Recently, a lawyer representing the parents of Brian Laundrie, who died by suicide after killing his fiancée Gabby Petito in 2021, released a statement critiquing a new documentary series on Netflix about the case. According to attorney Steven P. Bertolino, the series, titled American Murder: Gabby Petito, contains several inaccuracies including misleading timelines and incorrect statements. He emphasized that it’s well-known that Brian killed Gabby and then himself, urging that both families should be allowed to grieve in peace.
The Laundrie family did not take part in creating the documentary, which aired on February 17, 2025. This series aims to provide a deeper look at Gabby and Brian’s relationship during the troubling final days before her death. Gabby went missing in September 2021 after a two-month trip with Laundrie, leading to concerns from her family when they stopped receiving messages. Soon after, Laundrie returned to Florida alone in their shared van. Gabby’s body was found in Wyoming on September 19, and a month later, Laundrie was found dead in a park in Florida, where investigators discovered a note in which he accepted responsibility for her death.
The case attracted massive media attention. The documentary highlights how a YouTube video Gabby uploaded during their trip gained millions of views after her disappearance became well-known. By using previously unseen text messages, journal entries, police footage, and interviews with friends and family, the directors, Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro, hope to shed light on the abusive dynamics in their relationship. They want viewers to connect with Gabby’s story and understand how many people can find themselves in similar situations.
Nason mentioned that they had the cooperation of Gabby’s family, who shared her journals, phone, and personal items to help tell her story. They even allowed film crews to accompany them to the site where Gabby was found, honoring her memory. The series also features insights from Gabby’s close friends and an ex-boyfriend, revealing troubling details about her relationship with Laundrie. One friend mentioned that Gabby expressed feelings of unease during their trip, hinting that she might want to leave Laundrie.
Attempts to include Laundrie’s family in the documentary were unsuccessful as they declined to participate. Laundrie’s sister, Cassie, took issue with claims made about her communications with detectives investigating Gabby’s case, stating that they misunderstood her comments. In contrast, the documentary reflects that Gabby’s family actively engaged in sharing information about her experiences, hoping to keep her story alive.
The documentary revisits a police incident from August 12, 2021, where officers were called after a physical altercation between Gabby and Brian. For the first time, viewers can see the full interaction between law enforcement and the couple, as well as footage showing Laundrie’s parents after Gabby’s disappearance.
The series includes messages from Gabby’s phone that reveal the complexities of her relationship with Laundrie, contrasting sharply with the happy image she portrayed on social media. The directors also utilized voiceovers created through AI technology, with permission from Gabby’s parents, to narrate excerpts from her journals, connecting viewers to her words and feelings.
While the documentary does not bring new revelations about Gabby’s murder, it emphasizes the need to understand the dangers of toxic relationships, encouraging others who might be suffering in silence to seek help. The aim is to foster awareness around the emotional struggles often hidden beneath the surface in seemingly perfect relationships.