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Gabby Petito family awarded $3M in wrongful-death lawsuit
The family of Gabby Petito have been awarded $3 million following the murder that captured the world’s attention
Gabby Petito’s family have been awarded $3 million in the wrongful-death lawsuit against Brian Laundrie’s estate in Florida.
It was the case of what seemed to be a beautiful couple, travelling around the U.S. on the trip of a lifetime.
That quickly spiralled into a nationwide and social media frenzy for the missing 22-year-old.
It was a murder mystery unfolding before millions of eyes.
Now, Gabby Petito’s family have been awarded $3 million lawsuit against her late fiancé and murderer, Brian Laundrie.
“The Petito family lost their daughter, and they were also denied the opportunity to confront her killer.
Patrick Reilly, attorney for Petito’s parents- statement to cnn
No amount of money is sufficient to compensate the Petito family for the loss of their daughter, Gabby, at the hands of Brian Laundrie.
Brian did not have $3 million; it’s an arbitrary number. Whatever monies they do receive will help Gabby’s family in their endeavors with the Gabby Petito Foundation.”
Petito went missing in Wyoming, following concerns about a domestic dispute between the couple.
Laundrie returned home from the trip alone at the beginning of September, and disappearing shortly after.
It lead to a nationwide search for Petito, fuelling citizen journalists to become obsessed with solving the disappearance of the bubbly travel blogger.
Petito’s body was later found in Wyoming, and the coroner ruled strangulation as her cause of death.
Laundrie’s body was later found in a nature reserve near his home in Sarasota County where it was confirmed he died by suicide.
A notebook was found at the scene of his body, where he appeared to confess to Petito’s murder.
This case sparked widespread concern because every aspect of the travel blogging couple’s relationship was so attainable to the social media world.
At one point, the pair were pulled over by police over concerns of a domestic dispute. An altercation captured by body-cam footage just days before Petito’s death.
Her family claims police failed to notice signs of domestic abuse against their daughter, and failed to protect her.
Advocating for change
The Petito family will use the $3m towards the Gabby Petito Foundation, which advocates for victims of domestic violence.
“Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt wish to turn their personal tragedy into a positive. It is their hope that Gabby’s foundation will bring these important issues into the forefront of the public eye to the benefit of all our communities.”
Patrick Reilly, attorney for Petito’s parents- statement to cnn
