The father of Gabby Petito, who was murdered by her fiancé Brian Laundrie while the two were on a cross-country road trip, has spoken out for the first time since the family settled a civil lawsuit against the Laundries.
Joe Petito sat down for <a href="https://www.wfla.com/news/florida/gabby-petitos-father-speaks-for-first-time-since-laundrie-settlement-pushes-for-new-domestic-violence-bill/">an interview</a> with WFLA, but said he couldn’t speak about the specifics of the settlement.
“I would love to get into more details about it, but unfortunately at this time I just can’t,” he said.
He reiterated that the families “reluctantly” came together to settle the lawsuit, which the Petitos filed against the Laundries last year, alleging the Laundries helped their son escape law enforcement. A civil trial for the lawsuit was scheduled to begin in May but will no longer take place.
<div class="p-rich_text_section">Instead of discussing the settlement, Petito discussed a bill he has been trying to get passed in the Florida legislature, which would give state law enforcement training that would help them identify victims of intimate partner violence who are at risk of death or serious injury. The bill, according to WFLA, would have law enforcement ask 12 questions to help determine the risk:</div>
<ul class="p-rich_text_list p-rich_text_list__bullet" data-stringify-type="unordered-list" data-indent="0" data-border="0">
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Does the aggressor control most of your daily activities?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Does the aggressor reside in the same household with you?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Is the aggressor employed?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child?</li>
<li data-stringify-indent="0" data-stringify-border="0">Has the aggressor ever followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you?</li>
</ul>
After the settlement was released, Petito and Gabby’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, issued <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/settlement-reached-gabby-petito-laundrie-families-rcna139905">a statement</a>.
“All parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict,” the statement said. “Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby.”
The Laundries also released <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/families-of-gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-settle-civil-lawsuit">a statement</a>.
“Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved,” the statement said, <a href="https://www.mysuncoast.com/2024/02/22/family-gabby-petito-releases-statement-after-civil-suit-is-settled/?outputType=amp">according to WWSB</a>. “The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us.”
<a href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-9096" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://onelink.to/dwapp&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1709399483211000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3arafU1IQsRxSg1xBV8rKS">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
Petito’s parents were seeking $100,000 for pain and suffering due to the alleged actions of the Laundries. It is unclear how much, if any, money they will receive in the settlement.
Laundrie is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/newly-revealed-texts-show-brian-laundrie-casually-discussing-trip-after-killing-gabby-petito-once-in-a-lifetime">believed</a> to have committed suicide after he went missing following the murder of his fiancée, whom Laundrie admitted to killing, according to the FBI. His remains were found in Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in October 2021, and his family’s attorney released the notebook found with his body in June 2022.
“I ended her life,” Laundrie wrote, according to <a href="https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2022/06/Gabby-note-better.pdf">a copy</a> of the notebook <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/us/gabby-petito-murder-brian-laundries-notebook-confession-revealed">exclusively</a> provided to Fox News. “I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock.”
Laundrie went on to claim that Petito, who was 22 when Laundrie strangled her to death, had injured herself in a fall while they were visiting Wyoming and that he killed her to take “away her pain.”
“Rushing back to our car trying to cross the streams of spread creek before it got too dark to see, to [sic] cold. I hear a splash and a scream,” Laundrie wrote, adding that he carried her as far as he could but had to stop to make a fire to keep them warm when he couldn’t make it back to the couple’s van.
He claimed Petito “had a small bump on her forehead that eventually got larger” and that she “continually made sounds of pain, laying next to her she said little lapsing between violent shakes, gasping in pain, begging for an end to her pain.”
Laundrie also referred to Petito’s death as his “mistake” and insisted that he was not ending his life “because of a fear of punishment but rather because I cant [sic] stand to live another day without her.”
Petito and Laundrie were driving across the country visiting national parks when Petito went missing. She was last seen alive in late August before her family reported her missing in early September after Laundrie returned to his parents’ home in Florida without her. Laundrie’s family then reported him missing on September 17.
Petito’s body was found in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19, 2021. Laundrie’s remains were found on October 20.

<script async src="https://www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script><div data-widget-host="revcontent" data-pub-id="165152" data-widget-id="290588"></div><script src="https://delivery.revcontent.com/165152/290588/widget.js"></script>

Gabby Petito’s Father Speaks Out After Lawsuit Settled With Brian Laundrie’s Family

CONTINUE READING

‘Dangerous Precedent’: Court Sides With University Over Jury in False Rape Defamation Case

Trevor Bauer Wins Lawsuit Against False Accuser. Will The MLB Take Him Back?

Trump Admin Bans Illegal Immigrants From Getting Taxpayer-Backed Mortgages

Texas Man Arrested After Video Allegedly Shows Him Ramming ATV Into Tesla

Kristi Noem Tours El Salvador’s Gang Prison Before Threatening To Deport More Criminals

Columbia Anti-Israel Group Reactivated Instagram Account Just Before Oct. 7 Attack, Lawsuit Says

News

Brian Laundrie

Crime

Gabby Petito

U.S.

A video goes viral showing a baby being refused his mother by two gay "dads". This is just the tip of the iceberg, which is why we will have an important discussion today about surrogacy. 

Hour 1

The Matt Walsh Show

Ep. 1765 - This Video Is One Of The Worst Things I've Seen In A Long Time 

The Strait of Hormuz officially opens for business (kind of), the Pope makes “shocking” comments on immigration, and President Trump promises UFO disclosure at TPUSA. 


The Michael Knowles Show

Ep. 1956 -  Pope Leo's "SHOCKING" Immigration Comments EXPLAINED

A false miscreed has corrupted our leadership class.


The Andrew Klavan Show

Ep. 1275 - Dumb, Dumber and Progressive

President Trump announces a 10-day ceasefire between Lebanon and Israel, a murder-suicide involving former Democratic Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax shakes Virginia, and France and Britain hold a conference to secure the Strait of Hormuz – after the Iranian conflict ends. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

- - -

Ep. 2738

- - -

Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3

- - -

Today's Sponsors:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text 'WIRE' to 83848 to learn more.

Pocket Hose - Text MORNING to 64000 to get a FREE pocket pivot and their 10-pattern sprayer with the purchase of ANY size Copper Head hose. Message and data rates may apply.

Morning Wire

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26

U.S. Expands Hormuz Blockade & VA Fairfax Deaths Investigated | 4.17.26 [Member Exclusive]

A ceasefire goes into effect between Israel and Lebanon, a tragic murder-suicide rocks Virginia, and Dairy Queen deploys AI in the drive-thru. Get the facts first with Evening Wire.
- - -
Ep. 2737
- - -
Wake up with new Morning Wire merch: https://bit.ly/4lIubt3 
- - -
Today’s Sponsor:

Alliance Defending Freedom - Visit https://JoinADF.com/WIRE or text “WIRE” to 83848 to learn more.


Evening Wire: Lebanon Ceasefire Begins & Murder-Suicide Rocks VA | 4.16.26

The Pendragon Cycle

Menu

— News —

Gabby Petito’s Father Speaks Out After Lawsuit Settled With Brian Laundrie’s Family