The Murder of Gabby Petito
(White van similar to the one they may have used for their trip. Photo taken by Olesya Menshykova, June 23, 2024.)
On July 2, 2021, Gabrielle Petito and her fiance Brian Laundrie set out on a four month long van journey across the United States. A few months later, only one of them returned without any explanation for where the other was. In one of the most documented and televised cases of the last few years, Gabby Petito’s killer would avoid all questions and remain silent, before subsequently disappearing and committing suicide. Brian Laundrie is believed to be responsible for her death, although his suicide letter attempts to frame it as an attempt at ending her suffering after a fall. Coupled with evidence investigators found and the highly suspicious behaviour of Laundrie, it is challenging to believe his claims. The troubling details of the days leading up to her death portray the harrowing reality of domestic abuse and how easily violence can go under the radar.
Timeline
(Incident involving the police, featuring bystanders. Photo taken by Olesya Menshykova, June 23, 2024.)
Starting as early as August 12th, incidents between the couple were documented. Brian was seen slapping Gabby in Moab Utah on August 12th and this was reported to 911. Later that day the local police department stopped their van due to erratic driving. Upon making the stop, they found Gabby crying and visibly very upset. She admitted that he hit her face and that they had been fighting all morning, but that she had also hit him first. The police arranged for the couple to stay in separate spots that night, but never filed this as domestic violence. A photo Gabby took this day showed that her injuries were significant. The police entirely failed her by not taking the incident and 911 call seriously enough. Numerous moments in released body cam footage from this interaction indicate that their investigation was not thorough. It is crucial that domestic incidents are taken seriously and police are vigilant with their investigations. In only a matter of a few weeks after this traffic stop, Gabby would be killed by her fiancé.
(An arrest taking place. Photo taken by Olesya Menshykova, June 23, 2024.)
After this incident, from August 17th until August 23rd Brian left Gabby and flew to Florida in order to collect some items. Upon his arrival back in Utah, only a few days later on August 25th would be the last day anyone heard from Gabby. The couple would be spotted in Wyoming on the 27th, and this would be the last day Gabby was ever seen alive. Some reports note that people saw Brian being very rude and aggressive in a restaurant and Gabby crying and apologizing profusely for his actions. It is generally assumed that Gabby was killed soon after this day. Particularly as multiple strange messages were sent from her phone to her mother on August 27th and August 30th. She believes they were not sent by Gabby. Additionally, according to Elizabeth Wolfe of CNN, on the 29th of August he told his father during a phone call that “Gabby’s gone” and that he may need a lawyer.
(Staged crime scene recreation. Photo taken by Olesya Menshykova, June 23, 2024.)
Takeaway
The violence in their relationship escalated dramatically in the span of only a few days after that traffic stop. What if the police took more time to investigate their situation instead of just chalking it up to a mental breakdown? It is not acceptable for women in vulnerable situations to be ignored and for their experiences to be diminished. All of the chances for others to step in were available. From the first 911 call, the traffic stop, and the displays of violence in the restaurant, there were numerous chances for someone to step in and help. We all need to be conscious of these signs and behaviours, speaking up could be the difference between life and death for you or someone around you.
Sources Used
Hauser, C. (2023, January 16). A timeline of the search for Gabrielle Petito and Brian Laundrie. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/article/gabrielle-gabby-petito-missing-timeline.html
Newly released photo appears to show Gabby Petito documenting her injuries before talking to moab police. The Salt Lake Tribune. (2023, February 7). https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/02/07/newly-released-photo-appears/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, May 10). Killing of Gabby Petito. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Gabby_Petito
Wolfe, E. (2024, February 14). Brian Laundrie’s parents detail “the day everything hit the fan” after their son told them Gabby Petito was “gone.” CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/14/us/brian-laundrie-gabby-petito-parent-depositions/index.html