Gabby Petito
In August 2021, 22-year-old American travelling vlogger Gabrielle Venora Petito was killed by her fiancé Brian Christopher Laundrie while they were traveling together on a vanlife journey across the United States. The trip was planned to last for four months and began on July 2, 2021, but Petito disappeared on August 27.
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Case overview
Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito, 22, was a travel blogger documenting a cross-country van trip with her fiancé Brian Laundrie, 23, when contact with her family ceased in late August 2021. On September 11, 2021, [Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, and declined to speak with investigators about her whereabouts.](https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/01/us/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-update-friday/index.html) Petito's family reported her missing that same day.
A search launched in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, where the pair had last been documented together. [On September 19, 2021, Petito's remains were found at a dispersed camping area near Spread Creek in the Bridger-Teton National Forest.](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gabby-petito-body-found-wyoming-national-forest/) The Teton County coroner determined cause of death was homicidal strangulation, with time of death estimated in late August 2021.
Laundrie was declared a person of interest and went missing from his North Port home on September 17 — four days before Petito's body was found. On October 20, 2021, skeletal remains identified as Brian Laundrie were discovered in the Carlton Reserve wilderness preserve near North Port. A notebook recovered nearby contained a written confession to killing Petito. His cause of death was ruled a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The case prompted widespread discussion about disparate media coverage of missing persons — specifically the contrast in attention given to Petito compared to missing persons of color. A federal investigation was opened into whether Laundrie's family had aided his flight from authorities.
Federal Warrant — Laundrie
In October 2021, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Brian Laundrie on charges of unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Petito — the only charges formally filed against him. [On October 20, 2021, Laundrie's remains were found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida; his cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.](https://abcnews.go.com/US/gabby-petito-case-timeline-travel-bloggers-disappearance/story?id=80126596)
No Murder Charges Filed
Brian Laundrie was never charged with Petito's murder. He died by suicide before prosecutors could file homicide charges. No murder trial occurred, and no murder conviction was possible.
FBI Investigation Closed
[In January 2022, the FBI Denver Field Office released its final investigative update, confirming that Laundrie was solely responsible for Petito's death.](https://www.fbi.gov/news/press-releases/fbi-denver-seeks-the-publics-assistance-in-locating-brian-laundrie) A handwritten notebook entry recovered near Laundrie's remains contained an admission that he killed Petito. The FBI formally closed its homicide investigation, stating no other individuals were involved.
Civil Proceedings
The Petito family pursued civil litigation against the Laundrie family, alleging that Brian's parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, had prior knowledge of Gabby's death. No criminal charges were brought against the Laundrie parents.
Current Status
The criminal case is permanently closed. Brian Laundrie, the sole suspect and perpetrator, died before any murder charges could be filed or prosecuted. The case is resolved by investigation, not by conviction.
November 1, 2023
Petito Family Settles with North Port for .5M
The Petito family settled their civil lawsuit against the City of North Port, Florida, for .5 million. The lawsuit alleged North Port police failed to conduct a welfare check when Laundrie returned home alone without Gabby and refused to cooperate with investigators.
Source →June 1, 2023
Petito Family Settles with Moab City for M
The Petito family reached a million settlement with Moab City, Utah, over claims that police officers failed to properly identify Gabby as a domestic violence victim during the August 12, 2021 traffic stop. The settlement was one of the first significant legal outcomes in the case.
Source →April 1, 2022
Petito Family Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit
The Petito family filed a civil lawsuit against the City of North Port and its police department, alleging officers failed to investigate Gabby as a victim of domestic violence during the August 12 traffic stop in Moab and instead separated the couple and allowed Laundrie to drive off with the van.
Source →February 22, 2022
FBI: Laundrie's Notebook Contained Confession
The FBI announced that a notebook found near Brian Laundrie's remains contained a written confession admitting to killing Gabby Petito. The agency stated the investigation was closed, confirming Laundrie as the sole perpetrator of Petito's murder.
Source →November 23, 2021
Laundrie's Death Ruled Self-Inflicted Gunshot
A medical examiner confirmed that Brian Laundrie died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The finding was consistent with evidence found at the scene, where a pistol was recovered near his skeletal remains at the Carlton Reserve.
Source →October 20, 2021
Brian Laundrie's Remains Found
Laundrie's remains were discovered in Carlton Reserve, Florida. Cause of death: self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Source →October 12, 2021
TikTok Video Places Laundrie Van Near Campsite
A TikTok video posted by user @dudemagnet and another by @keywestlens surfaced showing a white van matching Laundrie's parked near Spread Creek Dispersed Campground, Wyoming, around September 1—days after Gabby is believed to have been killed, supporting the timeline that Laundrie remained in the area briefly before driving home.
Source →Joseph Laundrie
Joseph Laundrie is the father of Brian Laundrie. He and his wife Roberta faced public scrutiny for hiring an attorney immediately after Gabby Petito went missing, instead of cooperating with investigators. Joseph was present when police discovered Brian's remains in October 2021.
Nichole Schmidt
Nichole Schmidt is Gabby Petito's mother who became a prominent public advocate during the search for her daughter and after her death. She filed a civil lawsuit against the Laundrie family, alleging they knew of Brian's role in Gabby's death while she remained missing.
Gabby Petito
Victim; travel influencer; remains found in Wyoming after nationwide search
22-year-old travel vlogger who went missing during a cross-country van trip with fiancé Brian Laundrie in August 2021. Her strangled body was found in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest in September 2021. The case sparked massive public interest and raised questions about media coverage of missing persons.
Brian Laundrie
Prime suspect; died by suicide before arrest; notebook confirmed admission
Gabby Petito's fiancé who returned home to North Port, Florida alone in September 2021 after she went missing during their cross-country road trip. He became the primary person of interest in her disappearance and death. Laundrie fled before investigators could question him and was reported missing on September 13, 2021. His skeletal remains were found in Carlton Reserve, Florida on October 20, 2021. A medical examiner confirmed his cause of death as a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. A notebook found near his remains contained what the FBI interpreted as a written confession to killing Petito. Laundrie was never charged with murder and was never tried or convicted of any homicide — he died before charges could be filed. The only federal charge connected to him was unauthorized use of Gabby Petito's debit card, which was never prosecuted due to his death.
Gabby's remains found in Wyoming
The discovery of Gabby Petito's remains in a remote area of Wyoming confirmed her death and provided crucial information about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
en.wikipedia.orgBrian Laundrie's notebook
A notebook belonging to Brian Laundrie was found near his remains, containing writings that may provide insight into his state of mind and possible involvement in Gabby's death.
Moab Police Department bodycam — via ABC7/APBodycam footage from police encounter
Police bodycam footage captured an interaction between law enforcement and the couple, showing Gabby in distress and raising questions about the dynamics of their relationship.
Moab Police Department bodycam, Aug 12 2021 — via ABC7Text messages from Gabby's phone
Text messages sent from Gabby's phone to her family indicated her growing concern for her safety, which may help establish a timeline of events leading to her disappearance.
en.wikipedia.orgWitness testimonies
Multiple witnesses reported seeing the couple arguing in public prior to Gabby's disappearance, which could provide context to their relationship and potential motives.
en.wikipedia.org
