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In July 2021, Gabby Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, set off on a four-month road trip across the United States. She and Laundrie had been dating since 2019, and a year prior to leaving on their road trip, had announced their engagement. Frequently travelling together and posting about it online, they had all the appearances of a young couple in love. But on August 27, almost half way through their once-in-a-lifetime journey, Gabby disappeared—murdered at the hands of her partner.
However, it was months before authorities were able to confirm a murder had even taken place. Brian evaded questioning and eventually disappeared around the time Gabby’s remains were finally uncovered. By the end of the year, three months after Gabby died, Brian’s remains were found.
The tragedy and initial mystery that was Gabby’s death stirred the world. Why had her boyfriend brutally killed her? How could he deny her loved ones a chance to know the truth? Now, the subject is being explored in a new Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito. If you’re trying to recall the details as they happened, we’ve taken a step back to the timeline of Gabby Petito’s death, as it unfolded in the media.
Trigger warning: This article contains details of intimate partner violence, murder and suicide.
The Murder Of Gabby Petito: A Timeline
July 2, 2020: Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie leave on their road trip
On the 2nd July, Gabby and Brian set off on their cross-country road trip, leaving New York. They would eventually visit national parks in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, documenting their travels on both their social media accounts and also posting to a shared Instagram account, ‘Nomadic Statik’.
August 12, 2021: Police respond to a domestic violence call
Reports emerge that a physical altercation between Gabby and Brian has taken place, with Utah police responding to the call. Footage from the investigation shows Gabby crying uncontrollably, telling police that they had been having “little arguments” throughout the course of the day. Brian also tells police that given they had been travelling together for 4 to 5 months at this point, the trip had “created emotional strain between them and increased the number of arguments.”
According to reports, the couple spent the night apart, with Brian sleeping in the van and Gabby organising lodging accommodation through police. In the report, Brian was listed as the victim but Chief Bret Edge said there was not enough information to proceed with any charges.
August 21, 2021: The last time Gabby speaks to her father
This was the last date that Gabby’s father spoke with her. Joseph Petito takes a Facetime call with his daughter, not knowing that this would be the last time. In a Zoom interview with NewsNation affiliate WFLA, he recalls that nothing struck him as out of the ordinary during the call. “No red flags that popped out. I’m trying to wrap my brain…Monday morning quarterback it, you know what I mean? Still nothing is popping in my head,” he says.
August 25, 2021: Gabby shares her last Instagram post
This was the last date Gabby posted on her Instagram. This was also the last day that Gabby’s mother officially heard from her, with Nichole Schmidt confirming the couple were near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming when she last spoke with her on the phone.
August 30, 2021: Gabby’s mum receives a text from ‘Gabby’
On the August 30, Gabby’s mother, Nichole Schmidt says she received her last text from Gabby. The text read: “No service in Yosemite.”
“I don’t know if that was her texting me or not,” Schmidt would tell authorities.
September 1, 2021: Brian Laundrie arrives at his parents’ home in Florida
Brian Laundrie returns to his parents home in Florida, where he and Gabby had been living together. She is not with him, but he has driven himself back in the white van registered in her name. He evades questions about her whereabouts.
September 11, 2021: Gabby is reported missing
Gabby’s family officially report her missing to Suffolk County Police in New York. Looking for Gabby, the North Port Police in Florida confirm they have found her van at Laundrie’s parents’ home.
September 15, 2021: Laundrie officially becomes a person of interest
Laundrie is labelled a person of interest in the disappearance of Gabby Petito by authorities in Florida. Police reported that he “has not made himself available to be interviewed by investigators or has provided any helpful details.” The Laundrie family hires attorneys and the following day the police confirm Laundrie is “exercising his constitutional right not to speak with the authorities”.
Attorneys for Petito’s family read a letter on behalf of the heartbroken family, pleading with Laundrie’s family to help the investigation. “If you or your family have any decency left please tell us where Gabby is located. Please tell us if we’re even looking in the right place,” the letter read. “We ask you to put yourselves in our shoes. We haven’t been able to sleep or eat. And our lives are falling apart.”
On that same day, Brian Laundrie’s sister came forward as the first member of his family to speak about Gabby’s disappearance. “Obviously, me and my family want Gabby to be found safe,” she told Good Morning America.”She’s like a sister and my children love her, and all I want is for her to come home safe and sound and this to be just a big misunderstanding.”
In a bizarre twist, Petito and Laundrie had been in the same location as another newlywed couple who were later found dead. Laundrie and Petito’s reported domestic dispute took place on August 13 in Moab. On August 14, Kylen Schulte and Crystal Turner were seen for the last time at a bar in Moab, with their bodies being found days later at a campsite nearby. This leads to some public speculation about possible links between Gabby’s disappearance and the couple’s deaths.
September 17, 2021: Brian Laundrie is reported missing
On September 17, Brian Laundrie’s family report him missing, three days after they claim to have seen him at home on September 14.
September 18, 2021: Police search for Laundrie
Police announce a large-scale search for Laundrie at the Carlton Reserve, a natural area with more than 80 miles of hiking trails in Venice, Florida. The 25,000-acre park is about 20kms from Laundrie’s home. His parents say they “believe he entered the area earlier this week,” police state.
September 19, 2021: Remains are found, believed to be Gabby’s
Authorities say a body discovered in Wyoming is believed to be Gabby Petito. The FBI said the body was found by law enforcement agents who had spent the past two days searching campgrounds. The cause of death had not yet been determined.
Investigators were still seeking information from anyone who may have seen Petito or Laundrie around some camping sites located on the park’s eastern boundary.
September 22, 2021: Remains confirmed to be Gabby Petito, murder confirmed
In an announcement by the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation, a county coroner confirmed that the body that was discovered in Wyoming on September 19 is that of Petito, per ABC News. Additionally, Teton County Coroner Brent Blue has also determined that the manner of her death has been ruled as a homicide, and not accidental.
October 12, 2021: Gabby Petito’s cause of death revealed
A coroner reports that Gabby Petito was murdered by strangulation. Her exact date of death is unknown.
October 20, 2021: Human remains found near Brian Laundrie’s belongings
Remains were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida, nearby a notebook and backpack owned by Brian Laundrie.
October 21, 2021: Remains confirmed to be Brian Laundrie’s
The FBI reveal the Florida remains to be that of Brian Laundrie. They state the body was indentified by dental records. The area had been underwater due to recent flooding, and a cause of death was not able to be determined via autopsy. The investigation is referred to a forensic anthropoligist.
November 23, 2021: Brian’s cause of death revealed
Authorities confirm that Brian Laundrie died from a self inflicted gunshot to the head. An official autopsy report rules Laundrie died by suicide.
January 21, 2022: Laundrie confessed to Gabby’s murder, police reveal
Authorities announce that the notebook discovered near Laundrie’s remains contained statements confirming that he killed Gabby Petito. “The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito,” revealed Michael Schneider, the FBI Denver division special agent in charge, in an official statement. Exactly what Laundrie wrote was not revealed. Laundrie was never charged with a crime in relation to Petito’s death and disappearance.
March 12, 2022: Gabby’s family sues Brian’s parents
Gabby Petitor’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, officially decide to file a civil lawsuit against Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta, alleging emotional distress. In the suit, Petito’s parents alleged that Laundrie told his parents on August 28 that he had killed Gabby in Wyoming, as reported by CNN. Joseph and Nichole also alleged that Christopher and Roberta were trying to organise a way for their son to flee the country.
“While Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt were desperately searching for information concerning their daughter, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie were keeping the whereabouts of Brian Laundrie secret, and it is believed were making arrangements for him to leave the country,” the lawsuit said.
As per CNN, Petito’s parents also claimed that Laundrie’s parents refused to respond to their and the FBI’s questions about whether Gabby was still alive, or about where her remains might have been located. Joseph and Nichole’s lawsuit also explained that they felt Christopher and Roberta could have helped to “alleviate, at least in part” their “anguish” over finding their daughter.
“In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or great indifference to the rights of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt,” it read. Petito’s parents claim that Laundrie also texted Nichole from her daughter’s phone, pretending to be her in an attempt to cover up her death. In the text, Gabby’s grandfather, Stan, was mentioned by his first name, which Petito’s parents say is something their daughter never would have done.
May, 2022: Gabby’s family files a wrongful death lawsuit
In addition to the March lawsuit, Gabby Petito’s family also filed two wrongful death lawsuits: one against Brian’s parents, and another against the Moab police in Utah.
June 25, 2022: Brian’s alleged murder confession shared by his parents
Chilling contents of Brian Laundrie’s notebook were released, detailing the day he murdered Gabby Petito and his confession. The notebook, which you can see for yourself here, was amongst the personal items recovered near Laundrie’s skeletal remains in a Florida State Park by FBI in October 2021 and contained Laundrie’s admission of guilt. “I ended her life. I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock,” read the contents of the notebook.
According to Laundrie’s account, the 23-year-old decided to kill his fiancée after she had injured herself in Wyoming. “From the moment I decided, took away her pain, I knew I couldn’t go on without her,” Laundrie wrote.
Laundrie’s notebook detailed an encounter where Petito had been injured and had begged “for an end to her pain”. “I don’t know the extent of Gabby’s injuries, only that she was in extreme pain,” Laundrie added.
The contents of his notebook also describe his reason for committing suicide. “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. I’ve lost our whole future together, every moment we could have cherished. I’m sorry for everyone’s loss,” Laundrie wrote. The notebook pages were released by Laundrie’s family’s lawyer.
November 17, 2022: Gabby Petito’s family awarded $3 million from Brian Laundrie’s family
A Florida judge awarded Gabby Petito’s family $3 million from Brian Laundrie’s family in the wrongful death lawsuit that held Brian accountable for Gabby’s death. The Petitos announced the amount would be donated to the foundation set up in their daughter’s name to support victims of domestic violence.
February 21, 2024: Gabby’s parents reach a deal with Brian’s parents
On this date, it was revealed the Petito family and Laundrie family had reached a confidential agreement in the ongoing emotional distress lawsuit filed by Gabby’s parents. The Petitos’ lawyer said “all parties reluctantly agreed” to terms that remain private, in order to “avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict.”
February 17, 2025: A Netflix documentary on Gabby’s murder
Netflix is releasing a documentary on Gabby Petito’s death on February 17, titled American Murder: Gabby Petito.
The post Everything You Need To Know About The Gabby Petito Case appeared first on ELLE.
