Families of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie reach settlement in civil suit
(Updated February 23, 2024) In the summer of 2021, Gabby Petito, 22, along with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, began traveling America in their van while Gabby happily blogged about their journey and shared their photos on Instagram. That journey turned into a nightmare when Gabby went missing and Brian returned to his family’s Florida home without her. The nation eventually learned that Brian had killed Gabby and his family helped cover up the murder.
When Gabby’s family realized that Brian’s family was covering up everything they knew about Gabby’s disappearance and murder, the Petito parents sued the Laundrie parents – and their lawyer – for distress.
Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, Gabby Petito’s parents, filed a lawsuit against Brian Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, and their attorney, Steven Bertolino, for intentional infliction of emotional distress in March 2022. They claimed the Laundries were aware of Gabby Petito’s murder soon after her death in August 2021 and chose to do nothing other than issue a statement through Bertolino expressing hope she would be found. ~ ABC News
On February 21, it was widely reported that the families agreed to a settlement in that lawsuit which helped both parties avoid a civil trial that would have gotten underway this May.
“After a long day of mediation, a confidential resolution has been reached between the parents of Gabby Petito, the parents of Brian Laundrie and Attorney Steven Bertolino to which all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby,” a statement from Joseph and Tara Petito and Nichole and James Schmidt read.
After Gabby was declared missing and then later found dead in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest, Brian Laundrie became a “person of interest” in her death, according to NBC News. He had already returned to Florida, and left his parent’s home to go camping in the Florida swamps where he committed suicide. Before he died, he confessed in a handwritten journal found at his campsite that he indeed killed Gabby.
For more on the heartbreaking tale of Gabby Petito and to check out some of the photos she posted to social media that summer, see more from Ace News Today, below.
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Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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