The Gryphon Gazette

By: Kori H. ’28

In the summer of  2021, Gabby Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, started a cross country road trip. They traveled in a van, visiting national parks and sharing their experiences on social media. But what seemed like a dream trip soon turned into a nightmare. Gabby went missing, and Brian returned home alone.

Who Was Gabby Petito?

Gabby Petito grew up in Blue Point, New York, with her mother Nichole Schmidt, stepfather Jim Schmidt, father Joe Petito, stepmother Tara Petito, and her six younger siblings and half-siblings. Her parents described her as creative, energetic and loving. Despite getting a divorce when she was young they were still deeply involved in her life.

In high school, Gabby met Brian Laundrie. Friends described their relationship as healthy and happy. Their relationship was strong, as Gabby followed Brian’s family’s move to Florida. She lived with the family for about a year. The couple then got engaged in 2020 and planned to travel the country together in a van, documenting their journey online.

On July 2nd, 2021, they left New York to begin their trip. 

When Did Gabby Petito Go Missing?

Gabby shared photos about the trip on her Instagram, which could be viewed by friends and family. She was also producing a YouTube video for her channel, “Nomadic Statik“.

Her last conversation with her mother, Nichole, was on August 25th, 2021, while she and Brian were in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Shortly after, Nichole received a text from Gabby’s phone mentioning her grandfather by his name, Stan, which Gabby never sent.

As days passed with no contact, Nichole tried reaching out to Brian and his family, but received no response. Nichole reported Gabby missing on September 11, 2021. Soon after, the police discovered that Brian had returned to his parents home alone on September 1– ten days earlier. Gabby’s parents immediately feared the worst. 

Brian and his family refused to speak with the police to the public, directing them to their lawyer.

Police Encounter with Gabby and Brian

As the investigation continued, police uncovered more details about their relationship. On August 12th, 2021, in Moab, Utah, officers stopped them after a witness reported seeing a male hitting a female. Bodycam footage showed Gabby crying and explaining that Brian had struck her. However, Gabby then admitted to hitting Brian first, leading police to label  her as the “primary aggressor”. Instead of taking further action, the police separated them for the night and let them go.

Gabby’s family later sued the police department, arguing that officers had failed to recognize the signs of domestic violence and did not take the necessary steps to protect Gabby.

Brian Laundrie’s Disappearance

On September 17th, 2021, Brian’s parents reported him missing to the police. They said he had left days earlier to go camping at a nature reserve. As police started to search for him, the case gained traction on social media. Everyone was looking for clues to help locate Brian. 

As authorities searched for Gabby, online communities did simultaneously. Users analyzed her social media posts, identifying inconsistencies, and traced the couple’s steps. The turning point occurred when a travel vlog from another couple inadvertently revealed the location of Gabby’s van, directing the investigation to the correct area.

Gabby’s Body is Found

On September 19, 2021, Gabby’s body was discovered in a remote area of Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest. The coroner confirmed she had been strangled and had died between three and four weeks ago.

What Happened to Brian Laundrie?

As the search for Brian continued, the authorities issued an arrest warrant for Brian for using Gabby’s bank card.

Weeks later, on October 20, 2021, Brian’s remains were found in a Florida nature reserve, along with his backpack and a notebook. Investigators concluded that he had died by suicide. In the discovered notebook, Brian assumed responsibility for Gabby’s death.

Legacy

Gabby’s family and friends have worked to honor Gabby’s memory. They created the Gabby Petito Foundation to help find missing people and support victims of domestic violence.

“Everyone deserves to feel safe at home. Everyone deserves to be found if they go missing,” Gabby’s father, Joe, said.

Gabby’s story raised domestic violence awareness and the importance of speaking up when someone is in danger.