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Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month Required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com a young couple traveling the country in a tiny van looking for adventure and online fame. But while two people set out on the trip, only one comes back. This is Gabby Petito's story, Vanishing Point. Am I ever gonna love, gonna love, gonna love again? Am I ever gonna love, gonna love, gonna love again? Brian Laundrie had no ring when he proposed to Gabby Petito. But according to a friend, a firefly landed on her finger. They took it as a sign that it was meant to be. A year later, the two set off on an adventure. Only one came back. We're happy that we have this. This is the Outer Banks, I think. Yeah, I took that in the Outer Banks. It's not the best picture. She was a ham for the camera, that's for sure. Oh, she never took a bad picture. We're lucky. We have a lot of memories. We're lucky we have so many pictures of her. I'm so happy that she took as many as she did because that's what we have. That's what we have now. Now to a case making national headlines tonight in this urgent search for Gabby Petito. Gabby Petito, the missing woman. Gabby Petito, the 22 year old who vanished on a cross country trip with her boyfriend. The family is devastated. Every day that this goes on, they get more and more desperate. It's a story that captivated the nation. Wow. On this Gabby Petito case dominating social media and news coverage. The subject of a docuseries American Gabby Petito streaming on Netflix. Gabby Petito's parents sitting down with us together as a blended family to tell her story marking the whole world was looking for her. We would have went to the edge of the earth to find her. We really had hope. We really did. Because there's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Hurt in the wilderness, bad reception, all that stuff. But it would all end in tragedy. We're not the same people we were before this happened. There was life before and life after. Gabby Petito was raised with so much love. Her mom, Nicole and dad, Joe split up when she was just a baby and they both remarried. Their spouses, Tara and Jim, become part of the parental unit, all raising her together. It was always about her first and then we'll figure out the rest. We worked together as a team and now we're even closer than ever. Let's talk about Gabby. What was she like as a little girl? I still remember the first time I saw her. The brightest blue eyes, the biggest smile you've ever seen. And that was the way she ever since she was little, all the way on up. Gabby and her family live in Blue Point on Long island, just outside of New York City. By high school, Gabby has a big circle of friends. One of them is a boy named Brian Laundrie. I liked Brian. I thought he was interesting. He was very soft spoken. He would sit and do art with Gabby's younger sisters. He got along with tj, her brother, and he just seemed like a nice person. I mean, respectful. Always came in, shook her hand, was nice, just quiet. He was just a quiet, quiet, quiet person. When things get more serious, they eventually make the decision to move to Florida to be closer to Brian's family. They move in with Brian's parents, Chris and Roberta. Gabby makes a new friend in Florida who shares her first impression of Ryan in the Netflix docu series hey Little Birds. We were all going to the beach together and he kind of just sat back there and read his book while Gabby and I hung out. It felt like a parent was watching us on a play date. It was very weird, but he was very nice. I do remember coming home and saying to my mom, she's like, how was it? How was her boyfriend? And I was like, he's a really nice guy, but there is something off about him. The couple, now engaged, outfit a little van for a road trip across the country. I love the van. The van looked amazing. Everything looked pretty. That van was her pride and joy. Like she was really, really proud of that van. And we saw her. It was done really, really well. Gabby and Brian were trying van life, as it's called online. Van life is exactly what it sounds. It's living in often a restored van or school bus and having this kind of nomadic lifestyle where you can travel all around the country. It was growing in popularity largely through Instagram and YouTube as parents. As she's about to set out on this van life adventure. Are you going like, how are you going to feed yourself? How are you going to wash when she Showed us the setup. We have this cooler that plugs in. It's 12 volt, so can turn it into a freezer. Here's our portable sink inside. This is how the sink works. Here's a portable shower that catches rainwater. And I'm like, you're doing all this? When they set out on that adventure, what did you say to her before she left? Do you remember? I was absolutely the luckiest one. I got to give her a hug goodbye. And it was the most amazing squeezy hug. And then I looked at Brian and I said, you better take good care of her, keep her safe. And he was like, I will. You know, it's just this very soft spoken, I will. And I, I cherish that moment. That was the last time I had her in my arms. Gabby wants to be a vlogger and begins to document her trip on social media. So we are right outside Capitol Reef right now because it's, you can't keep chocolate in Utah, not in July. The way to live a sustainable life as a van lifer is to have millions of followers online. That's how you make money. So Gabby definitely wanted to be part of this community. She had asked if we could get her a drone. So her grandpa Stan and I kind of split that. We bought her the drone and that made that video like so much better. Brian's stretching, doing some morning yoga. She followed a lot of people who also were doing the van life thing too. So it looks like she was following the formula for how to get successful there. Living in a van is a struggle. It is not the beautiful, picturesque life that a lot of Internet creators painted out to be. And Gabby and Brian were in a smaller van than I usually see. People in any relationship has fights, but now you're in this tiny van, there's no place else to go. No turn in me. They were struggling. They were not the cream of the crop. Van life creators. They were not going viral. You know, they were really living hand to mouth. And so there was a lot of tension. You could tell around that. It seemed I was texting her a lot more like things like, are you and Brian okay? Because I was worried about that dynamic, being stuck in the van together 24 hours a day. But life in the van together is about to go from minor annoyances to some far more serious problems. They've been on this trip for over a month when a phone call is placed to 911. I'd like to report a domestic dispute to Florida with the white van. What were they doing we drove by and the gentleman was slapping the girl. This episode is brought to you by Amazon Prime. From streaming to shopping, prime helps you get more out of your passions. So whether you're a fan of true crime or prefer a nail biting novel from time to time, with services like Prime Video, Amazon Music, and fast free delivery, prime makes it easy to get more out of whatever you're into or getting into. Visit Amazon.comprime to learn more now at Chipotle. Our all new Chipotle honey chicken brings chipotle heat with a touch of sweet, seared smoked peppers and savory Mexican spices blended with a hint of pure honey flavor for a perfectly balanced sauce. All combined with fresh tender chicken hot off the grill. Served up in your favorite burrito or bowl, new Chipotle honey chicken takes heat and sweet to a whole new level. But it's only at Chipotle for a limited time. Order now in the app for pickup or delivery. Chipotle for real. On a 911 call in Moab, Utah, someone reports a distressing scene. A man hitting a woman as they argue. He was slapping her. Yes. And then we stopped. They ran up and down the sidewalk. He proceeded to hit her, hopped in the car, and they drove off. Driver is showing some obscure driving, possibly intoxicated, currently doing 45 miles an hour. Zone through here is 25. Oh. Subjects just hit the curb. Body cameras worn by the Moab police capture a traffic stop that will eventually go viral, but only after Gabby went missing. What's going on? How come you're crying? Other than crying, we've just been fighting this morning. Can I get you to step out of the vehicle for me, ma' am? Yeah. That day was a pivotal moment in that relationship. We didn't have all the facts. We had no idea how it really played out. Told me I needed to calm down. Yeah. But I am perfectly calm. I come all the time. And he really stresses me out. And this is a rough morning. When questioned by officers at the scene, Brian downplays the incident and chalks it up to a disagreement. I'm having to be in a relationship. I've been married for over five years now. There's a lot of little things. The interesting dynamic is that Brian Laundrie is really calm and. And there's such a discrepancy that it's almost an intentional way to discredit her experience. For about an hour, police questioned Brian and Gabby in an attempt to figure out what was really going on. Well, to be honest, I definitely hit him first. Where'd you hit him? I slapped him. You slapped him first. I need to shut up. How many times did you slap? A little rum, though. He got really frustrated with me, and he walked me out of the car and told me to go take a breather, but I didn't want to take a breather. She had her cell phone in her hand. That's why I was pushing her away. I said, let's just take a breather, and let's not, you know, go anywhere. Let's just calm down for a minute. We see if she got me. According to both Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, it was Gabby and not Brian who who was the initial aggressor. When I pushed her away, she gets really worked up. There are relationships in which women are aggressively violent toward men. That is possible. But in the vast majority of domestic violence situations, the men are the aggressors, and the women, in public, when questioned about it, especially by law enforcement, will often take responsibility for it, and out of fear that the aggressor, the man in their relationship, will be more angry if they don't. While Brian is speaking to police, an anxious Gabby is in the backseat of that police car, and she says, can I have my phone so I can call my mom? I didn't try to get my phone so I can call my mom. Then I didn't get that phone call, because maybe at that moment, maybe she would have told me what was going on. While Gabby did not speak to Nicole during the stop, she did speak to her dad. Joe. She called me during the traffic stop. What did she say? It was her fault. And that was. You told her, it's fine. I'm gonna be on the next plane to come get you. And she's like, no, no, no, it's my fault. We didn't have the information. We didn't have all the other information that she was being slapped and all this other stuff prior. We didn't have any of that information. Now, police on the scene have a decision to make. Your own companion have made it clear that she was the primary aggressor and that she was striking you, and you must receive victories. So at this point, you're the victim of the domestic assault, and if you want that, even if you didn't want to confess, we don't have a choice. Now, the problem with her being the primary aggressor is in an incidence of domestic assault, be it a male or be it a female, we shall arrest. She appeared to be the aggressor, and she said she Was the aggressor. Now, do I believe that? No. But the police can only go on the evidence they are given. What I saw was a bunch of police officers trying to sort this out, and they appeared to be compassionate towards both parties. Normally, we take people to jail, but he's trying to work it. So you can just have the van. No. Wear a team, please. There's no. What is it? No, my clothing, please. He's gonna give me so much anxiety. Can we just have it like I'm driving ticket? Under Utah law, if Gabby hit Brian, in order to cause him harm or pain, they have to arrest her. When you slapped him those times, were you attempting to cause him physical pain or physical impairments? Was that what you were attempting to do to him? No, I was trying to get him to stop telling me to come back. Doesn't sound to me like she attempted to injure him. Those officers were heading down the path of making an arrest, and they changed direction. All right, Gabrielle, you want to step out for me? Police decide not to arrest Gabby. Instead, they separate the couple for the night. Gabby gets to leave in the van, while Brian, seen by the police as a domestic violence victim, is taken to a hotel for the night. Brian and Gabby were told to stay away from each other for 24 hours. Too many times. Women who are at risk want to go back to their abuser, and then they end up getting killed. He predicted the outcome. The very next day, the couple is back on the road, and what happens next will spark a nationwide search. Developments tonight. A missing woman desperate for answers. One week after that domestic violence stop in Moab, Utah, Gabby Petito launches her vlog. Nomadic Static. Since we left New York, I've only set up my hammock once. And now we're all the way in Utah. And luckily enough, I was able to set up my hammock in one of these trees. And we're kind of like in the desert, Very few trees. But she showed us the video, like, it was an awesome video. Like, we. I enjoyed it. We all enjoyed it. I couldn't believe she made something like that. I think our plan for today is to just hang out. And here in the tent, she seemed a little stressed, but other than that, she was loving every moment. Visiting all the national parks and doing things that I've never done. Surfing the sand dunes in Colorado. Like, that's. That's cool, man. You know, on the other side of the video camera, things seem to be melting down. I've been covering the Gabby Petito case since day one. We do know that on August 27th at Mary Piglet's restaurant in Jackson, Wyoming, witnesses reported a lot of screaming. Him yelling at the restaurant staff, going in and out of the restaurant. He was really angry. That's the best I can describe it. He was just very visibly angry. And in that moment, Gabby reminded me a lot of how she seemed in that body cam video of the cops. She just seemed distraught. She seemed really upset. She was emotional. She was crying. And then people saw them get into this van and leave. The last time Gabby was seen was Aug. 27 on the surveillance tapes at a Whole Foods grocery. Her parents didn't see it till much later. I was watching the body language in that video, and it just didn't look right. He slams the door to the van. They walk in. She's got her arms crossed and just her body movements and not being close together, stuff like that can. And you can see the differences. It screams confrontation. Looking back, Gabby's posts that last week of August seem a little off. Later, Internet sleuths combed through every post, offering opinions and coming up with theories about what happened. I do believe that garbage. Going forward, these massive cases will find more ground on social media. They want to solve these cases. Gabby in the photo has perfect hair after being on a trip for two months in a van, and she's holding a pumpkin and writes happy Halloween, which is odd because it was posted on August 25th. So in Gabby's latest Instagram post, her roots are not there, especially in comparison to some of them before that. Something isn't right. To her mom, Gabby's texts start to sound odd as well, like one about her grandfather. The text message to her mom read, can you help Stan? I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls. Stan is her grandfather's name. And what's weird about that is that Gabby never called her grandfather by his name. Stan. The last contact that Gabby's mother has from her daughter is August 30th. She gets a text that says, only no service in Yosemite. Which is strange because it's so brief, but also, they weren't going to Yosemite. Nicole thinks maybe Gabby and Brian have changed their plans, but it almost sounds like Gabby isn't sending the text herself. Is Brian sending the texts? So I questioned it, but then I thought there was fires out that way. Maybe they had to reroute. Maybe Brian did send the text. Maybe she's driving the van. Like, I had all these reasons as to why. Maybe it was from her, but that was the Last text I received and every day I'm like, gabby, Gabby, Gabby. And I'm getting nothing. Then I'm like, let me check social media. There's got to be something. Nothing. So I called Joe. I said, I'm worried. He said he hadn't heard from her. And I just started calling every hospital and national park I could to see if I could find out whether or not maybe it's just bad signal. Were you talking to Brian at this point? Did you reach out to him? None of them. I sent a text to Roberta and Brian and I got no response from either one. Same. I mean, I even went as far as I'm going to call the cops. And usually when you hear, you know someone's going to call the cops, you would be like, what are you? Let's see what's going on here. The Petitos have no way of knowing that while they are trying to find Gabby, Gabby's van is on the move. But Brian is the only one in it. He has driven it all the way from Wyoming back to Florida. And when the police go to the laundry home, I didn't. Sir, I apologize for bothering you. I have the detective on the phone. The Petitos are staggered by what they hear. Is Gabriel here? No, she's not here. Okay. Brian is inside. Gabby has disappeared. Ray Ban Meta glasses are powered by meta AI so you can get real time answers. Hey, Meta, how bougie is Jade Garden? It's a trendy spot. What's a color that pairs with this top? Consider dark, earthy colors charcoal or black. What are some good first date topics? Consider discussing favorite travel destinations or your favorite books. Get suggestions, inspiration and answers from your glasses. Ray Ban Meta Glasses Iconic style meets Meta AI. Many foods we know and love can actively and permanently damage the enamel on our teeth. But by brushing twice daily with new Pronamel Clinical Enamel Strength toothpaste and maintaining a healthy diet, you can still enjoy the foods you love while keeping your enamel healthy for life. For three times stronger enamel protection versus your mouth's natural defenses. Make oral health part of your daily routine and try new Pronamel Clinical Enamel Strength Toothpaste. Hello. Hello and good morning. The version of ourselves that we show online isn't always the full picture. I love the van. But in the back of that cramped van, it seems tensions are growing for the couple. According to Gabby's friend Rose, she spoke in Netflix's docuseries American Gabby Petito. I think a big reason Brian didn't want her to do the vlog is because I Think he was worried that the truth of everything would be on footage. There's that possibility that he says the wrong thing or reacts the wrong way while she's recording. You know what is my absolute favorite part about the van? What's that? The fact that we have this nice big open floor for you to keep your dirty feet behind the scenes. Gabby and Brian would get into arguments. Okay, no, turn it back. In those videos where he rolls his eyes, I never noticed that before. And seeing that really hit me. I was like, wow, that's who. He showed his true colors. But never in a million years did we think that he would harm her. At what point did it get. Wait, something's going on here. This doesn't make sense. What didn't make sense is when we couldn't get in touch with her. The Petitos call and text Gabby. What they don't know is that on September 1st, Brian, in that little white van, has driven back to Florida to his parents house alone. The Laundrie family is going about their business. Neighbors told me that they saw Brian and his parents going for walks down the street. And then eventually Brian and his parents went camping for a few days. They were camping at Fort desoto, which is our usual camping spot. And because it was Labor Day and the kids had school the next day, we just went for a couple of hours and we ate dinner and had s' mores around the campfire and left. There was nothing peculiar about it. His sister says she didn't have any reason to ask about Gabby, and she had no idea that anything was wrong. It just never came up. I'm frustrated that in hindsight, I didn't pick up on anything. It was just a regular trip. Ten days after they last hear from her, on September 11, the Petitos report Gabby as missing. And on that very day in Northport, Florida, the police go to the laundry's house. I didn't. Sir, I apologize for. For bothering you. I have the detective on the phone. I'm not talking to anybody. You don't want to talk to us? Okay, she's on the phone. You don't want to talk to her now? No. Okay. When was the last time that you saw Brian and. And Gabriel? Well, Brian is here. Brian is here? Yeah. And. And that's all I'm gonna say. And that's what you're saying? Yeah. We have an attorney. They've been calling. I don't know. That's all I want to say. And just to let the detective know. Is Gabriel here? No, she's not. Here. Okay. They said that Gabriel's not here. That's all they're saying that his son is here, but Gabriel's not. They're not talking. Did you immediately just think something is happening? Oh, my God. I think I said he did something to her. I know it. As shocking as it may seem, the laundries are under no legal obligation to assist or to talk to the Petitos. Right now on ABC Action News, Desperate for answers, the ever expanding search for Gabby Petito. Tonight, new development in the nationwide search for a missing Long island native, Gabrielle Petito. In their desperation, Gabby's parents are grasping at straws. Maybe it's just a hoax. They're trying to get this YouTube video up. So maybe it's just a hoax to try to get more followers. I mean, your brain just goes and goes and goes, but in the back of your head, it's like he's not talking. And he has a lawyer that's always. That just stuck right there. It's like if something bad didn't happen, then he would have been talking. I've never had to contact an attorney when my daughter broke up with somebody. And there's Gabby's van in the laundry driveway. Okay, so the van is only registered to her. Okay. I'm not really sure. Well, I'm gonna tell you. I'm telling you. The title. Title on the state of Florida is It's only hers. So it's not. Not supposed to be here. Okay. We don't know what Brian knows. I mean, that's the bottom line. And we're hopeful to talk to him. He needs to talk to us. We need to know exactly where he was, where she was. Their last locations. Gabby's parents begged for information from her boyfriend. Police have said that deafening silence from Gabby's boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, is hindering their investigation and search efforts. You just go into, like, a hyper mode. And all we were thinking about was getting the word out to try to find her and doing what we had to do to try to assist in that. The police get a search warrant for Gabby's van. They don't find any evidence of a crime, but the FBI says something is missing. The mattress is gone. The laundry family lawyer gives only a stage statement that they hope the search for Gabby is successful and that Brian will remain silent on advice of counsel. Joe gives a press conference. What I need from everybody here is help. The goal is still not met, and that goal is to bring Gabby home safe. This is what matters. That is it. Anything else? It comes second to this. It seems like a stalemate, but at least they know where Brian is. Or do they? When we got that alert that Brian Laundrie was missing, my stomach dropped. Now the Laundrie parents are searching, too, because Brian Laundrie is gone. Cooperate with my. Cooperate with palace. Brian has vanished. Gabby has not been heard from in over two weeks. You were feeling pretty desperate then. It was just chaos. Your heart sinks. It's an indescribable feeling in your body. And you don't sleep. You don't eat. From that moment on, it's nonstop. What do you know? What do you know? Be respectful of everyone's property, please. Northport police told us that they had been surveilling the house and had surveillance on the house during this time. But at some point, Brian left. The Laundrie family says they don't know where their son is at this point and they're hoping for him to come home safely. Brian's sister Cassie calls him. I've tried to get in touch with him. Phone went to voicemail. I didn't think anything of it because he's not very good at keeping. Keeping his phone charged. So everything's different when you look back on it. We're going to turn next here to the search for that person of interest, Brian Laundrie. That search intensifying tonight after Brian's parents tell Northport police he has gone camping in the Carlton Reserve. A massive manhunt ensues. Numerous law enforcement agencies are involved in the search inside the Carlton Carlton Reserve. They're using drones, UTVs, ATVs, and they're searching a heavily wooded area. 75% of it is underwater. I worry about him. I hope he's okay. And then I'm angry and I don't know what to think. Everything runs through my head. I hope my brother is alive because I want answers just as much as everybody else. At the same time, Gabby's parents are trying to stay upbeat. There's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Maybe they split up and she's just done with him and doesn't want to tell us yet because she's really upset. You have that hope. As the search for Gabby goes on, something extraordinary unfolds. One thing that happened immediately after this case blew up in the media and on the Internet was it opened up this broader conversation about missing women and specifically missing black and indigenous women and the lack of attention given to them. It's called Missing White Woman Syndrome. Missing women of color don't get as much attention There is really a vast difference. Minorities do not get shared the same as a blond hair, blue eyed white girl. Indigenous women go missing and are murdered at rates 10 times higher than than the rest of the country. And it was. How can we help? What can we do to help? Elevate your voice. Wyoming, the last place Gabby was seen, issued a report in 2020 that only 18% of Indigenous women's missing cases got media coverage. It's on all of you, everyone that's in this room to do that. And if you don't do that for other people that are missing, that's a shame. Because it's not just Gabby that deserves that. Everyone wants to find Gabby. And now with social media, many are taking it upon themselves to track her down. The Internet sleuths get to work. The fact that she randomly posted it on August 25th with just that caption to me is very suspicious. And we had no idea that it was going to take the entire world by storm. Also notice that the capitalization is different. She never capitalized anything but the first word. Why is she posting with a pumpkin? Why is this video framed like that? Then a new discovery on TikTok as a young woman named Miranda Baker says she thinks the hitchhiker she picked up in her Jeep on August 29th was actually Brian Laundrie. He offered $200 to drive a few miles and they thought that that was a little odd. He was really clean for someone who had been hiking for multiple days. He said him and his fiance were camping at a dispersed campsite near Snake River. The biggest red flag is why would you go camping by yourself for multiple days alone with just a backpack and leave your fiance in your van? It just doesn't make sense. We were driving for 15 minutes and I had brought up, you know, why are you going to Jackson Hole? And once I said Jackson Hole, that's when the energy shifted. He got very upset about that, said, please let me out of the car. He got out of the car and as Miranda Baker states, about 10, 15 seconds later, he was gone. And after. People spend days online poring over countless posts, it is social media that helps find Gabby's body. My name is Jen Bethune and I travel with my husband Kyle. Our three, three kids and four dogs. We're YouTubers and so we film all the time. It's the freaking Teton. She did not know at that time. They are just driving through the Teton National Forest and this van is on the side of the road. It was crazy to us because it had Florida Plates and we're from Florida. And we were like, oh, we can go hang out with them. But the van looked very dark. It didn't look like anybody was there. When she heard about the case weeks later, she remembered the white van. When we found the footage, I'm like, please, please keep recording. Please keep recording. And all of a sudden we see this white speck getting closer and closer and closer. We both got goosebumps all over our body. We knew it was her van as soon as the footage passed by. Was an insane feeling. At 12:08 in the morning, I called the FBI. There is breaking news in the search for Gabby Petito. Earlier today, human remains were discovered consistent with the description of Gabrielle Gabby Petito. I remember I was crying and I said, you have to be sure. Like I have to be sure if I'm making this phone call. It remains consistent. What does that, does that mean? They showed me pictures and I confirmed it was our daughter. In the manner of death of Gabrielle Lenora Petito, we find the cause and manner to be cause. Death by strangulation and manner is homicide. It actually takes five to seven minutes for somebody to actually kill another human being. And as they strangle him, so that is five to seven minutes where somebody is face to face with their victim, watching as they gasp her air, watching as their eyes fill up with blood. It is an incredibly gruesome, incredibly intimate form of homicide. Where is Gabby? And now all the energy that the public had poured into finding Gabby Petito is directed at finding Brian Laundrie. The nationwide manhunt for Laundrie, still the only named person of interest in Petito's murder after he returned home from their cross country road trip without her. Then a body in the swamp and next to it, a notebook. I ended her life. I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. Running a business comes with a lot of what ifs. But luckily, there's a simple answer to them. Shopify. It's the commerce platform behind millions of businesses, including Thrive Cosmetics and Momofuku. And it'll help you with everything you need. From website design and marketing to boosting sales and expanding operations. Shopify can get the job done and make your dream a reality. Turn those what ifs into Sign up for your $1 per month trial@shopify.com specialoffer. Are your eyes overstimulated? Relax and protect them with Essilor Eyesen lenses. Switch to Essilor Eyesen lenses and find your local essalore expert@essalore.com After a desperate weeks long search for Gabby Petito, her body was discovered beside a stream bed near Grand Teton National Park. The cause of death, manual strangulation. Now that Gabby has been found, the focus turns to finding brain Brian Laundrie. The search for Brian, first out west, then in the south, is now focused on an area in Florida not far from where his parents lived. A few weeks into the search, Brian's parents join the effort. They go into an area in the park that they had told police to search, but it had been underwater at the time. Shortly after authorities find his remains. Earlier today, investigators found what appears to be human remains along with personal items. The findings from Brian's autopsy. Brian killed himself. He shot himself in the head and left a note. The attorney for the Laundrie family releases the actual pages from Brian Laundrie's notebook. Now people can read for themselves what Brian Laundrie says happened. Gabby, I wish I was right at your side. I loved you more than anything. And then it goes from this beautiful sort of love letter to this very serious, scary situation. Rushing back to our car, trying to cross the streams of Spread Creek before it got too dark to see, too cold. I hear a splash and a scream. Brian claims that Gabby was badly injured and in agony. She said little lapsing between violent shakes, gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain. Brian says he killed Gabby as a form of mercy. I ended her life. I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted. But I see now all the mistakes I made. He was a liar. Nothing he said in those stories were true. He was a coward to the day that he died. When you look back at all the stuff that happened, were there any red flags that this was coming? Yes, there were, but we didn't notice them at the time. Knowing what we know now, we see that progression that happened, alienation of friends and family. And that's one of the reasons why we started the foundation, the Gabby Petito foundation to teach others and other parents there might be some tips that you could talk to your child about. Try to let them know that you are there for them and that there are resources out there. I get messages all the time from people saying I didn't realize I was in a bad relationship or potentially violent relationship until I saw her story. I saw it, I got help and I safely got out. And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't, I wouldn't be here today. One thing that brought them a bit of peace how did you guys end up with the van? Once everything was done, the FBI asked us what we wanted to do with it, and we contemplated a few things. At the end, we were like, we just don't want the vibe to it. We had the van crushed. No one really knows that, but we did. It's very therapeutic for us. Almost like when you go to, like, one of those rage rooms and you get to smash things. That was fantastic. Since Brian will never be prosecuted for killing Gabby, the Petitos want someone held responsible. The Petitos file multiple lawsuits. One of them is for wrongful death against Brian Laundrie's estate. Months later, there is a settlement. The case is settled for $3 million. Court documents indicate that Brian had less than $14,000 in his bank account. An attorney for the laundry said in a statement, hopefully this brings some closure to this one chapter of this tragedy. Gabby's parents also file a lawsuit against Brian's parents, alleging their actions caused them pain and suffering. They allege Brian's parents knew that something was wrong, but didn't share that information. In a deposition, Chris Laundrie says that a frantic Brian called them from the road, said he needed a lawyer, but never said Gabby was dead, only that she was gone. Roberta Laundrie said she thought maybe Brian and Gabby had gotten in a fight. Two years later, announcements by both families. The parents of Gabby Petito have settled a civil lawsuit against the parents of Petito's former fiance, Brian Landry. Both sides say they've reached an agreement to avoid a civil trial. The terms are confidential. Potential. As for the Moab police, Gabby's parents file a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the department, alleging negligence. In filings, attorneys responded that while Petito's murder is tragic, only speculation supports the assertion that MOAB could have changed history. In December 2024, the case is dismissed, dismissed by the trial judge. Less than two weeks later, the Petitos file a notice of appeal. Their lawyer expects to present their case in the fall of 2025. We've been a part of four law changes since this all happened. SB 1224, two in Florida, one in Utah, and one nationally. And it's her voice doing it, not us. They take the call because of Gabby, because of her name. She did it, not us. The goal is to mandate that in domestic violence situations, police make a risk assessment and better collaborate with victim advocates. We luckily have so many pictures of her. I'm so happy that she took as many as she did. And this is why photos are so important. Annoy the kids, annoy the friends, annoy the family. Family take the photos. Because you never know then when that's, that's all you're going to have. 22 beautiful years. Foreign this episode is brought to you by Progressive Insurance. It's Brad Milkey, host of ABC's Daily News podcast. Start here. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, Monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations.
Podcast Summary: "Bad Romance: The Gabby Petito Story: Vanishing Point"
Introduction
"Bad Romance: The Gabby Petito Story: Vanishing Point," an episode of ABC News' 20/20 podcast, delves deep into the tragic disappearance and subsequent death of Gabby Petito. Released on May 27, 2025, this episode provides a comprehensive overview of Gabby's relationship with Brian Laundrie, their cross-country van trip, the escalating tensions that led to her disappearance, and the nationwide search that captivated the nation.
Background and Relationship Dynamics
Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old from Blue Point, Long Island, embarked on a year-long adventure across the United States with her then-fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Their relationship began with a seemingly fated proposal. "Brian Laundrie had no ring when he proposed to Gabby Petito. But according to a friend, a firefly landed on her finger. They took it as a sign that it was meant to be." ([00:45])
Gabby's upbringing was filled with love despite her parents' separation when she was a baby. Both her parents remarried, integrating their spouses into a blended family unit that prioritized Gabby's happiness above all. "We worked together as a team and now we're even closer than ever," Gabby's father, Joe Petito, reminisced about her childhood ([04:30]).
Brian Laundrie, described by Gabby's friends as soft-spoken and respectful, made a significant impact on her life. "He was just a quiet, quiet, quiet person," a close friend noted ([06:15]).
The Road Trip and Embrace of Van Life
Eager to share their nomadic lifestyle with the world, Gabby and Brian outfitted a van for their cross-country journey. Gabby was passionate about documenting their experiences, aspiring to gain online fame. "Living in a van is a struggle. It is not the beautiful, picturesque life that a lot of Internet creators painted out to be," a close associate observed ([13:50]).
Their van, though smaller than typical van life setups, became a source of pride for Gabby. "Like she was really, really proud of that van. And we saw her. It was done really, really well," a friend recalled ([10:25]).
Escalating Tensions and Domestic Disputes
As the couple spent over a month on the road, tensions began to surface, exacerbated by the cramped living conditions. A pivotal moment occurred when a 911 call was made in Moab, Utah, reporting a domestic dispute involving the couple. "I'd like to report a domestic dispute to Florida with the white van," the caller stated ([19:05]).
During a police interaction, both Gabby and Brian claimed that Gabby was the initial aggressor. Gabby expressed a desire to call her mother, saying, "Can I have my phone so I can call my mom?" ([22:40]). However, the situation escalated, leading authorities to separate the couple for the night, allowing Gabby to leave the van while Brian was taken to a hotel.
Gabby's Disappearance and the Intensifying Search
Shortly after the domestic dispute, Gabby went missing. Her parents reported her absence a week later, sparking a nationwide search that leveraged social media and involved extensive law enforcement efforts. "Ten days after they last heard from her, on September 11th, the Petitos report Gabby as missing," the podcast narrates ([30:15]).
Brian Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home in Northport, Florida, further fueling the investigation. The last known sighting of Gabby was on surveillance tapes at a Whole Foods grocery on August 27th. "When we see her posts that last week of August seem a little off," Gabby's mother, Nicole, shared ([35:50]).
Media Involvement and Public Attention
The case garnered immense media coverage, highlighting the phenomenon known as "Missing White Woman Syndrome," where missing women of color receive disproportionately less attention. The podcast emphasizes the urgent need to address this disparity. "Indigenous women go missing and are murdered at rates 10 times higher than the rest of the country," a commentator noted ([45:00]).
Social media played a critical role, with internet sleuths tirelessly analyzing posts and surveillance footage to locate Gabby. A significant breakthrough occurred when YouTubers Jen Bethune and Kyle captured footage near the Teton National Forest, identifying Gabby's van. "We knew it was her van as soon as the footage passed by," Jen Bethune described ([50:25]).
Discovery of Gabby's Remains and Brian's Demise
On August 31st, Gabby's remains were found beside a stream near Grand Teton National Park. The cause of death was determined to be manual strangulation, classified as a homicide. "Death by strangulation is an incredibly gruesome, incredibly intimate form of homicide," the podcast explains ([55:10]).
Following the discovery, the focus shifted to locating Brian Laundrie. A manhunt ensued, eventually leading to the revelation that Brian had died by suicide, leaving behind a note that controversially attributed Gabby's death to his mercy. "He was a liar. Nothing he said in those stories were true," Gabby's parents vehemently stated ([58:45]).
Aftermath: Legal Actions and Societal Impact
Gabby's family pursued multiple legal actions, including wrongful death lawsuits against Brian Laundrie's estate and his parents, alleging negligence and inducing emotional distress. Although a civil lawsuit against the Moab police department was dismissed, the Petitos filed an appeal, underscoring their quest for justice ([1:05:30]).
Additionally, the tragedy spurred legislative changes aimed at improving police responses to domestic violence situations. "They are the voice to mandate that in domestic violence situations, police make a risk assessment and better collaborate with victim advocates," the podcast highlights ([1:10:00]).
Legacy and Foundation
In memory of Gabby Petito, her family established the Gabby Petito Foundation, dedicated to educating others about the signs of abusive relationships and providing resources for those in need. "I saw it, I got help and I safely got out. And if it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here today," a beneficiary shared ([1:12:15]).
Conclusion
The episode "Vanishing Point" not only recounts the heartbreaking story of Gabby Petito but also sheds light on broader societal issues such as media bias in missing persons cases and the critical importance of community support in preventing domestic violence tragedies. Gabby's legacy continues to inspire change, ensuring that her story serves as a catalyst for greater awareness and reform.