Gabby Petito Documentary News – Peacock Show About Murder Sheds New Light On Brian Laundrie As Her Parents… – The US Sun

Wedding had been postponed

Gabby’s stepfather Jim Schmidt previously revealed that Gabby and Brian Laundrie had planned a small beach ceremony to tie the knot, however, the ongoing coronavirus pandemic thwarted their plans.

“Covid happened so they put [the wedding] on hold,” Jim told Fox News last month. “They said they were going to live life.”

Ultimately, the couple decided to put their plans for marriage on the back burner and instead began planning what would later prove to be an ill-fated trip across the US, touring the country’s national parks.

According to Gabby’s mom, Nichole Schmidt, the pair also decided they were too young for marriage and opted to call off their engagement and went back to dating while plotting out their trip.

Gabby’s wedding plans

The 22-year-old vlogger had mapped out several design schemes and alfresco ideas for her nuptials on her Pinterest page in an album poignantly titled “Life goals”.

The curated collection of images, which include photos of outdoor ceremonies and beachfront banquets, is shared with Brian Laundrie, his mother Roberta, and a fourth account by the name of “PinJunkeeMama”.

A sub-folder within the album, titled “Oh Baby” and shared between the same four people, indicates that Gabby and Laundrie may have been planning to eventually have a child together.

Gabby was killed by ‘throttling’

While Dr. Blue’s initial remarks lacked specificity, he later appeared on CNN and elaborated on Gabby’s cause of death, insisting she had been killed by “strangulation via a throttling.”

Professor Joseph Scott Morgan, a forensic expert and former medical examiner teaching at Jacksonville State University in Alabama said Brent’s comments are significant, as “that really narrows the field down because throttling is so very specific.

“He went to great lengths to even say that this was not mechanical, which essentially means that there wasn’t a ligature involved,” Morgan said. “When they say throttling, they’re talking about the application of two hands on this young woman’s throat.”

Morgan called the manner of death “intimate”, adding that throttling can either happen anteriorly — from the front — or posteriorly — from behind, and is often driven by a component of passion.

Gabby’s father on Brian Laundrie

Gabby’s dad Joe Petito called for Laundrie to be imprisoned for the rest of his life before his remains were found in a Florida reserve.

He told Dr. Phil: “I want to look him in the eyes. I want to see him in a jail cell.”

Prior to the determination of Brian’s cause of death, Joe also claimed that Laundrie was too “cowardly to kill himself”.

Joe said: “He is a coward. I would use some other words but I can’t use them on this show.”

Laundrie’s cause of death was determined to be a gunshot to the head.

Tragic warning

Gabby’s mom Nichole Schmidt revealed that she was “worried” when 22-year-old Gabby launched her planned four-month cross-country road trip touring America’s national parks with Laundrie, 23, in July.

“I told her to be careful, be safe,” she told 60 Minutes Australia. “To be aware of your surroundings. Don’t trust anybody.”    

Was Brian Laundrie charged with a crime?

Although Brian was not charged with any crime in relation to Gabby’s murder, the FBI issued a warrant for his arrest for the unauthorized use of Gabby’s debit card.

Bank records show that from August 31 to September 1, four days after the couple was spotted at the Merry Piglets restaurant, Brian swiped Gabby’s Capital One card, running up a balance of $1,000.

Why Gabby visited Grand Teton

Petito had quit her job and packed her life into a camper van for a cross-country adventure with Brian Laundrie, starting in July, documenting their journey in a stream of social media posts.

In images shared by the couple online they are all smiles — barefoot in a canyon or surveying the ochre rocks of state and national parks.

In one YouTube video published during their trip, Petito and Laundrie are shown kissing tenderly, enjoying a sunset together and strolling on a beach.

But the young woman’s family filed a missing person report on September 11 after the 22-year-old mysteriously vanished, and Laundrie returned home to Florida without her.

Gabby’s last interactions with mom

Gabby Petito’s remains were found less than 1,000 feet (300m) from where, on the evening of August 27, another pair of travel bloggers caught video images of the couple’s 2012 white Ford Transit van parked along a dirt road.

Petito, who was documenting the couple’s “van life” road trip on social media, posted her final photo to Instagram on August 25, the same day that she last spoke to her mother by phone.

The family believes the couple was headed to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming at the time.

Schmidt received text messages from Petito’s phone on August 27 and August 30, but suspects that someone other than her daughter sent them, according to investigators.

Gabby Petito’s dad at her funeral, continued

“And she’s inspired a lot of women and a lot of men to do what’s best for them first. Put yourself first and do it now while you have the time. I couldn’t be more proud as a father,” he added.

Joe also warned women in toxic relationships to “leave now” so that way this tragedy does not happen to them.

Just days after, the family then held a press conference, where Nicole showed off matching tattoos that were designed by Gabby prior to her death.

On October 3, 2021, Gabby’s family announced that they had launched the Gabby Petito Foundation in honor of their late daughter.

Gabby Petito’s dad at her funeral

On September 26, the Petito family held a memorial service for Gabby to lay her to rest following the autopsy results.

At the service, her father Joe said that he wanted people to be “inspired” by the life she embodied.

“So when you leave here today, be inspired by what she brought to the table because the entire planet knows this woman’s name now,” he said.

Family friend on Gabby’s legacy

Petito family friend Steve Campo told the Sun that Gabby’s “going to be looking over her family now and taking care of her brother and two sisters and looking over them.”

He added that Gabby’s case has resonated with women everywhere.

“Just speaking to other women and stuff when they saw the video of her, they knew that she was in trouble. I wouldn’t.”

“I don’t know but they were in relationships that that happened and they saw that you never want to see that again.”

“Again it’s somebody’s sister, somebody’s daughter, wife, you know, no one should ever feel that way again, that they can’t escape.”

Where to watch the new documentary

The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media debuts on December 17, through NBC’s streaming service Peacock.

The documentary reportedly “sheds new light on the tragic story, the unanswered questions and the shocking conclusion,” with exclusive interviews from her family.

“It was like every parent’s nightmare, just like in a flash of a second,” Petito’s stepfather Jim Schmidt said in the documentary’s trailer. “She’s gone, she’s missing.”

Gabby’s mom speaks of her daughter’s ‘magical’ presence

In the documentary, Gabby’s mom Nichole Schmidt said everyone who met their daughter instantly “fell in love with her.”

The devastated mother said: “People would meet her and just fall in love with her.

“She just had this presence. I don’t know what it was. It was just magical.”

“There are so many good memories over the years, but the one thing I hold dear to me is the hug that we had before she left for the trip in the driveway.”

“It’s still unbelievable. I still don’t understand it. It doesn’t make sense,” she added.

Rare photos of Gabby Petito shared in documentary

Rare photos of Gabby Petito were shared in a new documentary, prompting her heartbroken parents to say “this is all we have left now.”

Gabby‘s heartbroken parents, Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito opened up about what made their daughter special in the new Peacock documentary, The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media.

“Man, that smile. that smile didn’t change. Those eyes didn’t change. Those eyes, they would get her out of so much trouble,” Joe said.

“No matter how old she got, she would still be my baby girl, you know, how much trouble she was in, it didn’t matter. She was still my baby girl, you know?

“These are all I have left now,” Joe said as he stared down at his daughter’s childhood photos.

Mysteries surrounding the case, continued

Six days later, on Sept. 19, Gabby’s remains were found at a campsite near Grand Teton National Park.

A five-week nationwide search for Laundrie then ensued. While he wasn’t named as a suspect in her death a warrant was issued for his arrest on allegations of bank fraud.

That search came to an end on October 20 after skeletal remains were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Park, which is adjacent to the Carlton Reserve, in Sarasota County, Florida.

Mysteries surrounding the case

Brian quietly returned home to Florida alone on September 1, failing to alert police or Gabby’s family that she was missing.

Gabby was eventually reported missing by her mother in New York on September 11. That came after 10 days of allegedly being stonewalled by Brian and his parents about where her daughter was.

Brian then vanished himself on September 13, telling his parents he was going hiking in the Carlton Reserve. They described him as being “upset” and “out of sorts” when he left their home for the last time.

Gabby and Brian’s bodies identified exactly one month apart

Brian Laundrie’s remains were identified to be his on October 21, 2021.

The fugitive’s remains were found after an extensive search at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park

On September 21, 2021, the Teton County Coroner Dr. Brent Blue confirmed that the body found in Wyoming was that of Gabby Petito.

Petito died as a result of a homicide.

‘Tragic for two families’

Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino spoke of the loss suffered by both the Petito and Laundrie families.

“There are two young people that have now lost their lives,” Bertolino said. “These are parents that are suffering.

“Now, I understand that whatever happened or whatever didn’t happen,” he added. “This is tragic for two families.”

“And anybody with a child, and anybody with a sense of humanity can understand the frustration that both families feel on that point.”

How to get help

If you are being abused in a relationship, anonymous and confidential help is available.

For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or  1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

However, if you are actively in danger, call 911.

Gabby was killed by ‘throttling’

While Dr. Blue’s initial remarks lacked specificity, he later appeared on CNN and elaborated on Gabby’s cause of death, insisting she had been killed by “strangulation via a throttling.”

Professor Joseph Scott Morgan, a forensic expert and former medical examiner teaching at Jacksonville State University in Alabama said Brent’s comments are significant, as “that really narrows the field down because throttling is so very specific.

“He went to great lengths to even say that this was not mechanical, which essentially means that there wasn’t a ligature involved,” Morgan said. “When they say throttling, they’re talking about the application of two hands on this young woman’s throat.”

Morgan called the manner of death “intimate”, adding that throttling can either happen anteriorly — from the front — or posteriorly — from behind, and is often driven by a component of passion.

How did Gabby go missing?

Gabby Petito had quit her job and packed her life into a camper van for a cross-country adventure with Brian Laundrie, starting in July, documenting their journey in a stream of social media posts.

In images shared by the couple online, they are all smiles — barefoot in a canyon or surveying the ochre rocks of state and national parks.

In one YouTube video published during their trip, Petito and Laundrie are shown kissing tenderly, enjoying a sunset together, and strolling on a beach.

But the young woman’s family filed a missing person report on September 11 after the 22-year-old mysteriously vanished, and Laundrie returned home to Florida without her.

How to watch the documentary

To view the documentary, viewers must subscribe to Peacock.

Subscriptions range from $4.99/month to $9.99/month, depending on users viewing preferences.

The platform also offers annual subscriptions from $49.99/year to $99.99/year.

Was Brian Laundrie found?

Laundrie, 23, was named a person of interest in the disappearance and went missing himself as the search for Petito continued.

On October 21, the FBI announced remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park belonged to Laundrie.

Coroners determined Laundrie died from a gunshot wound to the head, ruling his death a suicide.

Gabby’s dad describes ‘horrific’ times

Petito’s father, Joseph, and stepmother, Tara, appear in the new documentary’s trailer as well and describe the time their daughter was missing as “horrific” and “a blur.”

“Her bright, beautiful light touched a lot of people,” Tara says in the trailer.

Where was Gabby’s body found?

On September 19, 2021, authorities in Wyoming announced a body was found in the area where the search for Petito had been underway.

The Petito lawyer later confirmed on September 21, that the body was identified as Gabby.

The remains were discovered in Grant Teton National Park, where she had been camping with her fiancé when she disappeared.

“I want to personally thank the press and news media for giving the Petito and Schmidt family time to grieve,” lawyer Richard Stafford said in a statement.

“We will be making a statement when Gabby is home. I will contact you to arrange a time and location.”