Brian Laundrie’s Account of Gabby Petito’s Death Revealed
Laundrie’s Handwritten Letter Provides Harrowing Details of Events Leading Up to Petito’s Death
In a recent Netflix docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," a handwritten letter left behind by Brian Laundrie, the fiancé of Gabby Petito, has revealed his account of the events surrounding her death in 2021.
The Letter
In the letter, Laundrie describes rushing back to their van, trying to cross the streams, and hearing a splash and a scream. He claims to have found Petito "gasping" and "freezing cold" and that she was "begging for an end to her pain." Laundrie wrote that he thought it was merciful to end her life, but instantly second-guessed his actions.
Petito’s Cause of Death
Petito’s cause of death was ruled as a homicide caused by manual strangulation and blunt-force trauma to her head and neck. Laundrie’s explanation of the events leading up to her passing has added to the mystery surrounding her death, leaving her loved ones with unanswered questions.
Laundrie’s Subsequent Disappearance and Death
Laundrie returned home to Florida without Petito in September 2021 and went missing days after the FBI opened an investigation into her disappearance. His body was later found at Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, with authorities determining that he died by suicide.
Reactions and Repercussions
Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, expressed frustration that the only two people who knew what happened were now both gone. "We knew at that point we weren’t ever going to get remotely close to answers we were hoping for," he said in the series.
Resources for Those in Crisis
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or chat live at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
FAQs
- What was the cause of Gabby Petito’s death?
- Her cause of death was ruled as a homicide caused by manual strangulation and blunt-force trauma to her head and neck.
- What is Brian Laundrie’s account of the events leading up to Petito’s death?
- In his handwritten letter, Laundrie describes rushing back to their van, hearing a splash and a scream, and finding Petito "gasping" and "freezing cold."
- What happened to Brian Laundrie after Petito’s death?
- Laundrie returned home to Florida without Petito and went missing days after the FBI opened an investigation into her disappearance. His body was later found at Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, with authorities determining that he died by suicide.
