Brian Laundrie Informed His Parents of Gabby Petito’s Disappearance: Legal Documents Revealed
December 4, 2023According to documents filed by a Petito family attorney, two days after Brian Laundrie killed Gabby Petito, he called his parents saying the victim was “gone.” Despite this phone call on Aug. 29, 2021, Petito wasn’t reported missing until 13 days later. Laundrie also told his parents that he needed a lawyer, and they contacted their attorney, Steve Bertolino, according to Petito family attorney Pat Reilly. The family allegedly took a group vacation a few days later, even before Petito was reported missing.
Petito’s parents sued Laundrie’s parents and their attorney in civil court, alleging emotional distress due to their alleged lies. Laundrie was found dead by suicide on a Florida nature reserve in October 2021 near his parents’ home. He admitted to killing Petito in his personal notebook.
Laundrie’s parents then reached out to Bertolino, who contacted several Wyoming lawyers about representing Brian. Petito’s family also received a suspicious text from Gabby’s phone, and they were angry about a statement released by Bertolino on behalf of the Laundrie family expressing “hope” for Gabby’s safe return.