♪
♪ AM I EVER GONNA LOVE AGAIN ♪
>> A YOUNG COUPLE TRAVELING THE
COUNTRY IN A TINY VAN, LOOKING
FOR ADVENTURE AND ONLINE FAME.
BUT WHILE TWO PEOPLE SET OUT ON
THE TRIP, ONLY ONE COMES BACK.
THIS IS GABBY PETITO'S STORY,
"VANISHING POINT."
♪ AM I EVER GONNA LOVE ♪
♪ GONNA LOVE AGAIN ♪
♪ AM I EVER GONNA LOVE ♪
♪ GONNA LOVE AGAIN ♪
>> BRIAN HAD NO RING WHEN HE
PROPOSED TO GABBY, BUT ACCORDING
TO A FRIEND, A FIRE FLY LANDED
ON HER FINGER.
THEY TOOK IT AS A SIGN THAT IT
WAS MEANT TO BE.
A YEAR LATER, THE TWO SET OFF ON
AN ADVENTURE.
ONLY ONE CAME BACK.
>> WE'RE HAPPY THAT WE HAVE
THIS.
>> THIS IS THE OUTER BANKS, I
THINK.
>> ISN'T THAT THE BEST PICTURE?
>> SHE WAS A HAM FOR THE CAMERA,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> SHE NEVER TOOK A BAD PICTURE.
>> WE'RE LUKE
>> WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVE A LOT OF
MEMORIES.
WE'RE LUCKY WE HAVE SO MANY
PICTURES OF HER.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT SHE TOOK AS
MANY AS SHE DID.
BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE.
THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE NOW.
>> NOW TO A CASE MAKING NATIONAL
HEADLINES.
TONIGHT, THIS URGENT SEARCH FOR
GABBY PETITO.
>> MISSING WOMAN, GABBY ME TINO.
>> THE 22-YEAR-OLD WHO VANISHED
ON A CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP WITH HER
BOYFRIEND.
>> THE FAMILY IS DEVASTATED.
EVERY DAY THAT THIS GOES ON,
THEY GET MORE AND MORE
DESPERATE.
>> IT'S A STORY THAT CAPTIVATED
THE NATION.
>> WOW.
GABBY PETITO CASE.
>> DOMINATING SOCIAL MEDIA AND
NEWS COVERAGE, THE SUBJECT OF A
DOCUSERIESES "AMERICAN MURDER:
GABBY PETITO," STREAMING ON
NETFLEX.
HER FAMILY SITTING DOWN WITH US
TO TELL HER STORY.
>> WE WOULD HAVE WENT TO THE
EDGE OF THE EARTH TO FIND HER.
>> WE REALLY HAD HOPE.
WE REALLY DID.
>> BECAUSE THERE'S A MILLION
DIFFERENT SCENARIOS THAT COULD
PLAY OUT JUST THE SAME.
HURT IN THE WILDERNESS, BAD
RECEPTION, ALL THAT STUFF.
>> BUT IT WOULD ALL END IN
TRAGEDY.
>> WE'RE NOT THE SAME PEOPLE WE
WERE BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.
THERE WAS LIFE BEFORE AND LIFE
AFTER.
>> GABBY PETITO WAS RAISED WITH
SO MUCH LOVE.
HER MOM, NICOLE, AND DAD, JOE,
SPLIT UP WHEN SHE WAS JUST A
BABY, AND THEY BOTH REMARRY
BABY, AND THEY BOTH REMARRIED
BABY, AND THEY BOTH REMARRIREMA
THEIR SPOUSES TAR ARE AND
THEIR SPOUSES TAR ARE A AND JIM
BECOME PART OF THE PARENTAL
UNIT, ALL RAISING HER TOGETHER.
>> IT WAS ALWAYS ABOUT HER
FIRST, WE'LL FIGURE OUT THE
REST.
>> WE WORKED TOGETHER AS A TEAM,
AND NOW WE'RE EVEN CLOSER THAN
EVER.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT GABBY WHAT
WAS SHE LIKE AS A LITTLE GIRL?
>> I JUST REMEMBER THE FIRST
TIME I SAW HER, THE BRIGHTEST
BLUE EYES, THE BIGGEST SMILE
YOU'VE EVER SEEN, AND THAT WAS
THE WAY SHE WAS EVER SINCE SHE
WAS LITTLE, ALL THE WAY ON UP.
>> GABBY AND HER FAMILY LIVE IN
BLUE POINT ON LONG ISLAND, JUST
OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY.
BY HIGH SCHOOL, GABBY HAS A BIG
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
ONE OF THEM IS A BOY NAMED BRIAN
LAUNDRIE.
>> I -- I LIKED BRIAN.
I THOUGHT HE WAS INTERESTING.
HE WAS VERY SOFT SPOKEN.
HE WOULD SIT AND DO ART WITH
GABBY'S YOUNGER SISTERS.
HE GOT ALONG WITH T.J., HER
BROTHER.
AND HE JUST SEEMED LIKE A NICE
PERSON.
>> I MEAN, RESPECTFUL, ALWAYS
CAME IN, SHOOK YOUR HAND.
WAS NICE.
JUST QUIET.
JUST A QUIET PERSON.
>> YEAH, QUIET.
>> WHEN THINGS GET MORE SERIOUS,
THEY EVENTUALLY MAKE THE
DECISION TO MOVE TO FLORIDA TO
BE CLOSER TO BRIAN'S FAMILY.
THEY MOVE IN WITH BRIAN'S
PARENTS.
CHRIS AND ROBERTA.
GABBY MAKES A NEW FRIEND IN
FLORIDA, WHO SHARES HER FIRST
IMPRESSION OF BRIAN IN THE
NETFLIX DOCUSERIES.
>> HEY, LITTLE BIRD.
>> WE WERE ALL GOING TO THE
BEACH TOGETHER.
AND HE KIND OF JUST SAT BACK
THERE AND READ HIS BOOK WHILE
GABBY AND I HUNG OUT.
IT FELT LIKE A PARENT WAS
WATCHING US ON A PLAY DATE.
IT WAS VERY WEIRD.
BUT HE WAS VERY NICE.
I DO REMEMBER COMING HOME AND
SAYING TO MY MOM, SHE'S LIKE,
HOW WAS IT, HOW WAS HER
BOYFRIEND?
AND I WAS LIKE, HE'S A REALLY
NICE GUY, BUT THERE IS SOMETHING
OFF ABOUT HIM.
>> THE COUPLE, NOW ENGAGED,
OUTFIT A LITTLE VAN FOR A ROAD
TRIP ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
>> I LOVE THE VAN.
>> THE VAN LOOKED AMAZING.
EVERYTHING LOOKED PRETTY.
>> THAT VAN WAS HER PRIDE AND
JOY.
SHE WAS REALLY PROUD OF THATTEN
HAVE A.
AND WE SAW IT, IT WAS -- IT WAS
DONE REALLY, REALLY WELL.
>> GABBY AND BRIAN WERE TRYING
VAN LIFE, AS IT'S CALLED ONLINE.
>> VAN LIFE IS EXACTLY WHAT IT
SOUNDS, IT'S LIVING IN OFTEN AN
RESTORED VAN OR SCHOOL BUS AND
HAVING THIS KIND OF NOMADIC
LIFESTYLE WHERE YOU CAN TRAVEL
ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.
IT WAS GROWING IN POPULARITY,
LARGELY THROUGH INSTAGRAM AND
YOUTUBE.
>> AS PARENTS, AS SHE'S ABOUT TO
SET OFF ON THIS VAN LIFE
ADVENTURE, ARE YOU GOING, LIKE,
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO FEED
YOURSELF?
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WASH?
>> WHEN SHE SHOWED US THE SETUP,
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THIS COOLER
THAT PLUGS IN, IT'S 12-VOLT, YOU
CAN TURN IT INTO A FREEZER,
HERE'S OUR PORTABLE SINK INSIDE,
THIS IS HOW THE SINK WORKS, HERE
THIS IS HOW THE SINK WORKS, H
HERE'S A PORTABLE SHOWER THAT
CATCHES RAINWATER.
AND I'M LIKE, YOU'RE DOING ALL
THIS?
>> AND WHEN THEY SET OUT, WHAT
DID YOU SAY TO HER BEFORE SHE
LEFT?
DO YOU REMEMBER?
>> I WAS ABSOLUTELY THE LUCKIEST
ONE, I GOT TO GIVE HER A HUG
GOOD-BYE, AND IT WAS THE MOST
AMAZING SQUEEZY HUG.
AND I LOOKED AT BRIAN, I SAID,
YOU BETTER TAKE GOOD CARE OF
HER, KEEP HER SAFE, AND HE WAS
LIKE, I WILL, YOU KNOW, HIS VERY
SOFT SPOKEN "I WILL."
I CHERISH THAT MOMENT.
IT WAS THE LAST TIME THAT I HAD
HER IN MY ARMS.
>> GABBY WANTS TO BE A VLOGGER
AND BEGINS TO DOCUMENT HER TRIP
ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
>> SO.
WE ARE RIGHT OUTSIDE CAPITAL
REEF RIGHT NOW.
>> YOU CAN'T KEEP CHOCOLATE IN
UTAH.
NOT IN JULY.
>> THE WAY TO LIVE A SUSTAINABLE
LIFE AS A VAN LIFER IS TO HAVE
MILLIONS OF FOLLOWERS ONLINE.
THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE MONEY.
SO, GABBY DEFINITELY WANTED TO
BE PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.
>> SHE HAD ASKED IF WE COULD GET
HER A DRONE, SO, HER GRANDPA,
STAN, AND I KIND OF SPLIT THAT,
WE BROUGHT HER THE DRONE, AND
THAT MADE THAT VIDEO, LIKE, SO
MUCH BETTER.
>> BRIAN'S STRETCHING, DOING
SOME MORNING YOGA.
>> SHE FOLLOWED A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO ALSO WERE DOING THE VAN LIFE
THING, TOO, SO, IT LOOKS LIKE
SHE WAS FOLLOWING THE FORMULA
FOR HOW TO GET SUCCESSFUL THERE.
>> LIVING IN A VAN IS A
STRUGGLE.
IT IS NOT THE BEAUTIFUL
PICTURESQUE LIFE THAT A LOT OF
INTERNET CREATORS PAINT IT OUT
TO BE.
>> AND GABBY AND BRIAN WERE IN A
SMALLER VAN THAN I USUALLY SEE
PEOPLE IN.
ANY RELATIONSHIP HAS FIGHTS, BUT
NOW YOU'RE IN THIS TINY VAN,
THERE'S NO PLACE ELSE TO GO.
>> NO, TURN ON THE LIGHT.
>> THEY WERE STRUGGLING.
THEY WERE NOT THE CREAM OF THE
CROP.
THEY WERE NOT GOING VIRAL.
THEY WERE REALLY LIVING HAND TO
MOUTH.
SO, THERE WAS A LOT OF TENSION,
YOU COULD TELL, AROUND THAT, IT
SEEMS.
>> I WAS TEXTING HER A LOT MORE,
LIKE, THINGS LIKE, ARE YOU AND
BRIAN OKAY?
BECAUSE I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THAT
DYNAMIC, BEING STUCK IN THE VAN
TOGETHER 24 HOURS A DAY.
>> BUT LIFE IN THE VAN TOGETHER
IS ABOUT TO GO FROM MINOR ANNOY
ANSWERS TO SOME FAR MORE SERIOUS
PROBLEMS.
THEY'VE BEEN ON THIS TRIP FOR
OVER A MONTH WHEN A PHONE CALL
IS PLACED TO 911.
>> I'D LIKE TO REPORT A DOMESTIC
DISPUTE, FLORIDA WITH A WHITE
VAN.
>> WHAT WERE THEY DOING?
>> WE DROVE BY AND THE GENTLEMAN
WAS SLAPPING THE GIRL.
>>> ON A 911 CALL IN MOAB, UTAH,
SOMEONE REPORTS A DISTRESSING
SCENE.
A MAN HITTING A WOMAN AS THEY
ARGUE.
>> HE WAS SLAPPING HER?
>> YEAH, AND THEN WE STOPPED,
THEY RAN UP AND DOWN THE
SIDEWALK, HE PROCEEDED TO HIT
HER, HOPPED IN THE CAR, AND THEY
DROVE OFF.
>> DRIVER IS SHOWING SOME
OBSCURE DRIVING, POSSIBLY
INTOXICATED.
CURRENTLY DOING 45 MILES AN HOUR
CURRENTLY DOING 45 MILES AN H
HOUR, ZONE THROUGH HERE IS 25.
OH.
SUBJECT JUST HIT THE CURB.
>> BODY CAMERAS WORN BY POLICE
CAPTURE A TRAFFIC STOP THAT WILL
EVENTUALLY GO VIRAL, BUT ONLY
AFTER GABBY WENT MISSING.
>> WHAT'S GOING ON, WHY ARE YOU
CRYING?
>> WE'VE JUST BEEN FIGHTING THIS
MORNING.
>> CAN I GET YOU TO STEP OUT OF
THE VEHICLE FOR ME, MA'AM?
>> YEAH.
>> THAT DAY WAS A PIVOTAL MOMENT
IN THAT RELATIONSHIP.
WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE FACTS.
WE HAD NO IDEA HOW IT REALLY
PLAYED OUT.
>> HE TOLD ME I NEEDED TO CALM
DOWN, YEAH, BUT I'M PERFECTLY
CALM, I'M CALM ALL THE TIME, AND
HE JUST REALLY STRESSES ME OUT,
AND I JUST -- AND THIS IS JUST A
ROUGH MORNING.
>> WHEN QUESTIONED BY OFFICERS
AT THE SCENE, BRIAN CHALKS IT UP
TO A DISAGREEMENT.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF LITTLE
THINGS.
>> THE INTERESTING DYNAMIC IS
THAT BRIAN LAUNDRIE IS REALLY
CALM, AND THERE'S SUCH A
DISCREPANCY THAT IT'S ALMOST AN
INTENTIONAL WAY TO DISCREDIT HER
EXPERIENCE.
>> POLICE QUESTION BRIAN AND
GABBY IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT WAS REALLY GOING ON.
>> TO BE HONEST, I HIT HIM
FIRST.
>> WHERE DID YOU HIT HIM?
>> I SLAPPED HIM IN THE FIRST.
>> YOU SLAPPED HIM FIRST?
HOW MANY TIMES DID YOU SLAP HIM?
>> A COUPLE.
HE LOCKED ME OUT OF THE CAR AND
TOLD ME TO GO TAKE A BREATHER,
BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE A
BREATHER.
>> SHE HAD A CELL PHONE.
I SAID, LET'S JUST TAKE A
BREATHER AND LET'S NOT GO
ANYWHERE, LET'S CALM DOWN FOR A
MINUTE AND SHE GOT ME WITH HER
PHONE.
>> ACCORDING TO BOTH GABBY AND
BRIAN, IT WAS GABBY, AND NOT
BRIAN, WHO WAS THE INITIAL
AGGRESSOR.
>> PUSHED AWAY, SHE GETS REALLY
WORKED UP.
>> THERE ARE RELATIONSHIPS IN
WHICH WOMEN ARE AGGRESSIVELY
VIOLENT TOWARD MEN.
THAT IS POSSIBLE.
BUT IN THE VAST MAJORITY OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS,
THE MEN ARE THE AGGRESSORS.
AND THE WOMEN IN PUBLIC WHEN
QUESTIONED ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, WILL OFTEN
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT, OUT
OF FEAR THAT THE AGGRESSOR, THE
MAN, IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP, WILL
BE MORE ANGRY IF THEY DON'T.
>> WELL, BRIAN IS SPEAKING TO
POLICE, AND GABBY IS IN THE
BACKSEAT OF THAT POLICE CAR.
>> AND SHE SAYS, CAN I HAVE MY
PHONE SO I CAN CALL MY MOM?
>> I NEED TO CALL MY MOM.
>> AND I DIDN'T GET THAT PHONE
CALL.
BECAUSE MAYBE, AT THAT MOMENT,
MAYBE SHE WOULD HAVE TOLD ME
WHAT WAS GOING ON.
>> WHILE GABBY DID NOT SPEAK TO
NICOLE DURING THE STOP, SHE DID
SPEAK TO HER DAD, JOE.
>> SHE CALLED ME DURING THE
TRAFFIC STOP.
>> WHAT DID SHE SAY?
>> IT WAS HER FAULT.
AND THAT WAS -- WE TOLD HER,
IT'S FINE, I'LL BE ON THE NEXT
PLANE TO COME GET YOU.
SHE SAID, NO, NO, IT'S MY FAULT.
WE DIDN'T HAVE THE INFORMATION.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE ALL THE OTHER
INFORMATION.
>> WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT.
>> NOW, POLICE ON THE SCENE HAVE
A DECISION TO MAKE.
>> YOUR OWN COMPANION HAS MADE
IT CLEAR THAT SHE WAS THE
PRIMARY AGGRESSOR AND THAT SHE
WAS STRIKING YOU AND YOU
RECEIVED INJURIES.
SO, AT THIS POINT, YOU'RE THE
VICTIM OF DOMESTIC ASSAULT.
EVEN IF YOU DIDN'T WANT TO
PURSUE THIS, YOU DON'T HAVE A
CHOICE.
NOW, THE PROBLEM WITH HER BEING
THE PRIMARY AGGRESSOR IS THAT IN
AN INCIDENT OF DOMESTIC ASSAULT,
BE IT A MALE OR FEMALE, WE SHALL
ARREST.
>> SHE APPEARED TO BE THE
AGGRESSOR, AND SHE SAID SHE WAS
THE AGGRESSOR.
NOW, DO I BELIEVE THAT?
NO.
BUT THE POLICE CAN ONLY GO ON
THE EVIDENCE THEY ARE GIVEN.
>> WHAT I SAW WAS A BUNCH OF
POLICE OFFICERS TRYING TO SORT
THIS OUT AND THEY APPEARED TO BE
COMPASSIONATE TOWARDS BOTH
PARTIES.
>> NORMALLY WE TAKE PEOPLE TO
JAIL, BUT HE'S TRYING TO WORK IT
SO YOU CAN JUST HAVE THE VAN.
>> UNDER UTAH LAW, IF GABBY HIT
BRIAN IN ORDER TO CAUSE HIM HARM
OR PAIN, THEY HAVE TO ARREST
HER.
>> WHEN YOU SLAPPED HIM THOSE
TIME
TIMES, WERE YOU ATTEMPTING TO
CAUSE HIM PHYSICAL PAIN OR
PHYSICAL IMPAIRMENT?
IS THAT WHAT YOU WERE ATTEMPTING
TO DO TO HIM?
>> NO, I WAS TRYING TO GET HIM
TO STOP TELLING ME TO CALM DOWN.
>> DOESN'T SOUND LIKE TO ME SHE
ATTEMPTED TO INJURY HIM.
>> THEY CHANGED THE DIRECTION.
>> ALL RIGHTY, YOU WANT TO STEP
OUT FOR ME?
>> POLICE DECIDE NOT TO ARREST
GABBY.
INSTEAD, THEY SEPARATE THE
COUPLE FOR THE NIGHT.
>> GABBY GETS TO LEAVE IN THE
VAN, WHILE BRIAN, SEEN BY THE
POLICE AS A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
VICTIM, IS TAKEN TO A HOTEL FOR
THE NIGHT.
BRIAN AND GABBY WERE TOLD TO
STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER FOR 24
HOURS.
>> SO MANY TIMES WOMEN WHO ARE
AT RISK WANT TO GO BACK TO THEIR
ABUSER AND THEY END UP GETTING
KILLED.
>> HE PREDICTED THE OUTCOME.
>> THE VERY NEXT DAY, THE COUPLE
IS BACK ON THE ROAD.
AND WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL SPARK
A NATIONWIDE SEARCH.
>> DEVELOPMENTS TONIGHT.
>> MISSING WOMAN.
>> DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS.
>>> ONE WEEK AFTER THAT DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE STOP, IN MOAB, UTAH,
GABBY PETITO LAUNCHES HER VLOG.
>> WINCE
>> WINSINCE WE LEVEL NEW YORK, E
ONLY SET UP MY HAMMOCK ONCE.
>> AND WE'RE KIND OF, LIKE, IN
THE DESERT.
>> VERY FEW TREES.
>> SHE SHOWED US THE VIDEO IT
WAS AN AWESOME VIDEO.
I ENJOYED IT, WE ALL ENJOYED IT.
I COULDN'T BELIEVE SHE MADE
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
>> I THINK OUR PLAN FOR TODAY IS
TO JUST HANG OUT HERE IN THE
TENT.
>> SHE SEEMED A LITTLE STRESSED,
BUT OTHER THAN THAT, SHE WAS
LOVING EVERY MOMENT, VISITING
ALL THE NATIONAL PARKS, AND
DOING THINGS THAT I'VE NEVER
DONE.
>> SAND DUNES IN COLORADO, LIKE,
THAT'S COOL, MAN, YOU KNOW?
>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
VIDEO CAMERA, THINGS SEEMED TO
BE MELTING DOWN.
>> I'VE BEEN COVERING THE GABBY
PETITO CASE SINCE DAY ONE.
WE DO KNOW THAT ON AUGUST 27th
AT MERRY PIGLET'S RESTAURANT IN
JACKSON, WYOMING, WITNESSES
REPORTED A LOT OF SCREAMING, HIM
YELLING AT THE RESTAURANT STAFF,
GOING IN AND OUT OF THE
RESTAURANT.
>> HE WAS REALLY ANGRY.
THAT'S THE BEST I CAN DESCRIBE
IT.
HE WAS JUST VERY VISIBLY ANGRY.
AND IN THAT MOMENT, GABBY
REMINDED ME A LOT OF HOW SHE
SEEMED IN THAT BODY CAM VIDEO,
SHE JUST SEEMED DISTRAUGHT.
SHE SEEMED VERY UPSET.
SHE WAS EMOTIONAL.
>> PEOPLE SAW THEM GET INTO THIS
VAN AND LEAVE.
>> THE LAST TIME GABBY WAS SEEN
WAS AUGUST 27th, ON THE
SURVEILLANCE TAPES AT A WHOLE
FOODS GROCERY.
HER PARENTS DIDN'T SEE IT UNTIL
MUCH LATER.
>> I WAS WATCHING THE BODY
LANGUAGE IN THAT VIDEO, AND IT
JUST DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT.
HE SLAMS THE DOOR TO THE VAN,
THEY WALK, SHE'S GOT HER ARMS
CROSSED.
>> JUST HER BODY MOVEMENTS, NOT
BEING CLOSE TOGETHER, STUFF LIKE
THAT.
YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES.
IT SCREAMS CONFRONTATION.
>> LOOKING BACK, GABBY'S POSTS
THAT LAST WEEK OF AUGUST SEEM A
LITTLE OFF.
LATER, INTERNET SLEUTHS COMB
THROUGH EVERY POST, OFFERING
OPINIONS AND COMING UP WITH
THEORIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED.
>> I DO BELIEVE THAT GOING
FORWARD THESE MASSIVE CASES WILL
FIND MORE GROUND ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.
THEY WANT TO SOLVE THESE CASES.
GABBY, IN THE PHOTO, HAS PERFECT
HAIR, AFTER BEING ON A TRIP FOR
TWO MONTHS IN A VAN.
AND SHE'S HOLDING A PUMPKIN AND
WRITE
WRITES, "HAPPY HALLOWEEN," WHICH
IS ODD, BECAUSE IT WAS POSTED ON
AUGUST 25th.
>> SO, IN GABBY'S LATEST
INSTAGRAM POST, HER ROOTS ARE
NOT THERE, ESPECIALLY IN
COMPARISON TO SOME OF THEM
BEFORE THAT.
>> SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.
TO HER MOM, GABBY'S TEXTS START
TO SOUND ODD, AS WELL, LIKE ONE
ABOUT HER GRANDFATHER.
>> THE TEXT MESSAGE TO HER MOM
READ, "CAN YOU HELP STAN?
I JUST KEEP GETTING HIS VOICE
MAILS AND MISSED CALLS."
STAN IS HER GRANDFATHER'S NAME.
>> AND WHAT'S WEIRD ABOUT THAT
IS, THAT GABBY NEVER CALLED HER
GRANDFATHER BY HIS NAME, STAN.
>> THE LAST CONTACT THAT GABBY'S
MOTHER HAS FROM HER DAUGHTER IS
AUGUST 30th.
SHE GETS A TEXT THAT SAYS, ONLY,
"NO SERVICE IN YOSEMITE," WHICH
IS STRANGE, BECAUSE IT'S SO
BRIEF, BUT ALSO, THEY WEREN'T
GOING TO OWE
GOING TO OYOSEMITE.
>> NICOLE THINKS MAYBE GABBY AND
BRIAN HAVE CHANGED THEIR PLANS,
BUT IT ALMOST SOUNDS LIKE GABBY
ISN'T SENDING THE TEXTS HERSELF.
IS BRIAN SENDING THE TEXTS?
>> I QUESTIONED IT, BUT THEN I
THOUGHT, THERE WERE FIRES OUT
THAT WAY, MAYBE THEY HAD TO RE
THAT WAY, MAYBE THEY HAD TO
REROUTE, MAYBE BRIAN DID SEND
THE TEXT, MAYBE SHE'S DRIVING.
I HAD ALL THESE REASONS AS TO
WHY MAYBE IT WAS FROM HER.
BUT THAT WAS THE LAST TEXT I
RECEIVED, AND EVERY DAY I'M
LIKE, GABBY, GABBY?
AND I'M GETTING NOTHING.
I SAID, LET ME CHECK SOCIAL
MEDIA.
THERE'S GOT TO BE SOMETHING.
NOTHING.
SO, I CALLED JOE, I SAID, I'M
WORRIED.
HE HAD ABOUT HEARD FROM HER.
>> I JUST STARTED CALLING EVERY
HOSPITAL AND NATIONAL PARK I
COULD TO SEE IF I COULD FIND OUT
WHERE THEY ARE.
MAYBE IT EAST JUST
MAYBE IT EAST 'S JUST BAD SIGNA.
>> DID YOU REACH OUT TO BRIAN?
>> NONE OF THEM TALKED TO US.
>> I SENT A TEXT TO ROBERTA AND
BRIAN AND I GOT NO RESPONSE FROM
EITHER ONE.
>> SAME.
I MEAN, I EVEN WENT AS FAR AS,
I'M GOING TO CALL THE COPS, AND
USUALLY WHEN YOU HEAR, YOU KNOW,
SOMEONE'S GOING TO CALL THE
COPS, YOU WOULDN'T BE LIKE --
LET'S SEE WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
>> THE PETITOS HAVE NO WAY OF
KNOWING THAT WHILE THEY'RE
TRYING TO FIND GABBY, GABBY'S
VAN IS ON THE MOVE.
BUT BRIAN IS THE ONLY ONE IN IT.
>> HE HAS DRIVEN IT ALL THE WAY
FROM WYOMING BACK TO FLORIDA,
AND WHEN THE POLICE GO TO THE
LAUNDRIE HOME --
>> HI, I APOLOGIZE FOR BOTHERING
YOU.
>> THE PETITOS ARE STAGGERED BY
WHAT THEY HEAR.
>> IS GABRIEL HERE?
>> NO.
>> BRIAN IS INSIDE.
GABBY HAS DISAPPEARED.
>>> HELLO, HELLO ESHG
>>> HELLO, HELLO ES, AND GOOD
MORNING.
>> THE VERSION OF OURSELVES THAT
WE SHOW ONLINE ISN'T ALWAYS THE
FULL PICTURE.
>> I LOVE THE VAN.
>> BUT IN THE BACK OF THAT
CRAMPED VAN, IT SEEMS TENSIONS
ARE GROWING FOR THE COUPLE,
ACCORDING TO GABBY'S FRIEND,
ROSE.
SHE SPOKE IN NETFLIX'S
DOCUSERIES "AMERICAN MURDER:
GABBY PETITO."
>> I THINK A BIG REASON BRIAN
DIDN'T WANT HER TO DO THE VLOG,
BECAUSE I THINK HE WAS WORRIED
THAT THE TRUTH OF EVERYTHING
WOULD BE ON FOOTAGE.
THERE'S THAT POSSIBILITY THAT HE
SAYS THE WRONG THING OR REACTS
THE WRONG WAY WHILE SHE'S
RECORDING.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT IS MY ABSOLUTE
FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE VAN?
>> WHAT'S THAT?
>> THE FACT THAT WE HAVE THIS
NICE BIG OPEN FLOOR FOR YOU TO
KEEP YOUR DIRTY FEET.
>> BEHIND THE SCENES, GABBY AND
BRIAN WOULD GET INTO ARGUMENTS.
>> NO, TURN IT.
>> IN THOSE VIDEOS WHERE HE
ROLLS HIS EYES, I NEVER NOTICED
THAT BEFORE, AND SEEING THAT
REALLY HIT ME, I WAS LIKE, WOW,
THAT'S WHO HE REALLY IS.
HE SHOWED HIS TRUE COLORS.
BUT NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS DID
WE THINK THAT HE WOULD HARM HER.
>> AT WHAT POINT DID IT GET --
WAIT, SOMETHING'S GOING ON HERE,
THIS DOESN'T MAKE SENSE?
>> WHAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE IS
WHEN WE COULDN'T GET IN TOUCH
WITH HER.
>> THE PETITOS CALL AND TEXT
GABBY.
WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW IS THAT ON
SEPTEMBER 1st, BRIAN, IN THAT
LITTLE WHITE VAN, HAS DRIVEN
BACK TO FLORIDA, TO HIS PARENTS'
HOUSE, ALONE.
>> THE LAUNDRIE FAMILY IS GOING
ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.
>> NEIGHBORS TOLD ME THAT THEY
SAW BRIAN AND HIS PARENTS GOING
FOR WALKS DOWN THE STREET, AND
THEN EVENTUALLY BRIAN AND HIS
PATIENTS WENT CAMPING FOR A FEW
DAYS.
>> THEY WERE CAMPING AT FORT
DeSOTO, WHICH IS THEIR USUAL
CAMPING SPOT.
AND BECAUSE IT WAS LABOR DAY AND
THE KIDS HAD SCHOOL THE NEXT
DAY, WE JUST WENT FOR A COUPLE
OF HOURS AND WE ATE DINNER AND
HAD S'MORES AROUND THE CAMPFIRE
AND LEFT.
THERE WAS NOTHING PECULIAR ABOUT
IT.
>> HIS SISTER SAYS SHE DIDN'T
HAVE ANY REASON TO ASK ABOUT
GABBY, AND SHE HAD NO IDEA THAT
ANYTHING WAS WRONG.
IT JUST NEVER CAME UP.
>> I'M FRUSTRATED THAT IN
HINDSIGHT, I DIDN'T PICK UP ON
ANYTHING.
IT WAS JUST A REGULAR TRIP.
>> TEN DAYS AFTER THEY LAST HEAR
FROM HER, ON SEPTEMBER 11th, THE
PETITOS REPORT GABBY AS MISSING,
AND ON THAT VERY DAY, IN NORTH
PORT, FLORIDA, THE POLICE GO TO
THE LAUNDRIE'S HOUSE.
>> YES.
>> HI, I APOLOGIZE FOR BOTHERING
YOU.
I HAVE THE DETECTIVE ON THE
PHONE.
>> I'M NOT TALKING TO ANYBODY.
>> YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO US?
>> NO.
>> OKAY, SHE'S ON THE PHONE, YOU
DON'T WANT TO TALK TO HER NOW?
>> NO.
>> OKAY.
IS -- WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME I
SAW BRIAN AND GAB LEE YELL?
>> WELL, BRIAN IS HERE.
>> BRIAN IS HERE?
>> YEAH, AND THAT'S ALL I'M
GOING TO SAY.
>> AND THAT'S ALL YOU'RE SAYING?
>> YEAH, WE HAVE AN ATTORNEY.
THEY'VE BEEN CALLING, I DON'T
KNOW -- THAT'S ALL I WANT TO
SAY.
>> AND JUST TO LET THE DETECTIVE
KNOW, IS GABRIELLE HERE?
>> NO.
>> SHE'S NOT HERE?
OKAY.
>> AH, THEY SAID THAT -- THAT
GABRIEL'S NOT HERE, THAT'S ALL
THEY'RE SAYING, THAT HIS SON IS
HERE, BUT GABRIELLE IS NOT.
AND THEY'RE NOT TALKING.
>> DID YOU IMMEDIATELY JUST
THINK SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT?
>> I THINK I SAID, HE DID
SOMETHING TO HER, I KNOW IT.
>> AS SHOCKING AS IT MAY SEEM,
THE LAUNDRIES ARE UNDER NO LEGAL
OBLIGATION TO ASSIST OR TO TALK
TO THE PETITOS.
>> RIGHT NOW ON ABC ACTION NEWS,
DESPERATE FOR ANSWERS.
>> TONIGHT, NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN
THE NATIONWIDE SEARCH FOR A
MISSING LONG ISLAND NATIVE.
>> GABBY'S PARENTS ARE GRASPING
AT STRAWS.
>> MAYBE IT'S JUST A HOAX?
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET THIS
YOUTUBE VIDEO UP?
SO MAYBE IT'S JUST A HOAX TO TRY
TO GET MORE FOLLOWERS?
I MEAN, YOUR BRAIN JUST GOES AND
GOES AND GOES, BUT IN THE BACK
OF YOUR HEAD, IT'S LIKE -- HE'S
NOT TALKING AND HE HAS A LAWYER.
THAT'S ALWAYS -- THAT JUST STUCK
RIGHT THERE, IT'S LIKE --
>> IF SOMETHING BAD DIDN'T
HAPPEN, THEN HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
TALKING.
>> I NEVER HAD TO CONTACT AN
ATTORNEY WHEN MY DAUGHTER BROKE
UP WITH SOMEBODY.
>> AND THERE'S GABBY'S VAN IN
THE LAUNDRIE DRIVEWAY.
>> OKAY, SO THE VAN IS ONLY
REGISTERED TO HER, OKAY?
>> WELL -- I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
>> WELL, I'M TELLING YOU, THE
TITLE ON THE STATE OF FLORIDA IS
IT'S ONLY HERS.
SO, IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE
HERE.
>> OKAY.
>> WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BRIAN
KNOWS.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND WE'RE HOPEFUL TO TALK TO
HIM, HE NEEDS TO TALK TO US.
WE NEED TO KNOW EXACTLY WHERE HE
WAS, WHERE SHE WAS, THEIR LAST
LOCATIONS.
>> GABBY'S PARENTS BEG FOR
INFORMATION FROM HER BOYFRIEND.
>> POLICE HAVE SAID THAT
DEAFENING SILENCE FROM GABBY'S
BOYFRIEND BRIAN LAUNDRIE IS
HINDERING THEIR INVESTIGATION
AND SEARCH EFFORTS.
>> YOU JUST GO INTO A HYPER
MODE, AND ALL WE WERE THINKING
ABOUT WAS GETTING THE WORD OUT
TO TRY TO FIND HER AND DOING
WHAT WE HAD TO DO TO TRY TO
ASSIST IN THAT.
>> THE POLICE GET A SEARCH
WARRANT FOR GABBY'S VAN.
THEY DON'T FIND ANY EVIDENCE OF
A CRIME, BUT THE FBI SAYS
SOMETHING IS MISSING.
THE MATTRESS IS GONE.
THE LAUNDRIE FAMILY LAWYER GIVES
ONLY A STATEMENT THAT THEY HOPE
THE SEARCH FOR GABBY IS
SUCCESSFUL, AND THAT BRIAN WILL
REMAIN SILENT ON ADVICE OF
COUNSEL.
JOE GIVES A PRESS CONFERENCE.
>> WHAT I NEED FROM EVERYBODY
HERE IS HELP.
THE GOAL IS STILL NOT MET.
AND THAT GOAL IS TO BRING GABBY
HOME SAFE.
THIS IS WHAT MATTERS.
THAT IS IT.
ANYTHING ELSE, IT COMES SECOND
TO THIS.
>> WHERE IS GABBY?
>> IT SEEMS LIKE A STATE MATE,
BUT AT LEAST THEY KNOW WHERE
BRIAN IS -- OR DO THEY?
>> WHEN WE GOT THAT ALERT THAT
BRIAN LAUNDRIE WAS MISSING, MY
STOMACH DROPPED.
>> NOW, THE LAUNDRIE PARENTS ARE
SEARCHING, TOO, BECAUSE BRIAN
LAUNDRIE IS GONE.
>>> BRIAN HAS VANISHED.
GABBY HAS NOT BEEN HEARD FROM IN
OVER TWO WEEKS.
YOU WERE FEELING PRETTY
DESPERATE THEN?
>> IT WAS JUST CHAOS.
>> YOUR HEART SINKS.
>> IT'S AN UNDESCRIBABLE FEELING
IN YOUR BODY.
AND YOU DON'T SLEEP, YOU DON'T
EAT.
FROM THAT MOMENT ON, IT'S --
NONSTOP.
>> WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
>> BE RESPECTFUL OF EVERYONE'S
PROPERTY, PLEASE.
>> NORTH PORT POLICE TOLD US
THEY HAD BEEN SURVEILLANCE ON
THE HOUSE.
AT SOME POINT, BRIAN LEFT.
>> THE LAUNDRIE FAMILY SAYS THEY
DON'T KNOW WHERE THEIR SON IS AT
THIS POINT, AND THEY'RE HOPING
FOR HIM TO COME HOME SAFELY.
BRIAN'S SISTER CASSIE CALLS HIM.
>> I TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH
HIM, PHONE WENT TO VOICEMAIL.
I DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT,
BECAUSE HE'S NOT VERY GOOD AT
KEEPING HIS PHONE CHARGED, SO --
EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT WHEN YOU
LOOK BACK ON IT.
>> WE'RE GOING TO TURN NEXT HERE
TO THE SEARCH FOR THAT PERSON OF
INTEREST, BRIAN LAUNDRIE, THAT
SEARCH INTENSIFYING TONIGHT.
>> AFTER BRIAN'S PARENTS TELL
NORTH PORT POLICE HE HAS GONE
CAMPING IN THE CARLTON RESERVE,
A MASSIVE MANHUNT ENSUES.
>> NUMEROUS LAW ENFORCEMENT
AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN THE
SEARCH INSIDE THE CARLTON
RESERVE.
THEY'RE USING DRONES, UTVs,
ATVs, AND THEY'RE SEARCHING A
HEAVILY WOODED AREA.
75% OF IT IS UNDER WATER.
>> I WORRY ABOUT HIM, I HOPE
HE'S OKAY, AND THEN I'M ANGRY
AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO
THINK -- EVERYTHING RUNS THROUGH
MY HEAD.
I HOPE MY BROTHER'S ALIVE.
BECAUSE I WANT ANSWERS JUST AS
MUCH AS EVERYBODY ELSE.
>> AT THE SAME TIME, GABBY'S
PARENTS ARE TRYING TO STAY
UPBEAT.
>> THERE'S A MILLION DIFFERENT
SCENARIOS THAT COULD PLAY OUT
JUST THE SAME.
MAYBE THEY SPLIT UP AND SHE'S
JUST DONE WITH HIM AND DOESN'T
WANT TO TELL US YET BECAUSE
SHE'S REALLY UPSET.
>> YOU HAVE THAT HOPE.
>> AS THE SEARCH FOR GABBY GOES
ON, SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY
UNFOLDS.
>> ONE THING THAT HAPPENED
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS CASE BLEW
UP IN THE MEDIA AND ON THE
INTERNET WAS IT OPENED UP THIS
BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT
MISSING WOMEN, AND SPECIFICALLY
MISSING BLACK AND INDIGENOUS
WOMEN AND THE LACK OF ATTENTION
GIVEN TO THEM.
>> IT'S CALLED MISSING WHITE
WOMAN SYNDROME.
MISSING WOMEN OF COLOR DON'T GET
AS MUCH ATTENTION.
>> THERE IS REALLY A VAST
DIFFERENCE.
MINORITIES DO NOT GET SHARED THE
SAME AS A BLOND HAIRED, BLUE
EYED WHITE GIRL.
INDIGENOUS WOMEN GO MISSING AND
ARE MURDERED AT RATES TEN TIMES
HIGHER THAN THE REST OF THE
COUNTRY, AND HOW CAN WE HELP?
WHAT CAN WE DO TO HELP ELEVATE
YOUR VOICE?
>> WYOMING, THE LAST PLACE GABBY
WAS SEEN, ISSUED A REPORT IN
2020 THAT ONLY 18% OF INDIGENOUS
WOMEN'S MISSING CASES GOT MEDIA
COVERAGE.
>> IT'S ON ALL OF YOU, EVERYONE
THAT'S IN THIS ROOM, TO DO THAT.
AND IF YOU DON'T DO THAT FOR
OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE MISSING,
THAT'S A SHAME.
BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST GABBY THAT
DESERVES THAT.
>> EVERYONE WANTS TO FIND GABBY,
AND NOW, WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, MANY
ARE TAKING IT UPON THEMSELVES TO
TRACK HER DOWN.
THE INTERNET SLEUTHS GET TO
WORK.
>> THE FACT THAT SHE RANDOMLY
POSTED IT ON AUGUST 25th WITH
JUST THAT CAPTION, TO ME, IS
VERY SUSPICIOUS.
>> AND WE HAD NO IDEA THAT IT
WAS GOING TO TAKE THE ENTIRE
WORLD BY STORM.
>> ALSO NOTICED THE
CAPITALIZATION IS DIFFERENT.
SHE NEVER CAPITALIZED ANYTHING
BUT THE FIRST WORD.
>> WHY IS SHE POSTING WITH A
PUMPKIN?
WHY IS THIS VIDEO FRAMED LIKE
THAT?
>> THEN, A NEW DISCOVERY ON
TIKTOK, AS A YOUNG WOMAN NAMED
MIRANDA BAKER SAYS SHE THINKS
THE HITCHHIKER SHE PICKED UP IN
HER JEEP ON AUGUST 29th WAS
ACTUALLY BRIAN LAUNDRIE.
>> OFFERED $200 TO DRIVE A FEW
MILES AND THEY THOUGHT THAT THAT
WAS A LITTLE ODD.
>> HE WAS REALLY CLEAN.
FOR SOMEONE WHO HAD BEEN HIKING
FOR MULTIPLE DAYS.
HE SAID HIM AND HIS FIANCE WERE
CAMPING OUT OF A CAMPSITE NEAR
SNAKE RIVER.
THE BIGGEST RED FLAG IS, WHY
WOULD YOU GO CAMPING BY YOURSELF
FOR MULTIPLE DAYS ALONE WITH
JUST A BACKPACK AND LEAVE YOUR
FIANCE IN YOUR VAN?
IT JUST DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.
WE WERE DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES
AND I HAD BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW,
WHY ARE YOU GOING TO JACKSON
HOLE?
AND ONCE I SAID JACKSON HOLE,
THAT'S WHEN THE ENERGY SHIFTED.
>> HE GOT VERY UPSET ABOUT THAT,
SAID PLEASE LET ME OUT OF THE
CAR.
HE GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND AS
MIRANDA BAKER STATES, ABOUT 10,
15 SECONDS LATER, HE WAS GONE.
>> AND AFTER PEOPLE SPEND DAYS
POURING OVER COURTLESS POSTS, IT
IS SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HELPS FIND
GABBY'S BODY.
>> MY NAME IS JEN BETHUNE AND I
TRAVEL WITH MY HUSBAND, KYLE,
OUR THREE KIDS AND FOUR DOGS.
WE'RE YOUTUBERS, AND SO, WE FILM
ALL THE TIME.
>> IT'S THE FREAKING TETONS!
>> HE DID NOT KNOW AT THAT TIME,
THEY ARE JUST DRIVING THROUGH
THE TETON NATIONAL FOREST AND
THIS VAN IS ON THE SIDE OF THE
ROAD.
>> IT WAS CRAZY TO US, BECAUSE
IT HAD FLORIDA PLATES AND WE'RE
FROM FLORIDA, AND WE WERE LIKE,
WE CAN GO HANG OUT WITH THEM!
BUT THE VAN WAS VERY DARK, IT
DIDN'T LOOK LIKE ANYBODY WAS
THERE.
>> WHEN SHE HEARD ABOUT THE CASE
WEEKS LATER, SHE REMEMBERED THE
WHITE VAN.
>> WHEN WE FOUND THE FOOTAGE,
I'M LIKE, PLEASE, PLEASE KEEP
RECORDING, PLEASE KEEP
RECORDING.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, WE SEE THIS
WHITE SPECK GETTING CLOSER AND
CLOSER AND CLOSER.
WE BOTH GOT GOOSE BUMPS ALL OVER
OUR BODY.
WE KNEW IT WAS HER VAN AS SOON
AS THE FOOTAGE PASSED BY IT.
IT WAS AN INSANE FEELING.
AT 12:08 IN THE MORNING, I
CALLED THE FBI.
>> THERE IS BREAKING NEWS IN THE
SEARCH FOR GABBY PETITO.
>> EARLIER TODAY, HUMAN REMAINS
WERE DISCOVERED, CONSISTENT WITH
THE DESCRIPTION OF GABRIELLE
"GABBY" PETITO.
>> I REMEMBER I WAS CRYING, AND
I SAID, YOU HAVE TO BE SURE,
LIKE, I HAVE TO BE SURE, IF I'M
MAKING THIS PHONE CALL, REMAINS
CONSISTENT, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?
THEY SHOWED ME PICTURES.
AND I CONFIRMED IT WAS OUR
DAUGHTER.
>> AND THE MANNER OF DEATH OF
GABRIELLE PETITO WE FIND THE
CAUSE AND MANNER TO BE, CAUSE,
DEATH BY STRANGULATION AND
MANNER IS HOMICIDE.
>> IT ACTUALLY TAKES FIVE TO
SEVEN MINUTES FOR SOMEBODY TO
ACTUALLY KILL ANOTHER HUMAN
BEING AS THEY STRANGLE THEM, SO,
THAT IS FIVE TO SEVEN MINUTES
WHERE SOMEBODY IS FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THEIR VICTIM, WATCHING AS
THEY GASP FOR AIR, WATCHING AS
THEY EYES FILL UP WITH BLOOD.
IT IS AN INCREDIBLY GRUESOME,
INCREDIBLY INTIMATE FORM OF
HOMICIDE.
>> WHERE IS GABBY?
>> AND NOW, ALL THE ENERGY THAT
THE PUBLIC HAD POURED INTO
FINDING GABBY PETITO IS DIRECTED
AT FINDING BRIAN LAUNDRIE.
>> THE NATIONWIDE MANHUNT FOR
LAUNDRIE, STILL THE ONLY NAMED
PERSON OF INTEREST IN PETITO'S
MURDER, AFTER HE RETURNED HOME
FROM THEIR CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD
TRIP WITHOUT HER.
>> THEN, A BODY IN THE SWAMP.
AND NEXT TO IT -- A NOTEBOOK.
>> I ENDED HER LIFE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MERCIFUL.
THAT IT IS WHAT SHE WANTED, BUT
I SEE NOW ALL THE MISTAKES I
>>> AFTER A DESPERATE WEEKS-LONG
SEARCH FOR GABBY PETITO, HER
BODY WAS DISCOVERED BESIDE A
STREAM BED NEAR GRAND TETON
NATIONAL PARK.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH -- MANUAL
STRANGULATION.
NOW THAT GABBY HAS BEEN FOUND,
THE FOCUS TURNS TO FINDING BRIAN
LAUNDRIE.
>> THE SEARCH FOR BRIAN, FIRST
OUT WEST, THEN IN THE SOUTH, IS
NOW FOCUSED ON AN AREA IN
FLORIDA NOT FAR FROM WHERE HIS
PARENTS LIVED.
A FEW WEEKS INTO THE SEARCH,
BRIAN'S PARENTS JOIN THE EFFORT.
THEY GO INTO AN AREA IN THE PARK
THAT THEY HAD TOLD POLICE TO
SEARCH, BUT IT HAD BEEN UNDER
WATER AT THE TIME.
SHORTLY AFTER, AUTHORITIES FIND
HIS REMAINS.
>> EARLIER TODAY, INVESTIGATORS
FOUND WHAT APPEARS TO BE HUMAN
REMAINS, ALONG WITH PERSONAL
ITEMS.
>> THE FINDINGS FROM BRIAN'S
AUTOPSY, BRIAN KILLED HIMSELF.
HE SHOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD.
AND LEFT A NOTE.
>> THE ATTORNEY FOR THE LAUNDRIE
FAMILY RELEASES THE ACTUAL PAGES
FROM BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S NOTEBOOK.
NOW, PEOPLE CAN READ FOR
THEMSELVES WHAT BRIAN LAUNDRIE
SAYS HAPPENED.
>> GABBY, I WISH I WAS RIGHT AT
YOUR SIDE.
I LOVED YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING.
>> AND THEN IT GOES FROM THIS
BEAUTIFUL SORT OF LOVE LETTER TO
THIS VERY SERIOUS, SCARY
SITUATION.
>> RUSHING BACK TO OUR CAR,
TRYING TO CROSS THE STREAMS OF
SPREAD CREEK BEFORE IT GOT TOO
DARK TO SEE, TOO COLD, A HEAR A
SPLASH AND A SCREAM.
>> BRIAN CLAIMS THAT GABBY WAS
BADLY INJURED AND IN AGONY.
>> SHE SAID LITTLE, LAPSING
BETWEEN VIOLENT SHAKES, GASPING
IN PAIN, BEGGING FOR AN END TO
HER PAIN.
>> BRIAN SAYS HE KILLED GABBY AS
A FORM OF MERCY.
>> I ENDED HER LIFE.
I THOUGHT IT WAS MERCIFUL, THAT
IT IS WHAT SHE WANTED, BUT I SEE
NOW ALL THE MISTAKES I MADE.
>> HE WAS A LIAR.
NOTHING HE SAID IN THOSE STORIES
WERE TRUE.
HE WAS A COWARD TIL THE DAY THAT
HE DIED.
>> WHEN YOU LOOK BACK AT ALL THE
STUFF THAT HAPPENED, WERE THERE
ANY RED FLAGS THAT THIS WAS
COMING?
>> YES.
THERER
THERE WERE.
BUT WE DIDN'T NOTICE THEM AT THE
TIME.
KNOWING WHAT WE KNOW HOW, WE SEE
THAT PROGRESSION THAT HAPPENED.
ALIENATION OF FRIENDS AND
FAMILY.
>> AND THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS
WHY WE STARTED THE FOUNDATION,
THE GABBY PETITO FOUNDATION, TO
TEACH OTHERS AND OTHER PARENTS
THERE MIGHT BE SOME TIPS THAT
YOU COULD TALK TO YOUR CHILD
ABOUT, AND TRY TO LET THEM KNOW
THAT YOU ARE THERE FOR THEM, AND
THAT THERE ARE RESOURCES OUT
THERE.
>> GET MESSAGES FROM PEOPLE ALL
THE TIME, SAYING, I DIDN'T
REALIZE I WAS IN A BAD
RELATIONSHIP, OR POTENTIALLY
VIOLENT RELATIONSHIP UNTIL I SAW
HER STORY, I SAW IT, I GOT HELP,
AND I SAFELY GOT OUT.
IF IT WASN'T FOR HER, I WOULDN'T
BE HERE TODAY.
>> ONE THING THAT BROUGHT THEM A
BIT OF PEACE -- HOW DID YOU GUYS
END UP WITH THE VAN?
>> ONCE EVERYTHING WAS DONE, THE
FBI ASKED US WHAT WE WANTED TO
DO WITH IT, AND WE CONTEMPLATED
A FEW THINGS.
AT THE END, WE WERE LIKE, WE
JUST DON'T WANT THE VIBE TO IT.
WE HAD THE VAN CRUSHED.
NO ONE REALLY KNOWS THAT, BUT WE
DID.
>> VERY THERAPEUTIC FOR US.
>> YEAH.
>> ALMOST LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO
ONE OF THOSE RAGE ROOMS AND YOU
GET TO SMASH THINGS.
>> IT WAS FANTASTIC.
>> SINCE BRIAN WILL NEVER BE
PROSECUTED FOR KILLING GABBY,
THE PETITOS WANT SOMEONE HELD
RESPONSIBLE.
>> THE PETITOS FILE MULTIPLE
LAWSUITS, ONE OF THEM IS AGAINST
BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S ESTATE.
MONTHS LATER, THERE IS A
SETTLEMENT.
>> THE CASE IS SETTLED FOR $3
MILLION.
COURT DOCUMENTS INDICATE THAT
BRIAN HAD LESS THAN $14,000 IN
HIS BANK ACCOUNT.
>> AN ATTORNEY FOR THE LAUNDRIES
SAID IN A STATEMENT, HOPEFULLY
THIS BRINGS SOME CLOSURE TO THIS
ONE CHAPTER OF THIS TRAGEDY.
>> GABBY'S PARENTS ALSO FILE A
LAWSUIT AGAINST BRIAN'S PARENTS,
ALLEGING THEIR ACTIONS CAUSED
THEM PAIN AND SUFFERING.
THEY ALLEGE BRIAN'S PARENTS KNEW
THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG, BUT
DIDN'T SHARE THAT INFORMATION.
>> IN A DEPOSITION, CHRIS
LAUNDRIE SAYS THAT A FRANTIC
BRIAN CALLED HIM FROM THE ROAD,
SAID HE NEEDED A LAWYER, BUT
NEVER SAID GABBY WAS DEAD, ONLY
THAT SHE WAS GONE.
ROBERTA LAUNDRIE SAID SHE
THOUGHT MAYBE BRIAN AND GABBY
HAD GOTTEN INTO A FIGHT.
TWO YEARS LATER, ANNOUNCEMENTS
BY BOTH FAMILIES.
>> THE PARENTS OF GABBY PETITO
HAVE SETTLED A CIVIL LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE PARENTS OF PETITO'S
FORMER FIANCE, BRIAN LAUNDRIE.
BOTH SIDES SAY THEY'VE REACHED
AN AGREEMENT TO AVOID A CIVIL
TRIAL.
THE TERMS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.
>> AS FOR THE MOAB POLICE,
GABBY'S PARENTS FILE A $50
MILLION WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT, ALLEGING
AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT, ALLEGE
ING NEGLIGENCE.
>> IN FILINGS, ATTORNEYS
RESPONDED THAT WHILE ME TOE
RESPONDED THAT WHILE ME PETITO'
MURDER IS TRAGIC, ONLY
SPECULATION SUPPORTS THE THEORY
THAT MOAB COULD HAVE CHANGED
HISTORY.
IN DECEMBER 2024, THE CASE IS
DISMISSED BY THE TRIAL JUDGE.
LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LATER, THE
PETITOS FILE A NOTICE OF APPEAL.
THEIR LAWYER EXPECTS TO PRESENT
THEIR CASE IN THE FALL OF 2025.
>> WE'VE BEEN A PART OF FOUR LAW
CHANGES SINCE THIS ALL HAPPENED.
>> SP-1224.
>> TWO IN FLORIDA, ONE IN UTAH,
AND ONE NATIONALLY.
AND IT'S HER DOING IT, NOT US.
>> THEY TAKE THE CALL, BECAUSE
OF GABBY.
>> SHE DID IT.
NOT US.
>> THE GOAL IS TO MANDATE THAT
IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SITUATIONS,
POLICE MAKE A RISK ASSESSMENT
AND BETTER COLLABORATION WITH
VICTIM ADVOCATES.
>> WE HAVE SO MANY PICTURES OF
HER.
I'M SO HAPPY THAT SHE TOOK AS
MANY AS SHE DID.
>> AND THIS IS WHY PHOTOS ARE SO
IMPORTANT.
ANNOY THE KIDS, ANNOY THE
FRIENDS, ANNOY THE FAMILY.
TAKE THE PHOTOS.
BECAUSE YOU NEVER KNOW THEN WHEN
THAT'S ALL YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE.
>> 22 BEAUTIFUL YEARS.