Gabby was reported missing in September 2021 when she failed to return home with Brian following a cross-country road trip. The 22-year-old’s remains were discovered later that month in Wyoming.
Brian, who was named a person of interest but never a suspect in Gabby’s disappearance, had returned back to Florida without his fiancée. He disappeared during the police investigation into Gabby’s case and was found dead in North Port, Fla. in October 2021. In a notebook found by his remains, Brian claimed “responsibility” for Gabby’s death in a written confession, according to authorities.
Since her passing, Gabby’s parents have also filed a civil lawsuit against Brian’s parents, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, under the argument that they allegedly knew Brian murdered Gabby and they were keeping his location a secret from investigators. The Laundries have denied these claims. The Laundries filed a motion to dismiss the case however, their request was denied by a judge, per court documents obtained by E! News on June 30. The first hearing for the case occurred June 22. The Laundries filed a motion on Oct. 27 asking that their depositions be limited in the case, per court documents obtained by E! News Nov. 3.
Additionally, Gabby’s mom filed a separate wrongful death lawsuit in May against the curator of Brian’s estate, seeking $30,000 in damages. No trial date has been set.
At the time, the Laundries’ attorney Steven Bertolino told E! News that the wrongful death suit was “fully expected.”
“This lawsuit will most likely not be defended and the Petitos will have gained nothing more than a piece of paper that tells them what everyone already knows,” Bertolino said, “which is that Brian was responsible for Gabby’s death as indicated by the FBI.”
