):
reveal a creative mind that was just beginning to find
its voice. Her journals and personal writings, some of which
were included in the Netflix documentary show a young woman
grappling with the normal challenges of early adulthood while also
dealing with an increasingly dangerous relationship. Reading her journals, you
can see her trying to make sense of what was
happening to her. Her mother, Nicole explained, she knew something

(01:41:33):
wasn't right, but she was also so young and in love,
and she wanted to believe that things would get better.
I think a lot of young women will recognize themselves
in those writings. The preservation of Gabby's memory has become
a full time commitment for her family. They regularly speak
at conferences and events about domestic violence, share her story

(01:41:54):
with law enforcement agencies and educational institutions, and work to
keep her foundation growing and evolving. The work has been
both healing and exhausting, providing purpose while also requiring them
to relive their trauma repeatedly.

Speaker 2 (01:42:09):
In the end, that may be the.

Speaker 1 (01:42:11):
Most fitting tribute to Gabrielle Venora Patito, not that her
story ended in tragedy, but that her legacy lives on
in all the ways, both seen and unseen. That the
world has become a little bit safer, a little bit
more aware, and a little bit more committed to protecting
those who need protection. She touched the world, and the
world has been forever changed because of her. If you

(01:42:34):
are someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides twenty four to seven
support at one eight hundred seven nine nine seven two
three three or through their website at the Hotline dot org.
The Gabby Potito Foundation continues to support missing person searches

(01:42:55):
and domestic violence survivors at Gabbypatito Foundation dot org.

Speaker 2 (01:43:05):
It it

All Episodes

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

.css-15opob5{left:0;position:absolute;top:0.8rem;} All Episodes

.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}TGF 039 Gabby Petito: Uncovered

Episode Transcript

Popular Podcasts

.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}Stuff You Should Know

Dateline NBC

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

All Episodes

TGF 039 Gabby Petito: Uncovered

Stuff You Should Know