Latest news with #AmericanMurder:GabbyPetito
Daily Record
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
7 chilling true crime documentaries on Netflix to binge this weekend
Netflix is home to some of the most disturbing true crime documentaries that are all the rage with fans of the genre - but these are the most chilling of them all. There's nothing quite like cosying up under your duvet with a few nibbles, ready to delve into the latest true crime documentary on Netflix. Recent figures from the streaming giant reveal the popularity of the genre, with American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden and Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders both making the Top 10. And who could overlook the impact of Making A Murderer and American Murder: Gabby Petito, sparking countless theories and debates across various platforms like Reddit. If you're searching for your next true crime documentary to binge this weekend, we've got you sorted with seven of our top choices - but they're not for the faint-hearted. American Murder: The Family Next Door This 2020 documentary recounts the true story of the Watts family murders, which occurred two years prior. Utilising archival footage from social media posts and text messages to home video footage and police recordings, it unravels the mystery that shrouded the family, revealing midway through that Chris Watts murdered his pregnant wife Shanann, and her two daughters, four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste. Reports of their disappearances began when friends of Shanann contacted the police saying they'd not heard from her, but Chris quickly became a key part of the search, even appearing on TV to plead for their return. He claimed to have no idea of their whereabouts, but his lies and secrets began to unravel after a failed polygraph test. Viewers eventually discover the horrific events that transpired, after Chris murdered his wife and buried her in a grave at his workplace, where he also disposed of his two daughters' bodies in an oil tank. His motives were never definitively established, but he pleaded guilty to multiple counts of first-degree murder and was handed five life sentences without the possibility of parole, with three to be served consecutively. Don't F**k with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer In 2019, Netflix released what might be its most terrifying documentary, which traced the true story of an online manhunt. It charted an amateur investigation by social media users into a series of animal cruelty acts committed by a Canadian pornstar named Luka Magnotta. In 2010, he shared a video of himself killing two kittens in a plastic bag by suffocating them with a vacuum cleaner. After witnessing the horrifying act when the video went viral, a Facebook group was created to try and gather evidence against him. However, matters took a darker turn when Magnotta evaded authorities and began to commit more serious crimes, culminating in the murder of Jun Lin. He posted the video of Lin's death online, and sent his body parts to various institutions including the headquarters of Canada's two major political parties. He fled to Europe but was apprehended in 2014 and convicted of Lin's murder. He was given a life sentence with no chance of parole for 25 years. Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. The four-part documentary, Bad Vegan, chronicles the rise and fall of Sarma Melngailis and Anthony Strangis, founders of Pure Food and Wine, and a married couple. Their New York City restaurant was a favourite among A-listers such as Bill Clinton and Alec Baldwin, and was known for its pioneering vegan cuisine. However, when Sarma married Anthony - who is actually named Shane Fox - her downfall and that of her restaurant began. Sarma claimed that her husband, a conman, manipulated her into stealing money from their business. He managed to convince her that he had lived for centuries and could grant her and her dog immortality. Eventually, he emptied her bank account and they both went on the run, only to be apprehended while ordering a non-vegan Domino's pizza. In 2017, Anthony admitted to charges of grand larceny, criminal tax fraud, and a scheme to defraud. He received a five-year probation sentence for stealing nearly $1,000,000 from the investors and employees of Pure Food and Wine. Sarma also confessed to stealing over $200,000 from an investor and scheming to defraud, in addition to facing criminal tax fraud charges. She was sentenced to almost four months in prison and filed for divorce from Anthony in 2018. The Tinder Swindler Netflix's The Tinder Swindler revealed the deceitful actions of Shimon Hayut, who impersonated Simon Leviev, the billionaire son of a diamond tycoon. The series follows three victims, Pernilla Sjoholm, Cecilie Fjellhøy and Ayleen Koeleman, as they join forces to uncover the true identity of a man who swindled them out of thousands of pounds to fund his extravagant lifestyle. He would whisk them away on romantic trips and lavish them with luxury, only to leave them drowning in debt. The Netflix programme suggests that Hayut hopped from one woman to another, stealing an estimated $10,000,000, while also being sought globally for various crimes. Following the airing of the series, Hayut maintained his innocence and refuted claims of fraud. It was later alleged that the real Leviev family were taking legal action against Hayut for defamation and invasion of privacy, after he impersonated the son of Israeli-Russian businessman Lev Leviev, even going to the extent of photoshopping himself into family photographs. Sweet Bobby: My Catfish Nightmare Sweet Bobby unveils one of the most shocking instances of catfishing - the twisted tale of Kirat Assi's ordeal. Based on a podcast bearing the same name, the Netflix series recounts how Kirat was deceived for over a decade. The actual individual behind the account - whom she believed to be a man named Bobby - wove a web of deceit, manipulating Kirat and their relationship, lying about health issues and creating multiple false personas to convince her she was interacting with a whole community of people acquainted with Bobby. Radio presenter Kirat's romantic illusions were shattered when she uncovered the truth about the man she believed she knew, only to find out he had a family and was oblivious to her existence. Her world fell apart upon discovering the true identity of the person who had catfished her for over ten years, but she found empowerment by taking legal action, as revealed in the Netflix series, and later pursued a civil lawsuit. Speaking to Metro about the ordeal, she expressed: "It's never gone away. It's always there. I hope by coming forward, other victims are not treated the same way." The Most Hated Man on the Internet Netflix's 2022 release, The Most Hated Man on the Internet, delves into the story of Hunter Moore, infamously dubbed the 'king of revenge porn'. Moore was the creator of a notorious 'revenge porn' site that encouraged users to upload images and videos, often containing nudity or explicit content, which reportedly included underage individuals and band members. Countless victims suffered as their private photos and social media details were disseminated online. The documentary series chronicles the downfall of Moore and his infamous website, culminating in his conviction and subsequent two-year imprisonment. After the series, he made some shocking comments including that he was "proud of what [he] created" and claimed: "I did do my time, I feel like I did pay my dues, and it wasn't all negative, and I had a great time and I would definitely do it over and over again, but I would do it in a different way and I would definitely take back any of the trauma that anybody suffered from the website or anything negative that happened through the site because back then I didn't understand it." Producers on the series also shared that Moore had initially agreed to be a part of the series before pulling out, but they were later glad to be able to share the story from the victims' narrative. Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey This instalment of Netflix's Cold Case series follows the mysterious death of JonBenét Ramsey, a six-year-old found dead in her parents' basement. On Boxing Day in 1996, her parents John and Patsy awoke to find her missing, and discovered a ransom note asking for $118,000. After contacting the police and searching their home, John found her body dead in the basement, but the investigation that followed sparked numerous questions. The Netflix show reveals the intricacies of the police case, and alleged mistakes made, as well as the media sensation around her death after controversy over her participation in child pageants, and the possible suspects.
IOL News
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
When red flags go unseen: the silent cries for help in 'American Murder: Gabby Petito'
The docuseries digs deep into the couple's seemingly happy journey across the United States, with Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie posting their van life adventures online. Image: X/@NetflixDE Oh, the irony. The happiest people on social media often have the darkest secrets, and the "American Murder: Gabby Petito" story is a brutal reminder of this truth. If you've heard the name Gabby Petito before, it's likely because of the tragic, gut-wrenching story that's still a topic of discussion across social media. Netflix's docuseries is a reminder that behind every picture-perfect post, there's often more than meets the eye. It digs deep into the couple's seemingly happy journey across the United States, with Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie posting their 'van life' adventures online. What they didn't show their followers, however, were the cracks in their relationship. Right from the start, the series pulls you into a real-life horror story, beginning with the bodycam footage of a police stop in Utah. In the footage, an emergency call has prompted officers to pull over the couple's van after a domestic incident. What follows is a scene that will stay with you: despite Petito's bruises and distress, she's labelled as the aggressor, and the police choose to separate the two for the night, sending Laundrie to a hotel and leaving Petito alone in the van. Throughout the episodes, the facade of the perfect couple begins to crumble, revealing increasingly obvious flaws in their relationship. Petito, an outgoing and free-spirited individual who lived for the outdoors and social media, was trying desperately to hold it together. But behind the smiles and photos, there was a dark reality. Initially seen as a quiet and awkward fiancé, Laundrie's true character began to emerge, revealing him to be controlling, manipulative, and increasingly toxic. His actions, like confiscating Petito's ID to stop her from socialising with friends, were apparent to those who observed him. She even reached out to her ex-boyfriend, Jackson, revealing to him that she was planning to leave Brian. She confided in Jackson that she was trying to figure out when and how to break free from the abusive situation. This conversation was a telling moment, a 'cry for help,' and it showed the desperation she was feeling.
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- News.com.au
Gabby Petito's mother makes bombshell new claim after daughter's murder
Warning: Distressing The mother of a woman who was brutally strangled to death by her boyfriend while on a dream US road trip has made chilling new claims about her daughter's killer. Gabby Petito, 22, was murdered by her then-boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, on August 27, 2021, with her remains being found in a Wyoming forest three weeks later. Brian strangled Gabby to death and then drove her car back to his parents' home in North Port, Florida, on September 1st. He disappeared as soon as police began their investigation. Brian's skeletal remains were discovered on October 20 in a Florida national park, with police confirming his identity the following day. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The story made headlines around the world and was re-told in a major documentary this year. Gabby's distraught mother, Nichole Schmidt, recently appeared on an episode of The Squeeze Podcast, hosted by Twilight actor Taylor Lautner and his wife Tay, where she made some bombshell new claims about the case. She alleged that by the time Brian had gone missing, his parents had already 'cleared out his room'. 'I actually just found out some new information a few days ago,' she revealed on the show. 'There was [someone] that was at the house when Brian was missing – and I would say he was hiding, he wasn't missing, but he was actually dead – but his room was completely gutted and renovated. 'None of his things were there anymore. It was gone. 'So that very same week, Gabby was missing and cops were going to their house to try to get, I guess, a scent from their dogs to look for Brian, all his things were gone. 'The room was completely empty, just gone.' Nichole also made an explosive suggestion that she believes Brian's parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, did this to his room as they 'knew he had killed Gabby'. 'It drives me crazy,' she said. 'That is one thing that keeps me up at night.' Christopher and Roberta Laundrie have not been charged with any crime and have maintained their innocence throughout the years. Nichole added that while she feels she has to forgive Brian for murdering her daughter, her entire family remain upset with his parents for their behaviour throughout the unimaginable ordeal. Nichole and Gabby's father, Joseph Petito, have accused Brian's parents of helping him cover up the horrific murder before he vanished into the wilderness and took his own life. Brian's parents also reportedly refused to speak to law enforcement in the days following Gabby's disappearance as they frantically searched for their daughter. A recent Netflix documentary about the case entitled American Murder: Gabby Petito revealed how Roberta wrote her son an eerie note that instructed him to 'burn after reading', where she told him she would help him 'bury a body' because she loved him so deeply. While she claimed the letter was written before Gabby and Brian went on their road trip, the undated note left the Petito family 'sick to their stomachs'. The Petito and Laundrie families reached a $3 million settlement in a wrongful-death lawsuit in 2022. 'They said that there's something wrong with that mother, she's clearly not mentally well,' Nichole added. 'And I'm like, 'just add it to the list', because I didn't even know about that. That was crazy to hear. 'It drives me absolutely insane – that's the one thing I can't let go of, because I'm trying to figure out what can I do to make them pay for what they did, but there is really nothing I can do.' Nichole also revealed that the last time she spoke with Brian's parents was when they travelled to New York to pick up Gabby's things to take to Florida. 'I think we texted a couple times, we were Facebook friends,' she said on the podcast. 'I thought they were just quiet people and I'm okay with that. 'You don't have to be my best friend but I never actually spoke to them after that until I saw them when they did the depositions for our lawsuit.' Nichole went on to explain that if the situation was the other way around and Brian had been missing, she would have acted very differently. 'Everybody feels the same. I don't understand. I can't comprehend anything,' she said. 'If it was the other way around, I would've called them immediately. 'I mean, I texted her asking if they'd heard from the kids. I said, 'Did you hear from the kids? I haven't heard from them', and I got nothing back.' Nichole added that she thinks about her daughter everyday and wants people to remember that she was 'a person'. 'I see her, her bright blue eyes and big smile and energy 'When I think about her, I think about the last hug that I gave her. 'I want people to remember that Gabby was a person. She is not just a story of a documentary character. 'It can happen to anyone. I want to inspire people to live fearlessly. 'She wouldn't want anyone to live in fear because of what happened to her. 'You have to go for it, live the dream.'
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
20 Things We Learned From The "American Murder: Gabby Petito" Netflix Documentary
Warning: This post discusses murder and domestic violence. Netflix's American Murder: Gabby Petito details the murder case of Gabby Petito and her relationship with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. The docuseries covers the details leading up to Gabby's disappearance, Brian's involvement in her murder, and everything in between. Here are 20 things I learned: Note: Brian has never been officially charged with Gabby's disappearance and/or murder. between Gabby and Brian didn't start during their cross-country trip. People in Gabby's life were interviewed and shed light on some of the problems that were there prior to that. The docuseries reiterates just how concerning Laundrie's behavior was from the start. After relocating to Florida, Gabby wanted her new BFF Rose to meet Brian, but when she did, Rose says he sat away from her and Gabby, and simply watched. She says, 'It felt like a parent watching us on a playdate. It was very weird.' Rose also recalls telling her mom, 'He's a really nice guy, but there is something off about him.' She explains how manipulative she felt he was with Gabby, and how he would always find a way to smooth it over with 'amazing, sweet things.' As a result, Gabby often told friends, including Rose, that she didn't deserve a guy like Brian. Brian went along with it, he seemingly never wanted to do the Van Life vlog with Gabby. It may not have been clear to people prior to the road trip, but raw footage of their expedition suggested that Brian was uninterested in any part of the project. He rarely spoke in the couple's videos, if ever, and usually appeared away from the action. In hindsight, mutual friends of the couple say that they think Brian didn't want to do the vlog because he didn't want it to document what was actually happening between him and Gabby. texted back and forth with himself, using Gabby's phone, three days after her death. He also reached out to Gabby's mom, pretending to be Gabby, telling her everything was okay. Based on Brian's actions, the FBI quickly deduced that he was trying to put an alibi together for his whereabouts. He left their camp in Spread Creek and hiked up to Colter Bay Village. During that time, Brian was sending text messages to Gabby's phone. It wasn't until Brian hitched several rides back to Spread Creek that 'Gabby' began to respond to his messages and contact her mother. Van Life videos were filled with smiles days before her murder. was abusing Gabby. After 41 days on the road, Gabby took a photo of herself after having an encounter with Brian. Her face was scratched, and her eye was freshly bruised. and Brian were pulled over in Moab, UT after a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 to report a man hitting a young woman. The Moab Police Department responded and seemingly viewed Brian as the victim and Gabby as the aggressor. As a result, MPD offered Brian a night at a nearby domestic abuse victim hotel. Meanwhile, they told Gabby to find somewhere to park her van and sleep for the night. told her mom she wanted to buy the van from Brian so she could make more money traveling solo. It's important to note that while Gabby sought to buy the van from Brain, the van was always in her name. It's unclear if she knew that or not. never told her family about the fight between her and Brian in Moab, UT. reached out to her ex-boyfriend, Jackson, twice within a five-day period right before her disappearance. Her ex, Jackson, missed her last call. last sighting was at Whole Foods in Jackson, WY, on August 27, 2021, after she and Brian were seen arguing at The Merry Piglets Mexican Grill just nine minutes up the road. Gabby was last seen leaving Whole Foods at approximately 2:11 p.m. Authorities confirmed they were able to track her movements until 8:30 p.m., when her digital fingerprints went cold. Petito's family reported Gabby missing after not hearing from her for several days. Initially, no one knew what happened to Laundrie once Petito was declared missing. She was missing for 21 days before her body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Authorities said she was found in an unnatural position after what appeared to be a fire set around her. Ultimately, the coroner ruled Gabby's death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and strangulation. contacted his parents multiple times on August 29, 2021. Authorities now assume that the call was to tell them something had happened to Gabby and that he needed a lawyer. parents allegedly wired $25,000 to a lawyer after their son asked for help. family relentlessly reached out to the Laundries — Brian's mother, father, and sister — they received no response. believe that Brian's parents may have been involved in helping cover-up Gabby's disappearance. They continue to deny any wrongdoing and have never been formally charged. mom wrote him a letter titled 'Burn After Reading.' It was found when police went through his belongings after he was reported missing. North Port PD went to speak with Brian's family 12 days after Gabby went missing. The Laundries refused to speak to them and the NPD was surprised to learn Brian had (quietly) returned home. When the North Port PD approached the Laundries for questioning, the family told the police they didn't want to make any comments. In the process, they found out Brian was home but equally refused to speak to the police. Brian's sister, Cassie, confirmed that Brian had returned home but would not say anything else. Multiple jurisdictions were involved in the investigation, so police were at odds about what to do as they tried to speak to the Laundrie family in Florida. Ultimately, a tow truck took the infamous white van away because the van was in Gabby's name; and, therefore, legally belonged to her. At this time, Brian already retained a lawyer. Brian Laundrie being back in Florida, police never got a chance to speak to him before his parents reported him missing on September 17, 2021. He was considered a missing person for 37 days. After discovering a car that was registered to the Laundries', authorities shut down the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park to do an extensive search. Brian's parents went to the park to search for Brian as soon as it was deemed safe enough by park officials, and in October of 2021, remains, along with a backpack and a notebook, were found. On October 21, 2021, it was confirmed that the remains found were Brian Laundrie via dental records. It was difficult not only to search through the Carlton Reserve but to find anything remaining due to the conditions of the area they were searching. According to the North Port Police Department at the time, 'The Carlton Reserve is a vast and unforgiving location at times. It was (waist) deep in water in many areas,' North Port police said in a Facebook post. 'This is dangerous work for the search crews as they are wading through gator and snake-infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails.' date, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie have not been charged. They deny any wrongdoing. wrote letters to his family telling them he loved them, then told them 'goodbye.' In one letter, he writes, 'I have killed myself by this creek in hopes that the animals will tear me apart. That it may make some of her family happy…This was an unexpected tragedy.' He continued, 'I found her breathing barely, gasping…She was freezing cold. The temp had dropped. When I pulled Gabby out of the water, she couldn't tell me what hurt. While carrying her, she continually made sounds of pain. Laying next to her, she said between violents shakes, gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain. I ended her life. I thought it was merciful. But from the moment I decided to take her pain away, I knew I couldn't go on without her…I'm sorry to her family, because I love them. I'd consider her younger siblings my best of friends…I rushed home to spend any time I had left with my family. I wanted to let James or TJ kill me. I am ending my life because I cannot stand to live another day without her.' He then asked the family, 'Please do not make life harder for my family, they lost a son and a daughter." Brian's story of events doesn't necessarily match up to the evidence found in Gabby's autopsy report, which included strangulation. Gabby and Brian spent approximately two months on the road before her death, Gabby only uploaded and published one video after starting her Van Life YouTube vlog. Share your thoughts on the docuseries below. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.
Buzz Feed
21-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
20 Things We Learned From The "American Murder: Gabby Petito" Netflix Documentary
Warning: This post discusses murder and domestic violence. Netflix's American Murder: Gabby Petito details the murder case of Gabby Petito and her relationship with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. The docuseries covers the details leading up to Gabby's disappearance, Brian's involvement in her murder, and everything in between. Here are 20 things I learned: 1. Things between Gabby and Brian didn't start during their cross-country trip. People in Gabby's life were interviewed and shed light on some of the problems that were there prior to that. The docuseries reiterates just how concerning Laundrie's behavior was from the start. After relocating to Florida, Gabby wanted her new BFF Rose to meet Brian, but when she did, Rose says he sat away from her and Gabby, and simply watched. She says, 'It felt like a parent watching us on a playdate. It was very weird.' Rose also recalls telling her mom, 'He's a really nice guy, but there is something off about him.' She explains how manipulative she felt he was with Gabby, and how he would always find a way to smooth it over with 'amazing, sweet things.' As a result, Gabby often told friends, including Rose, that she didn't deserve a guy like Brian. 2. While Brian went along with it, he seemingly never wanted to do the Van Life vlog with Gabby. It may not have been clear to people prior to the road trip, but raw footage of their expedition suggested that Brian was uninterested in any part of the project. He rarely spoke in the couple's videos, if ever, and usually appeared away from the action. In hindsight, mutual friends of the couple say that they think Brian didn't want to do the vlog because he didn't want it to document what was actually happening between him and Gabby. 3. Brian texted back and forth with himself, using Gabby's phone, three days after her death. He also reached out to Gabby's mom, pretending to be Gabby, telling her everything was okay. Based on Brian's actions, the FBI quickly deduced that he was trying to put an alibi together for his whereabouts. He left their camp in Spread Creek and hiked up to Colter Bay Village. During that time, Brian was sending text messages to Gabby's phone. It wasn't until Brian hitched several rides back to Spread Creek that 'Gabby' began to respond to his messages and contact her mother. 4. Gabby's Van Life videos were filled with smiles days before her murder. 5. Brian was abusing Gabby. After 41 days on the road, Gabby took a photo of herself after having an encounter with Brian. Her face was scratched, and her eye was freshly bruised. 6. Gabby and Brian were pulled over in Moab, UT after a concerned citizen called 9-1-1 to report a man hitting a young woman. The Moab Police Department responded and seemingly viewed Brian as the victim and Gabby as the aggressor. As a result, MPD offered Brian a night at a nearby domestic abuse victim hotel. Meanwhile, they told Gabby to find somewhere to park her van and sleep for the night. 7. Gabby told her mom she wanted to buy the van from Brian so she could make more money traveling solo. It's important to note that while Gabby sought to buy the van from Brain, the van was always in her name. It's unclear if she knew that or not. 8. Gabby never told her family about the fight between her and Brian in Moab, UT. 9. Gabby reached out to her ex-boyfriend, Jackson, twice within a five-day period right before her disappearance. Her ex, Jackson, missed her last call. 10. Gabby's last sighting was at Whole Foods in Jackson, WY, on August 27, 2021, after she and Brian were seen arguing at The Merry Piglets Mexican Grill just nine minutes up the road. Gabby was last seen leaving Whole Foods at approximately 2:11 p.m. Authorities confirmed they were able to track her movements until 8:30 p.m., when her digital fingerprints went cold. Petito's family reported Gabby missing after not hearing from her for several days. Initially, no one knew what happened to Laundrie once Petito was declared missing. She was missing for 21 days before her body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Authorities said she was found in an unnatural position after what appeared to be a fire set around her. Ultimately, the coroner ruled Gabby's death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and strangulation. 11. Brian contacted his parents multiple times on August 29, 2021. Authorities now assume that the call was to tell them something had happened to Gabby and that he needed a lawyer. 12. Brian's parents allegedly wired $25,000 to a lawyer after their son asked for help. 13. Gabby's family relentlessly reached out to the Laundries — Brian's mother, father, and sister — they received no response. 14. Prosecutors believe that Brian's parents may have been involved in helping cover-up Gabby's disappearance. They continue to deny any wrongdoing and have never been formally charged. 15. Brian's mom wrote him a letter titled 'Burn After Reading.' It was found when police went through his belongings after he was reported missing. View this video on YouTube 16. The North Port PD went to speak with Brian's family 12 days after Gabby went missing. The Laundries refused to speak to them and the NPD was surprised to learn Brian had (quietly) returned home. When the North Port PD approached the Laundries for questioning, the family told the police they didn't want to make any comments. In the process, they found out Brian was home but equally refused to speak to the police. Brian's sister, Cassie, confirmed that Brian had returned home but would not say anything else. Multiple jurisdictions were involved in the investigation, so police were at odds about what to do as they tried to speak to the Laundrie family in Florida. Ultimately, a tow truck took the infamous white van away because the van was in Gabby's name; and, therefore, legally belonged to her. At this time, Brian already retained a lawyer. 17. Despite Brian Laundrie being back in Florida, police never got a chance to speak to him before his parents reported him missing on September 17, 2021. He was considered a missing person for 37 days. After discovering a car that was registered to the Laundries', authorities shut down the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park to do an extensive search. Brian's parents went to the park to search for Brian as soon as it was deemed safe enough by park officials, and in October of 2021, remains, along with a backpack and a notebook, were found. On October 21, 2021, it was confirmed that the remains found were Brian Laundrie via dental records. It was difficult not only to search through the Carlton Reserve but to find anything remaining due to the conditions of the area they were searching. According to the North Port Police Department at the time, 'The Carlton Reserve is a vast and unforgiving location at times. It was (waist) deep in water in many areas,' North Port police said in a Facebook post. 'This is dangerous work for the search crews as they are wading through gator and snake-infested swamps and flooded hiking and biking trails.' 18. To date, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie have not been charged. They deny any wrongdoing. 19. Brian wrote letters to his family telling them he loved them, then told them 'goodbye.' In one letter, he writes, 'I have killed myself by this creek in hopes that the animals will tear me apart. That it may make some of her family happy…This was an unexpected tragedy.' He continued, 'I found her breathing barely, gasping…She was freezing cold. The temp had dropped. When I pulled Gabby out of the water, she couldn't tell me what hurt. While carrying her, she continually made sounds of pain. Laying next to her, she said between violents shakes, gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain. I ended her life. I thought it was merciful. But from the moment I decided to take her pain away, I knew I couldn't go on without her…I'm sorry to her family, because I love them. I'd consider her younger siblings my best of friends…I rushed home to spend any time I had left with my family. I wanted to let James or TJ kill me. I am ending my life because I cannot stand to live another day without her.' He then asked the family, 'Please do not make life harder for my family, they lost a son and a daughter." Brian's story of events doesn't necessarily match up to the evidence found in Gabby's autopsy report, which included strangulation. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger as a result of domestic violence, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help, you can call the 24/7 National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or chat with an advocate via the website.
