Brian Laundrie’s parents had fully confessed that they were aware their son murdered Gabby Petito and were working to help him escape arrest when he returned to Florida, Gabby’s parents allege in a new lawsuit.
Gabby’s grieving parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt believe that Brian told his parents when he returned home alone around Aug. 28 last year that he had killed his girlfriend during their cross-country trip.
“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 suit alleges.
On the 11th of Sept. 2021, Gabby’s mother reported her missing after her boyfriend Brian returned to his parent’s Florida home ten days earlier. The Long Island native’s body was found at a Wyoming campground eight days later.
As the national media camped out outside Brian’s parents’ North Port house, where Gabby once lived, the family went on a camping trip and authorities said they were not cooperative when they were asked about their son’s whereabouts.
Gabby’s parents claim that Christopher and Roberta Laundrie knew where their son was and were planning to help him flee the country.
Gabby’s family also claim that Christopher and Roberta already knew that their son had killed his girlfriend when they issued a statement through their attorney saying they hoped she would be found alive and safe, according to the suit.
Brian himself went missing after Gabby’s disappearance and death. He was named “person of interest” in Gabby’s murder until was found dead by suicide in a heavily wooded area not far from his parents’ house in October last year. Law enforcement officials could not find Brian until a few days after his parents joined the search.
Gabby’s parents are seeking $30,000 in damages from the Laundries, whose lawyer claimed the suit was “baseless” because his clients were never obligated to speak to anyone about the missing-person cases.
In a statement to Fox 13, the Laundries’ attorney, Steven Bertolino, said: “As I have maintained over the last several months, the Laundrie’s [sic] have not publicly commented at my direction which is their right under the law.”
