Gabby Petito explores the media’s role and more in the 2021 disappearance of the aspiring #vanlife influencer. At the conclusion of Netflix’s new true-crime documentary American Murder: Gabby Petito, the three-episode series delve into the media’s role in the sensational case of the 22-year-old vlogger whose 2021 disappearance ignited an online frenzy.
The Tragic Story of Gabby Petito
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The adventure of a lifetime for 22-year-old Gabby Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie was supposed to be an exploration of America’s natural beauty. Inspired by social media influencers living glamorous lives on the road, the couple bought a van in 2021 to travel across the country, staying in national parks and documenting their journey. Petito started a blog and YouTube channel to share their adventure.
However, the dream trip turned into a nightmare. After at least one domestic dispute between Petito and Laundrie, which was at odds with the image they portrayed on social media, Petito vanished in 2021 and was never seen again. Her body was discovered on September 19, 2021.
A new three-part documentary series on Netflix, American Murder: Gabby Petito, recounts her life and tragic death through interviews with friends and family, exploring how her disappearance sparked a nationwide search and intense media attention.
Becoming Part of #Vanlife
Petito and Laundrie first met at Bayport-Blue Point High School in Bayport, New York. After graduating in 2017, they began dating in 2019, and Petito moved to North Point, Florida, to live with Laundrie’s family. According to her friend Rose Davis in the series, Petito found living with Laundrie’s family uncomfortable, especially due to strained relations with his mother, Roberta. The situation worsened with Laundrie’s increasingly controlling behavior, including an incident where he allegedly stole Petito’s wallet and ID to prevent her from going out with Davis.
Despite these challenges, Petito and Laundrie shared a love for long road trips, National Parks, and traveling. In July 2020, they got engaged. To fund their cross-country adventure, Petito worked several jobs, including as a pharmacy technician and at Taco Bell. The couple bought and remodeled a 2012 Ford Transit Connect van to make it livable for their planned four-month journey across the U.S. On July 2, 2021, a year after their engagement, they set off from New York.
Petito aimed to document their travels on YouTube under the name Nomadic Statik and shared their experiences on Instagram, where her profile read: “traveling the world in our tiny van #vanlife.”
Gabby Petito Missing, Investigation Underway
Gabby Petito was reported missing after a 911 call on August 12, 2021, in Moab, Utah, claimed a man was attacking a woman in a van. Police found the vehicle—Petito’s van—and, after speaking with the couple, determined that Laundrie was the victim of a domestic incident. They separated for the night, with Laundrie staying at a hotel and Petito in the van. The next day, they resumed their trip.
On August 25, Petito posted her last Instagram update, but soon after, she stopped responding to messages. A strange text sent to her mother on August 27 raised suspicions, as it referred to her grandfather by his first name—something Petito never did. On September 11, her mother filed a missing persons report, leading to the discovery that Laundrie had returned home with Petito’s van—but without her. The Laundrie family hired a lawyer and refused to cooperate with the investigation.
Petito’s case quickly gained national attention, with online sleuths examining every detail of her social media. The search for Petito spanned over 2,000 miles as authorities tried to retrace her steps.
What Happened to Gabby Petito?
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The investigation took police to several locations, including Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, where Petito’s phone was last used. With help from another #vanlife blogger, images of Petito’s van were found in Spread Creek. Three weeks after the search began, Petito’s body was discovered on September 19, 2021. Investigators suspected the scene had been staged, and an autopsy confirmed she died from strangulation.
The news devastated her family. Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt, recalled the painful moment he had to inform family members of her death. A high school friend shared that hearing about her body being found felt like a nightmare.
Brian Laundrie’s Fate?
American Murder” reveals the details of Brian Laundrie’s attempts to cover his tracks. On August 29, he made several calls to his parents, claiming Gabby was “gone” and he needed help. They immediately contacted an attorney. Laundrie hitchhiked twice to return to the van after placing Petito’s body and manipulated text messages between their phones to make it appear they were still together. He also transferred $700 from Petito’s account to his own, with the memo reading, “Goodbye Brian, I’ll never ask you for anything again.”
Petito’s final moments were pieced together after her body was found. On August 27, 2021, a witness reported seeing Petito and Laundrie arguing at a restaurant. Petito made a call to her ex-boyfriend, which he missed, and they were seen on security footage at Whole Foods later that day. They then drove to Spread Creek, where Petito was believed to have been alive at 8:32 pm, working on her computer.
On September 20, 2021, the day after Petito’s remains were discovered, police executed a search warrant on Laundrie’s home. However, Laundrie had been missing since telling his parents he was going for a hike. His body was found 37 days later at the Carlton Reserve. Alongside his remains was a letter in which Laundrie admitted to killing Gabby, claiming he had ended her pain after a bizarre accident, though this contradicted the autopsy. In 2022, the Petito-Schmidt family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Laundrie’s parents, which was settled for $3 million, but no criminal charges have been filed against them.
Netflix’s True Crime Documentary
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American Murder: Gabby Petito follows Netflix’s successful formula of true-crime documentaries, appealing to those drawn to investigative storytelling. Given the growing public interest in real-life crime cases, the documentary is set to attract substantial viewership.
Sarah Petito, Gabby’s mother, has shared that while the family participated in interviews during the investigation, they wanted the documentary to more fully capture Gabby’s story. The project aims to offer a deeper understanding of the circumstances surrounding her death and the lasting impact it had on everyone involved. Now streaming on Netflix, the film provides an in-depth exploration of one of the most tragic cases in recent memory.
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