Gabby Petito's parents filed a lawsuit Thursday against Brian Laundrie's parents for damages related to the fact that they believe the Laundries knew their son killed Gabby Petito and did not share her location with them during the search.
Gabby Petito's body was found in a Wyoming national park and Brian Laundrie was later found in a Florida preserve with a notebook claiming he killed her. He died by suicide.
Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt sued Christopher and Roberta Laundrie for action damages exceeding $30,000 and attorney fees, the document shows.
Several claims were made within the document by the Petito family. Before the relationship, the four parents "had a cordial relationship," the document states.
Here is the alleged timeline of communications:
- During the trip, Gabby Petito called her parents every day, her parents said. Her last communication with Joseph Petito was on Aug. 21, 2021, and with Nichole Schmidt was on Aug. 27, 2021. She was believed to have been killed on Aug. 27, 2021.
- After Brian Laundrie killed Gabby Petito, he texted from her cell phone to hide the fact that she was dead, the plaintiffs claim. He once referred to Gabby Petito's grandfather, Stan, by his name, which she never did.
- Brian Laundrie told his parents he killed Gabby Petito on Aug. 28, 2021, the document states. On that same date, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie spoke with attorney Steve Bertolino and sent him a retainer on Sept. 2, 2021.
- While Gabby Petito's remains were in Wyoming from Aug. 27 to Sept. 19, 2021, the parents say they were distraught. At this time, the Laundrie family went on vacation from Sept. 6-7.
- Roberta Laundrie blocked Nichole Schmidt's number on her phone and her profile on Facebook, according to the Petitos.
With full knowledge their son had killed Gabby Petito, the family issued a statement:
"It is our understanding that a search has been organized for Miss Petito in or near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming," the lawsuit said. "On behalf of the Laundrie family it is our hope that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family."
Gabby Petito's family attorney sent a letter to the Laundrie family asking them to say where the location of Gabby's body was. It said, in part:
"We are writing this letter to ask you to help find our beautiful daughter," the document states. "We understand you are going through a difficult time and your instinct to protect your son is strong.
"We ask you to put yourselves in our shoes. We haven't been able to sleep or eat and our lives are falling apart.
"We believe you know the location of where Brian left Gabby. We beg you to tell us. As a parent, how can you put Gabby's younger brothers and sisters through this?"
The document said they did not get a response and were then instructed all contact was to be made through the attorneys. When asking about Gabby Petito's well-being, they received a "no comment."
While the search for Gabby Petito was going on, the lawsuit claims the Laundries were planning and preparing for Brian Laundrie to leave the country.
The plaintiffs claim that the Laundrie's knew the location of the remains of Gabby Petito, and in not saying what happened, they "acted with malice or great indifference" to their rights. Their behavior "exhibited extreme and outrageous conduct which constitutes behavior, under the circumstances, which goes beyond all possible bunds of decency and is regarded as shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community," according to the lawsuit.
The plaintiffs said they suffered as a direct result of these actions.
The Laundrie family attorney, Steve Bertolino sent a statement:
"As I have maintained over the last several months, the Laundrie‘s have not publicly commented at my direction which is their right under the law," Bertolino said in a statement. "Assuming everything the Petitos allege in their lawsuit is true, which we deny, this lawsuit does not change the fact that the Laundries had no obligation to speak to Law Enforcement or any third-party including the Petito family. This fundamental legal principle renders the Petito’s claims to be baseless under the law."