Brian Laundrie’s Parents Respond to Gabby Petito Documentary
The family of Brian Laundrie has finally broken their silence regarding the Netflix documentary about the death of travel vlogger Gabby Petito, whom authorities said was killed by Laundrie on a cross-country trip in 2021.
A Statement from Laundrie’s Attorney
Laundrie’s lawyer, Steven Bertolino, shared a statement with TODAY in response to the docuseries. Laundrie’s parents do not appear as interview subjects in the show.
"The documentary was what we expected. One perspective depicted as the ‘truth’ as seen through their lens. Similar to Republicans and Democrats fighting it out lately. Each side believes their perspective is correct. Hard to see through the lens of the other with all the noise and distrust," he said in the statement.
"The documentary contained many inaccuracies, incorrect juxtapositions of timelines, and misstatements and omissions of fact — perhaps deliberate to capture their ‘truth’, perhaps due to simple error," he continued.
"We all know Brian took Gabby’s life and Brian then took his own as well. Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn and remember them in peace."
Response to Allegations of Inaccuracies
TODAY.com reached out to the filmmakers for comment about Bertolino’s allegations of inaccuracies and misstatements in the docuseries, but did not immediately receive a response.
Background on the Case
Petito’s family filed a civil lawsuit against Laundrie’s parents in March 2022 that accused Christopher and Roberta Laundrie of interfering with the search for their murdered daughter, according to the lawsuit, which NBC News reported on at the time.
The lawyer for the Laundries denied the allegations in the lawsuit filed in Florida’s Sarasota County, according to NBC News.
Petito’s parents and Laundrie’s parents reached a "confidential resolution" in the case in February 2024 to which "all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict," according to a joint statement by Petito’s parents that was shared with NBC News.
Timeline of Events
Petito disappeared in August 2021 during a cross-country van trip with Laundrie, who was her fiancé. A widespread search ended when her body was found in a national forest in Wyoming on September 19, 2021.
A Wyoming coroner ruled her death to be a homicide by strangulation, according to his comments in a video shared by NBC affiliate WNBC in October 2021.
On September 15, 2021, police in North Port, Florida, confirmed Laundrie was a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance, according to NBC News.
Laundrie died by suicide from a gunshot wound to the head, an attorney for Laundrie’s family said in November 2021, according to NBC News.
He also left behind writings showing his "responsibility" for Petito’s death, the FBI announced in January 2022, NBC News reported.
Conclusion
The Laundrie family’s response to the documentary is a reminder that the truth is subjective and can be perceived differently by different people. While the documentary presents one perspective, Laundrie’s family maintains that it contains inaccuracies and misstatements.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Brian Laundrie?
- Brian Laundrie is the fiancé of Gabby Petito, who was killed in 2021.
- What is the documentary "American Murder: Gabby Petito" about?
- The documentary is a three-part series that examines Petito’s life, disappearance, and death through interviews with her family and friends, as well as text messages, videos, and excerpts from her personal journals.
- What is the current status of the lawsuit against Laundrie’s parents?
- Petito’s family and Laundrie’s parents reached a confidential resolution in the case in February 2024.
