This week marked a significant and emotional moment as the families of Gabby Petito and her confessed murderer, Brian Laundrie, came face to face in court for the first time since Gabby’s tragic murder.
Gabby Petito’s family civil lawsuit continued in court
Christopher Laundrie, Brian’s father, was called to testify in court on Tuesday as part of the ongoing civil lawsuit filed by Gabby Petito’s family against him, his wife Roberta, and their family lawyer, Steven Bertolino. Christopher’s deposition lasted for approximately three hours.
According to the New York Post, this courtroom encounter marked the first meeting between the two families since Gabby Petito’s murder shook the nation in 2021.
Reports from WFLA suggest that Christopher Laundrie displayed “no remorse” during his testimony this week, leaving Gabby’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, deeply affected by the encounter. She described the experience as “gut-wrenching” and found it particularly painful to witness someone who showed no compassion for the girl who could have been their daughter-in-law.
Joe Petito was present for Brian Laundrie’s father’s deposition
While Nichole Schmidt observed the proceedings via Zoom, Gabby Petito’s father, Joe Petito, was physically present in court to hear Christopher’s deposition.
Gabby Petito’s life came to a tragic end in September 2021 when her body was discovered in Wyoming’s Bridger–Teton National Forest. She had been traveling across the country with Brian Laundrie, her fiancé at the time. Authorities determined that she had been choked to death. Subsequently, Brian Laundrie, who was initially a person of interest, took his own life. His partial remains were found in a remote location in Florida, and he had confessed to Gabby Petito’s murder in a notebook discovered near his remains.
The Laundrie family’s attempts to have the civil suit dismissed were unsuccessful. The Petito family has accused the Laundrie family of neglecting to provide assistance in the aftermath of their daughter’s disappearance, alleging that they ignored phone calls, social media messages, and texts. They have also accused the Laundrie family and their lawyer of withholding information, leading to intense emotional distress for the Petito family.
Steven Bertolino, the family lawyer for the Laundries, commented after the deposition, stating that there were no surprises from their side.
Civil lawsuit trial expected to start May 2024
Roberta Laundrie, Brian’s mother, was deposed on Wednesday, although these depositions were not open to the public. Her testimony came after the release of a “burn after reading” note she had written to her son, pledging to assist him if he ever needed to bury a body.
The civil depositions are expected to continue as the case progresses toward a trial scheduled to begin in May 2024.
In addition to the civil lawsuit against the Laundrie family, the Petito family has also filed a $50-million civil case against the Moab Police Department, alleging negligence during an interaction shortly before Gabby’s death, which they claim ultimately led to her tragic demise.
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