Brian Laundrie's parents have revealed in court transcripts that he told them "Gabby's gone" multiple times during a phone call from Jackson, Wyoming, just two days after he is believed to have killed her at a campsite.
The transcripts were made public on Monday as part of an ongoing civil lawsuit. Both Christopher and Roberta Laundrie admitted to having concerns for Petito's welfare after the conversations.
In a fiery deposition, Petito's father referred to Laundrie as a "piece of s---" who was "raised by pieces of s---." The Laundries stated that they were unaware of any previous girlfriends that their son had, but described him as an outgoing person with many friends. They also revealed that they had been under criminal investigation in connection with the case in the fall of 2021, although neither parent was charged.
During the phone call, Brian Laundrie asked his father for help with a lawyer. Christopher Laundrie, although unaware of Petito's murder at the time, felt that his son's frantic state warranted consideration. Roberta Laundrie also recalled the seriousness of the conversation, stating that she could tell from Christopher's tone of voice that something was wrong. The parents took the situation seriously enough to contact their attorney and send him $25,000 to retain a Wyoming-based law firm on behalf of their son. However, they claimed to be unaware of what had actually happened to Petito at the time.
Christopher Laundrie's deposition revealed that he did not know about the couple's cross-country road trip until he saw a phone bill showing that his son had called a realtor in Utah. He also mentioned that after a domestic violence incident in Moab, Petito did not feel safe and Brian Laundrie had put her in a hotel. However, he claimed to be unaware of the police stop that occurred during their trip until it was reported in the news. Roberta Laundrie stated that she did not learn about the police stop until after her son's death, even though he had come home twice by then.
During his deposition, Christopher Laundrie admitted to calling his son multiple times on the suspected day of Petito's murder. When asked why he had called him three times within a three-hour period and left a voicemail message, Laundrie replied that he might have just wanted to talk to him. He could not recall the details of their conversation when they finally spoke, but described it as a "very good conversation." However, he mentioned that on August 29, everything "hit the fan" and his son became frantic, telling him that "Gabby's gone" and that he needed a lawyer.
Brian Laundrie, who is the only suspect in Petito's death, is believed to have killed her around August 28, 2021. According to his father's deposition, he made a frantic phone call to his parents the next day, informing them that Gabby was "gone" and that he needed a lawyer. Christopher Laundrie promptly sent a $25,000 check to their attorney to retain a Wyoming lawyer for Brian.
Petito's parents have filed a lawsuit against the Laundries, as well as their attorney, Steve Bertolino, alleging that they knew about the murder, attempted to help the killer avoid justice, and caused emotional distress with a public statement expressing "hope" that she would be "reunited with her family" more than two weeks after her death.
The court transcripts were made public as part of Bertolino's motion for summary judgment, which, if successful, would allow the judge to make a ruling in the case without a full trial. The parties are scheduled for mediation on February 21. If the case goes to trial, it is set to begin on May 13.
In the midst of this tragic case, Petito's parents have established a foundation in her name, which donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline last year. They are also urging anyone suffering from domestic violence to contact the hotline for help.
The details revealed in the court transcripts shed light on the tense and frantic moments following Gabby Petito's disappearance and subsequent discovery of her body. The Laundrie family's actions and statements during this time will undoubtedly play a significant role in the ongoing civil lawsuit and any potential criminal proceedings.
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