The latest true-crime docuseries on Netflix, titled American Murder: Gabby Petito, uncovers the details of Gabby Petito’s demise. She was a 22-year-old girl, aspiring to be a van-life influencer, and had embarked on a cross-country journey with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
The two documented their travels but their adventures took a dark and led to Petito’s tragic death. After watching the show, viewers’ attention shifted to Laundrie’s parents, who are now the focal point of public scrutiny and debates.
Brian Laundrie’s parents role in the Gabby Petito murder
As per reports from BBC, Gabby Petito’s cause of death was strangulation and Brian Laundrie was being suspected by the authorities for murdering his partner. After her disappearance, Laundrie’s parents’ decision to remain silent and seek legal counsel when their son returned home hinted at potential involvement in the crime (via Dexerto).
The speculation only intensified when there were records of a 55-minute long phone call between Laundrie and his mother Roberta, on the day that Petito was last seen. His father Christopher, contacted an attorney, shortly after that, and these actions led people to believe that the couple was trying to conceal information, and helping their son evade law enforcement.
Brian Laundrie later shot himself, the case was considered resolved, and it did not go to trial. But netizens and anyone who knew about this horrific incident in general couldn’t digest that Roberta and Christopher Laundrie weren’t arrested or charged with Petito’s death.
Lawyers’ opinion, evidence, and the Laundries’ current status
After the public outcry, legal experts weighed in to explain the complexities of the case. Attorney Ben Michael of M & A Criminal Defense spoke to Dexerto and provided insight about why Christopher and Roberta Laundrie were not held accountable, he stated:
While there is a possibility that they could at some point face criminal charges, I think that’s highly unlikely. They were never charged to begin with because the evidence of their cause or involvement in the death of Petito was not strong enough.
There was also a letter from Brian’s mother to him, which suggested that she would assist in the crime if need be, but since it had no date, it didn’t have any evidentiary value. However, they were involved in some legal proceedings, such as a lawsuit filed by Petito’s parents which accused the Laundries of intentional infliction of emotional distress, and another lawsuit for wrongful death.
Now, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie are maintaining a low profile, and residing in their Florida home. They have chosen to stay away from commenting on anything publicly and also declined to participate in the docuseries.
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