Brian Laundrie-Gabby Petito docuseries highlights payment to lawyer connected to bin Laden
"You're going to throw $25,000 of your hard-earned cash out on a lawyer from f---ing Wyoming, and you're telling me you didn't ask where she was?" Joseph Petito says in Netflix's "American Murder: Gabby Petito."
The payment came three days after Laundrie called his parents and less than a week after Petito was last seen alive.
"That's some bulls---," he added, "I'll tell you that right now."
Brian Laundrie's Sister Estranged From Family Amid Explosive New Docuseries
Her stepfather, Jim Schmidt, echoed his concerns.
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"I don't think the amount of money they paid their attorney would be for anything less than to represent somebody for murder," he told the documentarians.
The lawyer in question is Tom Fleener, an Army veteran and former JAG lawyer whose clients included the Guantánamo Bay detainee Ali al Bahlul, a former bodyguard to the 9/11 terrorist Usama bin Laden, who Navy SEALs killed in 2011.
Fleener has previously declined to discuss the Laundrie case with Fox News Digital. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
Gabby Petito Told Her Ex She Was Scared To Leave Brian Laundrie But Wanted To Just Before Murder: New Doc
The Laundrie family attorney, Steve Bertolino, collected $25,000 from his clients and used it to retain Fleener's law firm. He said he has not collected any payment from the Laundries for his own legal role in the saga, which landed him in the middle of a now-settled lawsuit brought by Petito's parents.
Gabby Petito Urged Brian Laundrie To 'Stop Crying' In Love Letter To Her Killer Released By Fbi
8/27: Gabby Petito last seen alive in Jackson, Wyoming
8/29: Brian Laundrie tells his parents Petito is "gone" in "frantic" phone call
8/30: Laundrie sends phony texts from Petito's phone to himself and to her mother
9/1: Laundrie arrives at his parents' Florida house, driving Petito's van
9/2: Bertolino enters a fee agreement with Wyoming law firm on Laundrie's behalf
9/6-7: Laundrie family goes camping at Fort DeSoto Park
9/11: Petito reported missing
9/13: Laundrie evades FBI surveillance, leaves his parents' home and takes his own life
9/19: Petito's remains are discovered near their campsite outside Jackson
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Bertolino arranged for a local defense attorney after Brian Laundrie made a panicked phone call to his father from Wyoming, repeatedly saying "Gabby's gone," according to court documents.
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Christopher Laundrie denied knowledge of Petito's death at the time, and he said through his lawyer that his son hung up before sharing further details.
"Brian hung up on Chris. I said, 'When Brian calls you back, give him my number, and you tell him to call me. You do not talk to him,'" Bertolino told Fox News Digital when depositions in the civil suit became public.
Cassie Laundrie Unleashes After Gabby Petito Homicide
Both Christopher and Roberta Laundrie conceded that they had concerns for Petito's welfare after the call but denied having knowledge of the murder. Brian Laundrie invoked his right to remain silent but ultimately left behind a suicide note and confession.
Brian's sister, Cassie Laundrie, had also been expected to testify in the case, but her interview was canceled before the sides reached a settlement.
Pat Reilly, an attorney for Petito's parents, said he called it off "because she had no information related to the issues of the litigation."
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Cassie Laundrie has denied knowledge of her parents' conversations with her brother and recently alleged that a police detective, whose voice can be overheard on bodycam video, mischaracterized their conversation.
Since the case grabbed national headlines in 2021, Petito's parents have become advocates for missing persons and domestic violence victims.
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 (SAFE).Original article source: Brian Laundrie-Gabby Petito docuseries highlights payment to lawyer connected to bin Laden
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