The parents of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie have come to an agreement to settle a civil lawsuit, thus avoiding a trial, as confirmed by the families’ attorneys on Wednesday.
In a joint statement, Petito’s parents and their attorney expressed that all parties involved reluctantly agreed to the confidential terms in order to circumvent further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict.
They expressed the hope of closing this chapter of their lives to move forward and continue honoring the legacy of their daughter, Gabby.
Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie (Credits: FOX 8 News)
Steven Bertolino, representing Laundrie’s parents, stated that Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, along with himself, engaged in mediation with the Petito family, resulting in the resolution of the civil lawsuit. The terms of the settlement remain confidential, and they anticipate putting the matter behind them.
Previously, the Petitos and Laundries had resolved a separate wrongful death lawsuit for $3 million. The lawsuit settled on Wednesday, filed in March 2022, alleged that Brian Laundrie confessed to his parents about killing Gabby Petito, his then-fiancée, before returning home alone from their trip.
The lawsuit also accused Laundrie’s parents of acting with malice or great indifference to the rights of Petito’s parents by not disclosing information during the search for Petito and Laundrie. It described their behavior as “shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community.”
Gabby Petito was reported missing in September 2021, over a week after Laundrie returned to Florida without her from their cross-country trip. Laundrie became a person of interest as authorities noted his lack of cooperation with the investigation.
Laundrie’s parents stated that the last time they saw him was two days after Petito was reported missing when he left home to go hiking in Carlton Reserve, Florida.
Petito’s remains were discovered near Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park in September 2021, with the coroner determining she was strangled to death.
Laundrie’s remains were found eight days later in Carlton Reserve, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Among the items recovered was a notebook in which Laundrie purportedly took responsibility for Petito’s death, according to the FBI.
