When this documentary first came out, I almost didn't watch it. I am very familiar with the case (or so I thought) and figured it was probably the same information I had always read or heard. I read that the documentary did include new information, and a few friends asked me to watch. Warning: if you have not watched it and are unfamiliar with the case, this blog may not make much sense. I would suggest looking up the case.
The case all started when Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito met at a friend's house. According to the documentary, they both felt that it was love at first sight. They were together for a short time before Gabby decided to move with Brian to Florida for him to be close to his family. In the documentary, Brian's mother seemed to be ok with Gabby at first and then she started to treat her as an outsider. After a while, they decided to buy a Transit van and go on a cross-country trip to hike and enjoy nature. Gabby never returned from that trip alive. Let's talk about some of the things that took me from sobbing to pure hatred, and anger that I am having a hard time dealing with.
To me, it seemed like everyone that spoke in the documentary didn't feel like he was all there. There was something about him they all said. Her mom and both friends that spoke in the documentary could feel something was not right. I looked at him and felt that immediately.
Brian had severe jealousy issues. Gabby made a friend when they moved to Florida on Bumble, and they became very close. Gabby with go with her to deliver pizza and they would take and hang out a lot. The documentary showed some of his texts to her and they were classic narcissist messages. Trying to make her feel bad, crying, the typical bullshit that you deal with when you're with a narcissist. It was one of those relationships where when he did wrong, he would always buy her something and it was instant forgiving him. Been there.
Brian and his mother had a very ODD relationship. I know we all as mothers say and mean " Don't fuck with my kids" or "I would do anything for my kids". However, would you ever write a letter to your son that said "I would help you hide a body. I will bring shovels and garbage bags." And if that is not odd enough for you at the top of the letter it said BURN AFTER READING. What?? You cannot tell me that that is normal. not even close. However, it will explain behavior down the road.
This next part is very hard for me. On this trip, a 911 call came in when they were passing through Utah. Moab to be exact. A man driving down the road called and stated that he saw a man and woman arguing and the man was slapping the girl. They then got into the van and drove off. If you have seen the body cam footage, you have seen Gabby crying and making excuses. When the officers pulled them over, he walked up to her window, and she was crying. The officer asked her to step out and he took her aside. Here is where the issue starts for me. She had a bleeding lip or nose and fresh bruises on her arm. The police officer asked her what had happened. She immediately claimed she was the aggressor and everything is her fault. THAT IS A SIGN OF DOMESTICE VIOLENCE! Fear of telling on your abuser and the abuse getting worse. When Brian was asked to step out of the car, he had marks on the left side of his face. He told the police she had anxiety, and he was trying to push her away because she was hitting him with her cell phone. First of all, getting hit with a cell phone would not look like multiple claw marks. She admitted to having anxiety, but I guarantee you that he was slapping her, and she tried to claw him with her nails to try and get him away. The police in this situation did not recognize the signs of an abused woman. Police all over the world are very undertrained. They took her word and stated that Brian was the victim. Seriously?? They go back and forth on if they will press charges but decided they just needed to be apart for the night. They got BRIAN a hotel room for domestic violence survivors. The anger I felt when I watched that made me feel like Gabby was again being slapped in the face. This time from the police. She was allowed to keep the van (it was registered to her) but had to go and find somewhere to sleep that night. Hey Utah, why don't you do a better job of training your officers. That goes for all states.
The next day, the journey continued.
When Gabby stopped vlogging (she had started this at the beginning) and 10 days went by without anyone getting messages or calls from her, her mother started to worry. She tried to file a missing person's report in Wyoming (the last place they had stopped), she was told that she had to fie in Gabby's place of residence which was in NY. So that is what she did. NY called down to Florida's police station to try and get a welfare check from the Laundrie family. When the police got to the Laundrie's home, the van was there in the driveway. When the officer approached the home, Brian's parents came to the front door, refused to answer any questions and gave the police the name and number of a lawyer. Um, just me or is that suspicious as hell. Then when the cop told his lieutenant, he didn't really feel like anything was wrong. He was a complete asshole. So, the lieutenant in Florida got on the phone with him and was like " Gabby has been missing. She is not answering anyone. She is a missing person." He actually said back " what would you like me to do?". Are you kidding me? I was ENRAGED listening to this. So finally, the guy says he himself will knock on the door and try and get some information. When he knocks, the Laundries tell him that Brian is in the house! Brian is also refusing to talk. Now the lieutenant is actually taking this seriously. He decided to tow the van to the police department.
Another pivotal point in this documentary is when Brian somehow escapes his parents' house, with his mother's car, the police stated they had surveillance but how the hell do you miss that? They state when they saw the car leave, they thought it was his mother. There is no way she can be mistaken for him. The size difference alone is enough to know it wasn't her. They showed texts from his mom and sister laughing about it. It was despicable. His entire family helped him from the start. When the cell records were retrieved, the day Gabby died, he had a 55-minute conversation with his father who in turn immediately called an attorney. THEY KNEW THE ENTIRE TIME. THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE JUSTICE. And guess what, they never have been charged with any crime. Someone please explain to me why? Accessory after the fact at least??
And now the most ridiculous ending to this heartbreak and rage, after Brian leaves, his parents decide after 2-3 weeks to go looking for him themselves. The search for him had been intense and no one could locate him or any of his belongings. His parents found him in 45 minutes. His body (what was left) and his bag. They knew. They knew he killed Gabby, and they knew he was going to go somewhere and commit suicide. They knew exactly where. This is why I am puzzled as to why authorities have not arrested and charged them??
This is just a brief description of those 3 episodes. I found out things I didn't know. Gabby Petito was a victim of domestic violence. She kept it well hid and when the signs did come out, no one saw them. Please listen to people. Anytime a person (man or woman) is always apologizing, they have either been abused or they are currently being abused. Look up the signs. Make yourself aware so that you could help someone. If the cops in Utah were better trained, she would probably be alive right now. If you are being abused, there are resources. Call 911 and act like you are ordering a pizza, they will ask questions in a fashion that will not make your abuser think anything suspicious is happening. There is always the domestic violence hotline- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or the website wannatalkaboutit.com
PLEASE get help. Watch the documentary. It really is eye opening.
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