Gaby Petito news – latest: Family shares holiday tribute, saying ‘Live with love, laughter and gratitude’
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The family of Gabby Petito have shared a number of Thanksgiving messages that pay tribute to the 22-year-old, more than two months after her remains were found in rural Wyoming by FBI investigators.
Her father, Joseph Petito, posted a moving Thanksgiving Day message to his daughter in which he said he missed his daughter, who “should be with us but now all we have are the pictures.”
Nichole Schmidt, her mother, also wrote: “Gabby will forever remind me to be grateful for every moment, every breath, and every memory. I will cherish what I’ve had, and have in the present, always. Live with love, laughter and gratitude”.
Both parents, as well as Ms Petito’s mother and stepfather, are founders of the non-profit Gabby Petito Foundation to help raise awareness and reunite families with their missing loved ones.
The touching Thanksgiving messages follow reports on Thursday that the whereabouts of the gun used in Brian Laundrie’s death remains unknown, days after a lawyer for the family revealed the results of an autopsy on the 23-year-old’s remains.
Mr Laundrie, who was the focus of a manhunt for more than a month as investigators searched for clues in the death of Ms Petito during their cross-country van trip together, was found to have shot himself in the head.
FBI slammed for not warning public Laundrie was armed
Social media users are slamming the FBI for withholding information about the possibility of Laundrie being armed during his manhunt.
“Why do we even have an FBI? During the entire search for Brian Laundrie, not once was the public warned that he may be armed!” wrote a user.
“The FBI is completely out of control. A LOT of people were looking for this person without knowing he might be armed!!!” wrote another user.
Former FBI agent predicts legal trouble for Laundrie family
A former FBI agent says that charges could be brought against the Laundrie family.
Speaking with NewsNation, retired FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer said: “I think the Laundries have possible culpability under 18 U.S.C. 3, which is accessory after the fact, and possibly 18 U.S.C. 1519, which is obstruction in terms of if they tampered with any evidence after that crime was committed.”
However, Steven Bertolino, the lawyer for the Laundrie family, had earlier said he does not anticipate any legal trouble for the dead man’s family.
“I have no reason to believe any charges will be filed against Chris and Roberta Laundrie with respect to this case,” he told the Insider.
Stepfather pays Thanksgiving tribute to Gabby, his mother and grandmother
Gabby Petito’s stepfather Jim Schmidt paid Thanksgiving tribute to his family, including Gabby, his mother and grandmother whom he lost in the same year.
“Went to visit mom today. Our first thanksgiving without her, grandma, and Gabby. I miss you all immensely,” he tweeted. “I know you are all together watching over us. Life is truly a gift and love every minute of it. Be present in every moment with your family, and live life to the fullest.”
Mr Schmidt added that his mother passed away in April after battling pancreatic cancer for 11 months, while he lost his grandmother “a week after Gabby’s service”.
ICYMI: Could Laundrie’s notebook provide clues to unanswered questions ?
A notebook recovered close to the skeletal remains of Gabby Petito’s boyfriend Brian Laundrie may represent the last hope authorities have for finding answers about her death.
Laundrie, whose death was confirmed to be gunshot wounds by suicide on Tuesday, was found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on 20 October, along with personal items including a notebook that had been sealed inside a dry bag.
The area had been underwater for nearly a month, and the notebook sustained water damage, but North Port Police spokesman Josh Taylor said last month it may be “salvageabale”. Bevan Hurley has more.
Did Brian Laundrie leave a suicide note?
Hopes Laundrie notebook could provide answers to lingering questions
Bench installed in memory of Gabby Petito
A new bench was installed outside Florida’s North Port City Hall earlier this week, in memory of Gabby Petito.
Adorned with pink, blue, orange and purple metal butterflies, a text inscription on the bench read, “ Lift up your hearts and share with me the memories that will always be. Let it be.”
Another message below from Matthew, verse 18.20 read, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them.”
The city of North Port said, “A Squared Fabrication donated materials & services to construct the bench,” and that “Enlighten Electrical contributed $2,000 for installation and upkeep. Thanks to all who made this possible.”
Gabby Petito’s mother pays tribute to her daughter on Thanksgiving day
Nichole Schmidt paid tribute to her daughter on Thanksgiving day. In an Instagram post, she wrote, “Gabby will forever remind me to be grateful for every moment, every breath, and every memory. I will cherish what I’ve had, and have in the present, always. Live with love, laughter and gratitude.”
‘We miss you Gabby’: Joseph Petito posts touching Thanksgiving Day message
Gabby Petito’s father, Joseph Petit, posted a moving Thanksgiving Day message to his daughter Gabby.
Calling on families to hug one another, he wrote: “Thanksgiving, a day for being thankful, thoughtful, and giving”.
“Hug your family and friends. Be thankful for the time you get to spend with them all. We miss you #Gabbypetito You should be with us but now all we have are the pictures.”
Dismay at reports FBI knew gun was missing
The news that the FBI knew Brian Laundrie was likely armed while on the run from police has drawn anger, with people who followed the story closely voicing dismay that the bureau did not tell them that Mr Laundrie might be carrying a weapon.
As Andrew Naughtie writes, the chronology of events leading up to his fiancé, Gabby Petito’s, death remains unclear, and no further information has emerged since September.
As does the circumstances surrounding Mr Laundrie’s death remain unsolved, with an autopsy ruling his death via gunshot wound to the head.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, the Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino said that while the family noticed one of their guns was missing at the time that Mr Laundrie vanished, they and the FBI “didn’t want the public going into a frenzy on that.
“I don’t think they considered him dangerous to anybody he met on the street.”
Laundrie family hid the fact Brian was armed to avoid public ‘frenzy’, says lawyer
Partner of murdered Gabby Petito was found dead a month after going missing from family home
‘Live with love, laughter and gratitude’: Mother pays tribute to Petito
Nichole Schmidt, the mother of Gabby Petito, also shared a Thanksgiving message as the family marked Thanksgiving without the 22-year-old.
She wrote: ‘Live with love, laughter and gratitude’.
Petito family suggested others may be charged
The family of Gabby Petito said earlier this week that it is waiting to see if other individuals are charged over their daughter’s murder, after it was reported the suspect in her death had shot himself in the head.
As Andrew Buncombe writes, the family said it had been “made aware” of the results of the autopsy on Mr Laundrie, and said it could not comment further.
“The family was asked to not comment and let the FBI continue their investigation and allow the US Attorney’s Office make a determination on whether any additional individuals will be charged”.
It remains unclear who or what the additional charges could be, with Mr Laundrie having been identified as a person of interest inn the dissapearance of his fiancé, before going missing himself days later, in September.
Petito family waiting to see if others charged over daughter’s murder
Brian Laundrie’s remains recovered from Florida nature reserve last month
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