In a surprising revelation, Nichole Schmidt, the mother of the late Gabby Petito, has publicly forgiven Brian Laundrie, her daughter's killer and former boyfriend.
Schmidt's announcement came during her address at CrimeCon2024, held in Nashville, Tennessee, where she expressed her decision to let go of her resentment towards Laundrie.
"I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you," Schmidt declared to the audience, as reported by Fox News. "I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life."
Laundrie, who strangled Petito during a cross-country trip in 2021, later committed suicide, leaving behind a note confessing to the murder. Schmidt never had the opportunity to confront her daughter's killer in person.
In her speech, Schmidt also directed her anger towards Roberta Laundrie, Brian's mother, accusing her of being the 'mastermind' behind the tragic events that led to the disintegration of both their families.
"As for you, Roberta, and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways, I see no empathy in your eyes," Schmidt said. "No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions."
The Petito family had previously filed a lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents, alleging that they were aware of their son's crime and had assisted him in covering up Petito's murder. The family sought damages of at least $100,000, aiming to hold Christopher and Roberta Laundrie accountable for their actions.
Petito's body was discovered in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest in September 2021, and her death was officially ruled a homicide by manual strangulation. A month later, Brian Laundrie's remains were found, and it was determined that he had taken his own life.
The FBI later discovered a notebook in which Laundrie had admitted to killing Petito. A letter from Roberta Laundrie, marked 'burn after reading,' was also released following a judge's ruling that it could be used as evidence in the lawsuit. The letter suggested that she would help her son dispose of a body if necessary.
The timing of the letter's creation, whether before or after Petito's murder, was a point of contention between the two families. Roberta Laundrie claimed in a sworn statement that she had given the letter to her son just before he and Petito embarked on their cross-country trip in June 2021.
In February of this year, the two families reached a confidential settlement before the case could proceed to a civil trial. Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family's attorney, confirmed the resolution of the lawsuit.
"Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved," Bertolino stated. "The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us."
On October 21, the FBI confirmed that the body found was indeed Brian Laundrie's. A notebook, backpack, and dry bag were also discovered near the body.
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