By all accounts presented in the new Netflix docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito, the relationship between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie was far from what appeared on social media. Gabby tried to show a perfect #VanLife but behind the online persona a troubling reality existed. Sadly the full picture of this relationship only emerged after Gabby Petito 's tragic death.
Federal investigators concluded Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby in August 2021. This occurred less than two months into their cross-country trip. Gabby's dream of exploring the United States in their van and documenting it all ended shortly after her first and only video post. American Murder: Gabby Petito explores the toxic dynamic between Gabby and Brian. It examines the events before her death and the search for both Gabby and later Brian who died by suicide in September 2021.
This three-part series offers interviews with Gabby's parents friends and a former boyfriend. It also includes insights from investigators on the case. Directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro used Gabby's personal photos videos and journal entries to construct a clearer picture of her relationship with Brian. These journal entries are presented with voice recreation adding another layer to the narrative.
After Gabby's body was discovered in Wyoming's Bridger–Teton National Forest on Sept. 19 2021 the coroner determined her death was a homicide. The cause of death was manual strangulation and blunt-force trauma to her head and neck. A notebook found with Brian's remains contained his confession. He claimed to have "ended" Gabby's life after an accident by a stream where she suffered an injury and asked him to stop her pain. The FBI and Gabby's family rejected his account.
"We knew at that point we weren't ever going to get remotely close to answers we were hoping for" Gabby's stepfather Jim Schmidt states in the series "because the only two people that truly knew what happened are now both gone." Jim delivered the news of Gabby's body discovery to her mother Nichole Schmidt and other family members over a conference call from Wyoming.
Seeing Gabby in her videos full of life and hope makes her well-known fate even more heartbreaking. She genuinely wanted to make the trip work. However the series suggests she was increasingly unhappy and possibly wished to no longer be on the journey or at least not with Brian.
Gabby Petito’s Family Initially Thought Brian Laundrie Was Nice But Doubts Grew
Early Impressions Did Not Match Brian's True Character
"I thought he was a little socially awkward but very polite" Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt recalls about Brian Laundrie in American Murder: Gabby Petito . Gabby's stepfather Jim Schmidt described him as "kinda quiet". Gabby's father Joe Petito noted Brian "shook your hand looked you in the eye." Gabby and Brian became a couple after high school. Brian described it as love at first sight. He told friends he saw her outside a deli and stopped to talk. After dating less than nine months Gabby moved to Florida with Brian in December 2019 to be closer to his family.
Rose Davis a friend Gabby made in Florida described her initial impression of Brian during a hangout "It felt like a parent was watching us on a play date. It was very weird." Rose found Brian "very nice" but told her mother "there is something off about him" after meeting them. "That just started becoming more and more clear as our friendship progressed" Rose explains "Brian had a very dark side of him." Brian proposed to Gabby in July 2020. Nichole learned about the engagement from Brian's mother Roberta Laundrie's Facebook post not directly from Gabby or Brian. "She didn't want to tell anybody" Nichole stated "I thought that was really strange." Gabby's stepmother Tara Petito found it "a little bit shocking" Brian did not ask Joe for his daughter's hand before proposing. Gabby was initially happy about the engagement Nichole said "but as time went on she kind of lost that excitement."
Brian Laundrie Did Not Support Gabby Petito’s #VanLife Dream And Seemed Possessive
His Negativity Towards Gabby's Aspirations Was Evident
Rose remembers Gabby's enthusiasm for her job at Taco Bell which helped fund her van. However Brian "started feeling neglected and having this possessiveness" regarding Gabby. Text messages shown in the series reveal Brian criticizing Gabby's job and coworkers calling them "low lifes" and describing her association with them as "f--king disgusting". He manipulated Gabby into feeling guilty for his feelings making her feel undeserving of his affection. Rose believes "he wanted her to feel that way."
"I think there was a moment before her van life that she started to open her eyes" Rose added. Gabby was becoming "more frustrated. I think it was all clicking for her the more it went on." Despite appearances in Gabby's travel footage Brian did not value her #VanLife dream. Rose suggests he was primarily motivated by isolating Gabby. "If I get her away from her job I get her away from her friend she only has me" Rose interprets his thinking "And then next thing you know they were gone." Gabby confided in Rose that Brian thought her vlog idea was "stupid". Rose speculates "I think he was worried that the truth of everything would be on footage. There’s that possibility he says the wrong thing or reacts the wrong way while she's recording."
Police Gave Brian Laundrie Too Much Benefit Of Doubt After Moab Incident
Law Enforcement's Misjudgment Is Clear In Retrospect
On Aug. 12 2021 a 911 call reported a man slapping a woman on the road in Moab Utah. The caller stated they then drove off and their van hit a curb. Body camera footage from Moab City Police's interaction with Brian and Gabby that day was shown later during the investigation. The footage reveals Gabby taking blame for their physical fight. She told officers about her anxiety and "really bad OCD" claiming Brian was stressing her but trying to calm her down. Brian had scratches from Gabby's phone claiming he pushed her away as she tried to get van keys. When asked about bruises Gabby repeatedly said "I don't know." She admitted to yelling and "I guess I hit him first." One officer concluded "from what she's claiming she's the full-on aggressor here." Police took Brian to a hotel often used for domestic violence victims. Gabby received the van keys and directions to a cheap shower. They were instructed to avoid contact overnight but reunited and continued towards Salt Lake City.
Gabby Petito’s Family Shocked By Police Footage And Realized Situation Was Severe
Bodycam Footage Revealed The Deep Distress Gabby Was Experiencing
"She never told me about their fight in Moab" Rose says noting Gabby had FaceTimed her regularly from the road "but I've seen her that upset before because of him." Gabby's mother Nichole described her reaction to the 911 call and police footage in September "I watched my daughter looking frightened to death. That's when I realized that things were way worse than I could have imagined." Nichole was disturbed "to see the distress my daughter was in and then [cops] laughing and joking around [with Brian]" adding "I could not believe that she was being treated as an aggressor."
Gabby Petito's Texts to Ex-Boyfriend Showed She Planned to Leave Brian
Her Communication Signaled A Cry For Help And Desire To Escape
Gabby's former boyfriend Jackson stated he heard from her unexpectedly on Aug. 22 2021. They dated for about a year before Brian. They had discussed #VanLife together. He felt bittersweet about her trip with Brian but wished her well. "I'm sure I’m the last person on the planet you want to hear from" she texted him. She added she was "only alone until tomorrow" asking to talk before then. He now sees her reaching out as "a cry for help." On the phone Gabby hinted at an argument and said "I have a plan I think I want to leave him." She needed to decide when. "I think that she wasn’t sure of what he would do or what he could do" Jackson believes "I think she was wanting to get away but just didn't know how to do it." Gabby Snapchatted him on Aug. 27 about Jackson Hole Wyoming reminding her of him. She called later that day at 1:45 p.m. but he was at work and missed it. It was their last contact. Jackson wonders "Maybe if I did answer that phone call I could have helped or there could have been a different outcome."
Laundrie Family's Silence And Lack Of Help Was Extremely Suspicious
Their Refusal To Cooperate Raised Serious Questions Early On
On Aug. 27 Gabby texted her mom "I'm fine. I convinced Brian to go camp out in the woods so I can have the van to myself. It’s what he wants to do anyway. I don’t care. He said I could have the van if I paid him." Nichole asked if they were breaking up. Gabby replied "No I just said I could make more money as a solo female van lifer. I’m driving to a campsite now." Further texts to Gabby went unanswered. A text on Aug. 30 struck Nichole as odd using Gabby's grandfather's first name "Stan" instead of "grandpa." Having no contact Nichole texted Brian's mother Roberta on Sept. 10 but got no reply. A second attempt showed Nichole was likely blocked. Gabby's father Joe also tried contacting Roberta and Brian's father Chris Laundrie and sister Cassie Laundrie without success even texting they were calling police. The Laundrie family's attorney declined to comment for the series. Cassie told reporters she and her husband learned about the case from media and knew nothing about her parents or brother's situation stating "We are just as upset frustrated and heartbroken as everybody else."
Roberta Laundrie’s Letter Revealed Disturbing Loyalty To Her Son
The "Burn After Reading" Letter Showed A Troubling Level Of Support
On Sept. 11 North Port Florida police visited Roberta and Chris' home seeking information on Gabby. Body camera footage shows Chris stating Brian was home but had nothing to say suggesting police contact their attorney. Police were uncertain how to proceed as no crime was yet confirmed. However Gabby's van was at the Laundrie home. Since Gabby owned the van police promptly towed it. Nichole recalled her reaction "My body would not stop shaking...I knew something bad happened." Gabby's father Joe added "We started screaming." Stepmom Tara "I collapsed." Friend Rose "I just lost it to be honest. I was screaming 'What did he do? He did something what did he do?'" When authorities revisited the Laundrie house on Sept. 17 Brian's parents reported him missing stating they had not seen him in three days. FBI Special Agent Loretta Bush recounts that among Brian's belongings was a letter from his mother marked "burn after reading". The letter contained disturbing lines. "You are my boy nothing can make me stop loving you. Nothing will or could ever divide us no matter what we do" Bush read. "If you are in jail I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags." Rose and Tara called the letter "disgusting". Nichole stated "It made me sick to my stomach."
Brian Laundrie Tried To Fabricate Alibi After Gabby’s Death
His Calculated Deception Was Uncovered By Investigators
Investigators revealed Brian made numerous calls to his parents on Aug. 29. "They contacted each other multiple times. We learned that he told them Gabby was gone and he needed a lawyer...At which point his parents wired money to a lawyer" Busy explains. Joe questioned the timing and expense "You're going to throw $25000 of your hard-earned cash out on a lawyer from f--king Wyoming? And you're telling me you didn't ask where she was? That's some bulls--t." Gabby's stepdad Jim suggested the money must be for "anything less than to represent somebody for murder." Cellular data showed Brian texted Gabby's phone to create an alibi while he was near her phone in Spread Creek camping area. "The activity between the two phones was almost instantaneous" Special Agent Bush stated "He was holding both phones and talking directly to himself. It was apparent that he was trying to create an alibi." Brian began driving to Florida on Aug. 30 using Gabby's debit card for gas. He sent the text about Gabby's grandfather to her mother and Zelled himself $700 from Gabby's account with the memo "Goodbye Brian I'll never ask you for anything again."
Gabby Petito’s Father Still Haunted By Her Last Moments
The Unimaginable Horror Of Her Final Experiences Lingers
Gabby's body was found on Sept. 19 2021 in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area. She was in a fetal position wearing a hoodie. The coroner ruled strangulation and blunt force trauma as cause of death. An agent noted "She was not laying in a natural position" suggesting the scene was staged. Gabby's stepdad Jim was present during the search. Seeing a photo of her body "just left there like she was a piece of trash by someone who was supposed to love her" Jim "collapsed to the ground." He informed Nichole Joe and Tara. "I got a phone call that I'd never see my daughter again" Joe recalls. Tara described it as the worst day. "I think about the last moments a lot" Joe states "I’m sure she was scared. And anytime she was scared she would call me or Jim [Tara] or Nicki so I don’t know who she called out for."
Gabby Petito's Family Didn't Buy Brian Laundrie's Version of Events
His Confession And Suicide Did Not Provide Closure Or Truth
Brian's remains were found Oct. 20 in the Carlton Memorial Reserve. His death was ruled suicide by gunshot. A waterproof bag nearby contained photos of Brian and Gabby and a notebook where he confessed to "ending her life" to end her pain after an accident. He added "I knew I couldn't go on without her." Letters included one saying "Please do not make life harder for my family they lost a son and a daughter.” Nichole found it "odd that he wrote in there leave my parents out of this they didn’t do anything wrong." Jim noted "Not one of the versions of Brian's account was accurate by the findings of Gabby's autopsy. The sole cause of her death was strangulation and nothing remotely or even close to what he said." Gabby's family won a $3 million wrongful death lawsuit against Brian's estate in 2022 and settled a suit against his parents for emotional distress in February 2024. American Murder: Gabby Petito is now available on Netflix .