GABBY Petitio’s case rocked the world after she mysteriously vanished while on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé in 2021.
A new Netflix docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito has explored her life and homicide, as Gabby’s remains were eventually found in Wyoming.
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Does Gabby have siblings?
Gabby, 22, is the daughter of Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt.
Gabby’s parents both remarried after their divorce. Gabby’s stepmother is Tara Petito and her step father is Jim Schmidt.
Gabby is the oldest of six siblings and half-siblings.
Gabby’s younger brother TJ Schmidt is her only sibling that she shares both parents with.
TJ took to Instagram to express the grief of losing his sister, whose death was ruled a homicide on September 21, 2021.
He posted a photo of Gabby posing in front of a mural of angel wings with the caption: “I don’t even know what to say. I’m at a total loss. My heart is shattered #justiceforgabby.”
In 2022, he visited Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park, the site where Laundrie killed Petito.
“This post is a tough one for me but visiting where my sister was taken from us was enlightening in many ways as painful as it was,” TJ wrote.
“But the signs of her watching over were everywhere.”
Schmidt also shared snaps of the park and a picture that showed a tribute with Polaroids of a smiling Petito with her loved ones, and lilac and purple flowers.
Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue ruled her death a homicide, stating that she had been strangled to death.
It is believed that her fiancé Brian Laundrie killed Gabby and then took his own life.
The FBI released a statement in 2022 which said Laundrie admitted to killing his fiancé in his notebook.
In the statement, the FBI claimed that “a review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms. Petito’s death.”
The FBI said that their investigation “did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito.”
How is Gabby remembered?
Gabby’s family and friends gathered in Moloney’s Holbrook Funeral Home to honor her memory on September 26, 2021.
Both Gabby’s father and step father spoke at the beginning of the service.
Joe Petito said “Gabby had four parents. They weren’t step-parents. She had four parents who genuinely loved her as if she were their own, and this man is one of them.”
A 28-minute memorial video was released by the Long Island funeral home of many memories of Gabby.
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She was seen smiling with her family, including her siblings and half siblings, in the video montage that shows her throughout her life.
The Petito family announced support for a bill that would streamline missing person reports nationwide in 2022.
In addition to endorsing The Help Find The Missing Act federal proposed bill, the family also started the Gabby Petito Foundation in October 2021.
The foundation aims at addressing “the needs of organisations that support locating missing persons and to provide aid to organisations that assist victims of domestic violence situations, through education, awareness and prevention strategies.”
Who are Brian Laundrie’s parents?
Laundrie is the son of Christopher and Roberta Laundrie.
His parents were caught becoming on edge and defensive when cops knocked on their door on September 11, 2021, the day Gabby was reported missing, according to resurfaced body camera footage.
Gabby’s family later sued Brian’s family for her wrongful death in 2022 and was awarded $3 million.
In 2023, Gabby’s parents sued the Laundries and their attorney, Steven Bertolino, again for intentional infliction of emotional stress for their behavior after their daughter disappeared.
During the deposition for the case, the Laundries admitted what they knew about Gabby’s disappearance after they received a “frantic” phone call from their son two days after she disappeared.
Chris and Roberta said Brian called them on August 29, 2021 and told them Gabby was “gone” and he needed a lawyer.
Brian’s parents didn’t admit they knew Gabby was dead and only said Brian reported she was “gone,” Petito family attorney Pat Reilly told local NBC affiliate WFLA at the time.
In February 2024, the families of Petito and Laundrie reached a settlement in a lawsuit, an attorney for the Laundries said.
The Laundries have stayed silent about the case over the years, only speaking through Bertolino.
Christopher was spotted for the first time after the bombshell Netflix docuseries was released outside his home in North Port, about 30 miles north of Ft. Myers, Florida.
Brian’s family lawyer, Steven Bertolino, slammed the Netflix docuseries and claimed it was what the family expected.
“One perspective depicted as the ‘truth’ as seen through their lens. Similar to Republicans and Democrats fighting it out lately,” he told The U.S. Sun.
“Each side believes their perspective is correct. Hard to see through the lens of the other with all the noise and distrust.
“To be clear though, there were no contradictions by my clients Chris and Roberta Laundrie.
“Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn them in peace,” he added.
Bertolino did not immediately clarify which aspects of the documentary were allegedly inaccurate.
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Do Gabby’s siblings live together?
Following the unexpected death of their daughter, it was revealed on Dr Phil that Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt had moved in together along with their spouses.
Dr Phil exclusively spoke to Gabby Petito’s family on his show, where they share how they have been living amid the tragedy.
“There’s not too many people that can understand,” Gabby’s father said. “You feel sorry and you can emphasize, especially if you’re a parent, you get it in your head but until you’re there, you don’t have a clue.”
Gabby’s parents and step parents revealed they have been living in the same home with all of Gabby’s siblings.
“I think it’s really special for our younger children because they were able to bond with each other and distance themselves from what was going on and they were all together,” Gabby’s stepdad said.
“We could be together and talk about the things we were talking about and take the time to be with them and plan her memorial.”
Gabby’s mother added, “Gabby always wanted us to live in the same house together so she kind of got that.”
How can people watch the docuseries?
The docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito is available on Netflix.
The three-part series will explore the story of Gabby’s death and what happened on her final days.
Each episode is 40 to 49 minutes long.
Gabby Petito timeline
Gabby Petito, 22, was last seen on August 24, leaving a hotel in Utah. Here is a timeline of Gabby Petito’s disappearance:
- June 2021 – Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie set off on a cross-country trip across the US.
- July 4 – Gabby posts photos of herself barefoot in Gove County, Kansas.
- July 8 – Gabby posts photos of herself at the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado.
- July 18 – Gabby and Brian post photos of themselves at Utah’s Zion National Park.
- August 12 – Body camera footage was released in September showing an encounter Brian and Gabby had with police in Utah. Police confirmed that no significant injuries were reported.
- August 17 – Brian flies home to Florida to visit his parents, stock up on supplies, and close a storage unit.
- August 19 – Gabby and Brian post a video on their YouTube channel chronicling their trip.
- August 22 – Gabby texts her ex-boyfriend, Jackson.
- August 23 – Brian returns to meet Gabby in Salt Lake City.
- August 24 – Gabby is spotted leaving a hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
- August 25 – Gabby Facetimes her mom, Nichole Schmidt, for the final time. In a later police report, Schmidt said her conversations with her daughter revealed “more and more tension” between her and Brian.
- August 25 – Gabby also posts her last Instagram. No location is given.
- August 27 – Gabby messages Jackson for the final time.
- August 27 – Gabby is seen for the final time at a Whole Foods. Witnesses claim they saw Brian in an explosive argument with staff at a restaurant in Jackson Hole, leaving Gabby in tears.
- August 27 – Four hours later, travel bloggers driving through Grand Teton National Park drive past the couple’s van “abandoned” on a dirt road.
- September 1 – Brian returns home to Florida without Gabby.
- September 11 – Gabby’s parents report her missing to Suffolk County police.
- September 14 – Brian’s family issues a statement saying he has retained an attorney and will not be cooperating with investigators.
- September 14 – Brian is allegedly last seen by his family. He reportedly told them he was going hiking in Cartlon Reserve but failed to return.
- September 15 – Florida’s North Port police announce Brian is a person of interest in the case. He is not charged with any crime.
- September 16 – Utah police release body camera footage of the police encounter with Brian and Gabby.
- September 17 – Brian’s parents say they have not seen their son in a couple of days and report him missing.
- September 18 – Police announce they were searching Carlton Reserve in Florida for Brian. Police announce they have not found anything.
- September 19 – Authorities in Wyoming say they found a body in Grand Teton National Park. The FBI announces the body was believed to be Gabby’s but a full forensic identification needs to be completed first to confirm.
- September 20 – Police execute a search warrant on Laundrie’s home, seizing his silver Mustang and a hard drive that may contain “evidence relevant to proving that a felony has been committed.”
- September 21 – Officials announce they will be conducting an autopsy on the remains found in Wyoming to confirm whether or not they belong to Gabby. Police also resumed their search for Laundrie, this time on the Venice side of Carlton Reserve.
- September 21 – The FBI announced the body found in Wyoming was identified as Gabby’s. The cause of death was not yet revealed.
- September 21 – The Teton County Coroner’s office said Gabby’s official cause of death was still pending but the initial manner of death is homicide.
- September 22 – Police continue to scour Carlton Reserve for a trace of Laundrie but yield no leads. A specialist dive team is called in to assist with the hunt.
- September 23 – Officials announced a federal arrest warrant for Brian was issued.
- September 26 – Gabby’s funeral was held on Long Island, New York.
- October 12: Gabby’s autopsy results were made public. Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue confirmed Gabby died by strangulation.
- October 20: Laundrie’s personal items were found at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. A medical examiner was called to the scene.
- October 21: The FBI confirmed the remains found have been identified as Laundrie’s.
- November 23: Laundrie’s autopsy reveals he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
- January 21, 2022: The FBI released its final investigative statement on Gabby’s case. The statement said, “The investigation did not identify any other individuals other than Brian Laundrie directly involved in the tragic death of Gabby Petito.”
- October 1, 2022: The Gabby Petito Story premieres on Lifetime without the family’s approval.
- February 17, 2025 – American Murder: Gabby Petito premieres on Netflix.
