Found Deceased WY - Gabby Petito, Grand Teton National Park #89

[friendlysleuther]

I didn't buy that her "Burn after Reading" excuse wasn't written after he killed Gabby. There's no way that was a coincidence.

Oh, really? Hmm. IMO it seemed more like he told his parents, his parents knew he was going to flee, and that was his mom’s last chance at trying to tell him like.. it’s okay. I still love you.

 

[CrimeJunkie82]

What I don't understand is that on the body cam footage, you can clearly tell that Gabby has been abused and is absolutely terriffied. The cop seemingly blows her off, jokes with Brian, offers him a room for battered victims, while She has to sleep in the van?! If they had went with the protocol like they were discussing among each other, she may still be alive. I wonder if her family has sought this law enforcement agency out. Does anyone know?

 

[Ruminations]

IMO Gabby was victimized by Brian, conditioned to believe she was responsible if he was upset and if she could just learn how not to upset him, it would all be fine. I suspect Brian used all the methods, guilt, demoralizing, gaslighting, promising.

That day at Moab, she didn't know why LE separated them, why they asked what they asked (they were assessing for the aggressor). All MOO: she didn't want Brian arrested. For all the reasons victims of DV struggle, but including fearing Brian on the other side (after getting back out), how upset he'd be. I think he threatened to leave her a lot. Not just end the relationship, but abandon her. Take her keys. Take the van. No question theirs was a complex and rocky, messy relationship.

That traffic stop empowered Brian. In the worst way possible.

JMO

100% agree.

Naturally, it would be an intense and difficult discussion to tell a parent figure that Brian was violent and arrested. It would have gone much more helpfully than she probably imagined, but...

She was only 22.

If she hadn't had a team of supportive parents, there are also helpful, non-judgemental helplines. But how would she know to identify that DV applied to her, and reach out for help?

I agree, the traffic stop empowered Brian. It concretely took arresting him off the table at the very same time it was put on the table. I doubt she'd considered until the stop that he could be in legal trouble. All at once, the possibility of his arrest came up, it scared her, she protected him, and she made him appear untouchable to LE to her, and made him feel untouchable, too.

In a perfect world, LE would have made it clear that they could help her stay away from him if that was what she wanted. In a perfect world, she would have been discreetly offered safety-planning resources.

MOO

 

[Ruminations]

What I don't understand is that on the body cam footage, you can clearly tell that Gabby has been abused and is absolutely terriffied. The cop seemingly blows her off, jokes with Brian, offers him a room for battered victims, while She has to sleep in the van?! If they had went with the protocol like they were discussing among each other, she may still be alive. I wonder if her family has sought this law enforcement agency out. Does anyone know?

I am certain you will get a response that the LE officers did not know she wasn't the aggressor, in spite of the signs you just mentioned. I think it looked obvious, too, and I think it should have been clearer to all the officers. One of the officers seemed to have assessed the situation as her being in danger, but it was not the majority thought.

But this is the thing: it doesn't have to be that anyone get to the "truth" of who hit first, etc. it matters who has the ability to do harm. Good grief, giving Gabby the resources to deal with Brian safely is not the same thing as convicting him in a court of law. He is not hurt at all with that, in theory, assuming a non-abusive person. He just has a safer, more empowered loved one.

No reason not to do the same for Brian. What ability does she have to do him harm, and how can he keep himself safe? But if these assessments were done for these two, it would be clear that Brian could harm Gabby far more than the other way around.

MOO

 

[Deleted member 39678]

I am certain you will get a response that the LE officers did not know she wasn't the aggressor, in spite of the signs you just mentioned. I think it looked obvious, too, and I think it should have been clearer to all the officers. One of the officers seemed to have assessed the situation as her being in danger, but it was not the majority thought.

But this is the thing: it doesn't have to be that anyone get to the "truth" of who hit first, etc. it matters who has the ability to do harm. Good grief, giving Gabby the resources to deal with Brian safely is not the same thing as convicting him in a court of law. He is not hurt at all with that, in theory, assuming a non-abusive person. He just has a safer, more empowered loved one.

No reason not to do the same for Brian. What ability does she have to do him harm, and how can he keep himself safe? But if these assessments were done for these two, it would be clear that Brian could harm Gabby far more than the other way around.

MOO

I'm not following you. Are you saying that LE should have informed both GP and Bl that they can or will harm each other and they should separate?

 

[LinasK]

I

Found Deceased Post in thread 'WY - Gabby Petito, Grand Teton National Park #88'

Feb 20, 2025

The documentary illustrated how manipulative and conniving BL was. I don't think it was ever concluded exactly when Gabby died, but it seemed to me that she was killed by him before he went on his long hike. He was plotting and planning his motive, even when he was hitchhiking, to give himself an alibi that he was not at the campsite when she died.
Sending those texts to her, knowing she was dead. And then replying to himself with Gabby's phone, pretending he was her. On his drive home, BL sent himself an e-transfer from Gabby's account for $700 IIRC. In the notes, he wrote something...

• I am not Sherlock H.

• 

---

"Great analysis @Forest_Wood . I wonder if perhaps one or both parents might have gone with BL when he went to the preserve? Maybe two cars? Was someone hidden in the car or trunk?

IIRC there was some confusion as to who had left the house and whether or not it was the mother or someone or BL? And even the mother and sister were IIRC joking then, I believe in texts as to how could anyone confuse them for BL? And sadly IIRC by that time, GP was already known likely deceased or ‘gone’. SMH. And then there was a suggestion that no one knew where BL was? And all of a sudden as others have said within an hour of going to that preserve the parents find him in what is it a 40,000 acre swamp? While authorities and others have been looking for him for days?

The two additional things I would have liked more clarity on were the gun and the silver Mustang. There was a gun shown early when they were both riding in the car and GP was shooting it out the window while she wore earplugs. And then the gun he later used on himself right? I wonder where that come from and who owned it?

And the silver Mustang, was that BL or his parent’s car or his mother’s car? Some of the early video when GP was skateboarding on that closed street, if I remember correctly, BL was filming all of that riding in that silver Mustang.

The last thing was a little point about who owned the van? It seemed IMO that BL parents were trying to confuse police as to who owned it whether it was jointly with BL and GP? But fortunately, by that point Florida detectives were already clear on it, and they impounded the Ford Transit van immediately.

One thing apparent - it’s a good thing that IIRC the Long Island, NY police pressed hard on authorities down in FL early on in the investigation. And it’s unfortunate that that one Moab police investigators initial thoughts on a domestic violence incident in the van wasn’t better followed? IIRC he seemed to feel that GP was perhaps the victim. MOO"

---

Just bringing this forward @I am not Sherlock H.

I don't know how all those people outside, as well as those responsible to watch the house and the cameras, missed him leaving/not returning. It's a mystery and seems that someone wasn't doing their job and then came up with the excuse they mistook his mother for him. I think LE just wasn't paying attention IMO.

It seems the parents knew exactly where to look for him because they knew his patterns and where he liked to frequent in the park. That makes sense to me. He went to his favorite spot in the park to reflect on his life and to end his miserable life. This also illustrates that his parents knew their son very well. They knew him so well that it took them under an hour to find his body, when all those LE workers with all those resources couldn't.

This is why I believe, no matter what they claim, the Laundries knew their son had killed Gabby from early on, likely from the time he called them from Teton.

As for the van, I can imagine that BL put money towards that van too. It was in Gabby's name, but most couples at that age would be responsible for paying for the use of it. It was reported that he helped to fix it up for their trip. It's not unreasonable to think he contributed to the cost of the van or that they considered it "theirs". However, I believe he took the van not because he believed it was his but to support his psychopathic plan that she had left him. He needed a means to get out of there, and her van was it.

As for the gun, I don't recall it being focused on very much. Was it the same gun in that video that was used to shoot himself. Was it his gun or his parents. Where did he get a gun. How long did he have it. Did the parents know a gun was missing if it was theirs. It's a mystery.

MOO.

Legally, it was her van and hers alone even IF there is proof that he made any payments towards it, which we have not seen.

 

[Forest_Wood]

Legally, it was her van and hers alone even IF there is proof that he made any payments towards it, which we have not seen.

Yes. We all know that. Which is why LE was able to remove it from the Laundrie’s driveway.

 

[Trooper]

Legally, it was her van and hers alone even IF there is proof that he made any payments towards it, which we have not seen.

And hardly 'belittling' for her to expect him to wipe off his gritty dirty feet before he plonked them all over where they slept, and where their dishes they ate off were kept, and their clothing.. What kind of bloke has to be told this very ordinary matter of hygiene at 26?? a terrific indicator of his upbringing....but everything was Brian's kingdom, the van, Gabby, her credit card, her very life... all for Brian to dispose of at whim and at will...

There has never been any mention of if he even contributed to fuel or maintenance costs to that van.

 

[Trooper]

In all their flurry to engage lawyers, here and there, this one, that one, because Brian was 'upset' , it has always struck me as weird that the Laundries then proceeded to have a technically stolen van, ( Brian had no papers signed over to give him title to it, no proof of change of registration, no proof of insurance on it in his name, probably realised he should have forced Gabby into this before he murdered her, but a psychopaths temper doesn't usually allow for such niceties) just rusting away in their driveway. ......

It was such a brazen, blatant signifier that something awkward and odd and inexplicable had taken place in regard to Gabby, that well travelled van sitting in the driveway , registered, insured and owned by Gabby... I wonder why Bertolino didn't give them some kind of general indicator of what should be done about it, not just have it sitting there... obviously, the Laundries were not going to give the van back to the Petitio's , they could not sell it, ( they had no title ) they could not even do repairs on it, or even mention it was there, and playing no speakies with the Petitios, or the Schmidts , they could hardly arrange for them to come down from NY to pick it up., the Ps' and S's didn't even know it was there in Florida.. .... what WERE they going to do with it??

 

[LinasK]

Yes. We all know that. Which is why LE was able to remove it from the Laundrie’s driveway.

This is your quote that I was responding to: As for the van, I can imagine that BL put money towards that van too. It was in Gabby's name, but most couples at that age would be responsible for paying for the use of it. It was reported that he helped to fix it up for their trip. It's not unreasonable to think he contributed to the cost of the van or that they considered it "theirs". However, I believe he took the van not because he believed it was his but to support his psychopathic plan that she had left him. He needed a means to get out of there, and her van was it.

 

[Deleted member 39678]

This is your quote that I was responding to: As for the van, I can imagine that BL put money towards that van too. It was in Gabby's name, but most couples at that age would be responsible for paying for the use of it. It was reported that he helped to fix it up for their trip. It's not unreasonable to think he contributed to the cost of the van or that they considered it "theirs". However, I believe he took the van not because he believed it was his but to support his psychopathic plan that she had left him. He needed a means to get out of there, and her van was it.

After BL killed Gabby it's not a surprise that he took the van regardless of the true or perceived ownership.

Your right, he needed transportation and it was the easiest way for him to escape the crime scene. JMO.

 

[Forest_Wood]

After BL killed Gabby it's not a surprise that he took the van regardless of the true or perceived ownership.

Your right, he needed transportation and it was the easiest way for him to escape the crime scene. JMO.

Thank you Ranch. Somebody gets it. The vehicle was clearly in Gabby's name; therefore she owned it. We all know this from various reports. BL had no right to take it, yet he drove it back to his parent's home after he murdered and abandoned Gabby, leaving it in plain view in the driveway for everyone to see. I believe he took the van, not to "steal" it or to claim ownership of it, although we know that's the end result, but because he needed an escape from the scene of his crime and his psychopathic fable of her leaving him while at the campground.
MOO.

 

[LinasK]

<modsnip - quoted post was removed>
Exactly what I wrote. It doesn't matter and there's no proof that either of them considered it both of theirs van. It was always Gabby's and Gabby's only. Even if he happened to give her any money towards it, of which there's no evidence, nor if he helped fix it up or pay for upkeep. It was always SOLELY Gabby's. His reason for taking it doesn't matter. He stole it from his victim. He also stole her credit/debit card. They had a charge prepared for holding him on that. It could however also have furthered his alibi that Gabby walked away from her life and gave the van to him.

 

[Warwick7]

Yes, and during this drive home in Gabby's van that FBI Special Agent told Netflix cameras, "The activity between the two phone was almost instantaneous. Brian was holding both phones and talking directly to himself. It was an apparent that he was trying to create an alibi."

Doing this while using her debit card to pay for gas and to top it off Brian also sent himself a Zelle payment of $700 from Gabby’s account, as if in payment for trip supplies.

What he wrote in the memo mimics his own ego.

 

[Forest_Wood]

Exactly what I wrote. It doesn't matter and there's no proof that either of them considered it both of theirs van. It was always Gabby's and Gabby's only. Even if he happened to give her any money towards it, of which there's no evidence, nor if he helped fix it up of pay for upkeep. It was always SOLELY Gabby's. His reason for taking it doesn't matter. He stole it from his victim. He also stole her credit/debit card. They had a charge prepared for hold him on that. It could however also have furthered his alibi that Gabby walked away from her life and gave the van to him.

Gave the van to him? There's no evidence of that though. It's all relevant to his state of mind at the time. Nobody knows what his motives were. And we will never know now that he's dead.
MOO.

 

[LinasK]

Gave the van to him? There's no evidence of that though. It's all relevant to his state of mind at the time. Nobody knows what his motives were. And we will never know now that he's dead.
MOO.

Exactly. He could have tried that as an excuse and it would have failed as soon as they found her body, and because of the woman who filmed the van in Wyoming at the side of the road. Brian had abandoned it then before he took it to Florida. He never had any legal right to it, no matter what he might have claimed.

 

[Warwick7]

Gave the van to him? There's no evidence of that though. It's all relevant to his state of mind at the time. Nobody knows what his motives were. And we will never know now that he's dead.
MOO.

I think that's the alibi that Brian was trying to create.

 

[Warwick7]

"Don't try to control me because it only makes me mad," Gabby wrote in the text to Laundrie. "I love you so much but it's the way you speak to me that hurts me the most."

These two sentences are incredibly rough. Brian had a severe problem with possessiveness, control and anger.

The Netflix episodes left me numb....

 

[Deleted member 39678]

Exactly what I wrote. It doesn't matter and there's no proof that either of them considered it both of theirs van. It was always Gabby's and Gabby's only. Even if he happened to give her any money towards it, of which there's no evidence, nor if he helped fix it up or pay for upkeep. It was always SOLELY Gabby's. His reason for taking it doesn't matter. He stole it from his victim. He also stole her credit/debit card. They had a charge prepared for holding him on that. It could however also have furthered his alibi that Gabby walked away from her life and gave the van to him.

I think BL knew that he had bigger problems than auto and credit card theft when he escaped the crime scene. JMO.

 

[LinasK]

I think BL knew that he had bigger problems than auto and credit card theft when he escaped the crime scene. JMO.

Yes, but I think he thought he could pull it off until they discovered her body. It was lucky that the couple in Wyoming filmed the location of the van on the side of the road. I think at that point he'd killed her and taken off for a couple of days without the van, then came back for it.