Gabby Petito case: Brian Laundrie’s parents could go on trial in weeks as judge cites Depp Heard case

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Gabby Petito’s father calls Laundrie family ‘cowards’

Lawyers for Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie will come face-to-face in court for the first time on Wednesday as a judge will decide whether a civil lawsuit against the killer’s family can go ahead.

Ms Petito’s parents filed a lawsuit in Florida’s Sarasota County Circuit Court in March alleging that Chris and Roberta Laundrie were aware that their son had killed the vlogger before she was reported missing.

Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt also accuse the Laundries of planning to help Brian leave the country, and are seeking damages for the “intentional infliction of emotional distress”.

Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino has described the allegations as “baseless” and is seeking to have the case thrown out, while the judge presiding over the case cited the defamation ruling against Johnny Depp, which was due to a statement made by his lawyer that Amber Heard’s abuse allegations were a “hoax”.

“Johnny Depp just got found civilly liable for defamation for what his attorney said, right?” the judge asked Wednesday.

The lawsuit alleges Brian Laundrie informed his parents of the Ms Petito’s murder “on or about” 28 August.

Judge Hunter W. Carroll will hear arguments from both sides to determine whether the case can proceed to a jury trial next year.

Petito parents allege Laundrie family knew she was dead

• Chris and Robert Laundrie seek to have case dismissed
• Petitos seeking jury trial and damages
• Gabby Petito was killed by manual strangulation by Laundrie
• Judge cites Depp Heard case during Laundrie hearing

[22 June 2022 19:52 · Graeme Massie]

Petito family leave Florida courthouse

Gabby Petito’s family has left a Florida courthouse after the first hearing in their civil case against Brian Laundrie’s parents, who did not appear for the hearing. A judge will make a written decision within two weeks on whether the case will go to a jury trial.

[22 June 2022 20:31 · Graeme Massie]

Brian Laundrie’s parents will not be charged in connection with Gabby Petito murder

ICYMI: While the civil lawsuit case continues, Chris and Roberta Laundrie are not facing criminal prosecution over Gabby Petito’s homicide.

The Laundries had been criticised by Ms Petito’s family for remaining steadfastly silent amid intense public scrutiny as their son Brian became the subject of a nationwide FBI manhunt.

An FBI investigation concluded in January that Laundrie was the sole person responsible for the “tragic death of Gabby Petito” as it announced it was wrapping up its four and a half month long investigation.

[22 June 2022 21:04 · Graeme Massie]

Who are Christopher and Roberta Laundrie?

ICYMI: Chris and Roberta Laundrie led authorities to personal items belonging to their son Brian in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on 20 October, marking the most significant update in the hunt for their fugitive son since he disappeared in mid-August.

Later the same day, human remains were found in the area later, and have been confirmed to be Brian Laundrie.

Prior to the discovery, the parents had remained steadfastly silent amid intense public scrutiny as their son Brian became the subject of a nationwide FBI manhunt.

They had initially refused to speak to police, but later sat down for interviews with the FBI and released carefully-worded statements through their lawyer Steve Bertolino.

Read more about Chris and Roberta Laundrie here.

[22 June 2022 21:33 · Graeme Massie]

Gabby Petito trial: Brian Laundrie’s parents skip hearing

Brian Laundrie’s parents failed to turn up to court on Wednesday to hear allegations they knew crucial details about Gabby Petito’s murder before she had been found.

Chris and Roberta Laundrie were notable absences as the Petito’s attorney Pat Reilly argued they had deliberately withheld information that could have saved the vlogger’s family immense suffering.

Bevan Hurley has the story.

[22 June 2022 21:45 · Graeme Massie]

List of potential witnesses at next year’s jury trial

ICYMI: In May, the Petito family’s attorneys issued a list of names they would seek to call at trial.

The names included Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, Gabby’s mother and father, Tara Petito and James Schmidt, her stepmother and stepfather.

Also on the witness list were Brian Laundrie’s parents Chris and Roberta, and representatives of the FBI and North Post Police Department.

Laundrie attorney Steve Bertolino told WFLA at the time it was a “wish list”.

A trial would likely take place in August 2023.

Joe and Tara Petito at a press conference in 2021 (Associated Press)

[22 June 2022 22:04 · Graeme Massie]

Brian Laundrie admits killing Gabby Petito in ‘suicide note’ found near his remains

ICYMI: The FBI revealed in January that Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for the murder of Gabby Petito’s death in a “suicide note” found near his remains.

It found Laundrie was solely responsible for the “tragic death of Gabby Petito” as it announced it was wrapping up its four and a half month long investigation.

A notebook recovered near Laundrie’s remains in Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park contained a written confession, the FBI said.

“A review of the notebook revealed written statements by Mr Laundrie claiming responsibility for Ms Petito’s death,” the FBI said in a statement.

[22 June 2022 22:35 · Graeme Massie]

The sad, twisting saga of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie

ICYMI: It began with the most modest of announcements.

“Blue Point Woman Reported Missing,” the Suffolk County Police Department tweeted on 13 September.

Not everyone who spotted the announcement would necessarily have feared the worst. It was certainly odd that the vehicle she had been travelling in had returned without her. Yet people are reported missing all the time. And it is not unheard of for young people to get off the grid for all sorts of reasons.

What we know now is that by the time her parents reported her missing, and the Suffolk County Police Department posted its one-line statement, the 22-year-old woman was already dead, having been strangled to death around two weeks earlier in the Spread Creek campsite, 20 miles north of Jackson Hole.

Read Andrew Buncombe’s recap of what the Gabby Petito tells us about America.

[22 June 2022 23:01 · Graeme Massie]

Judge raises Johnny Depp’s defamation of Amber Heard

Johnny Depp’s defamation of Amber Heard was raised during a civil court hearing to determine whether Gabby Petito’s family can sue the parents of Brian Laundrie.

Ms Petito’s parents Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt allege that Chris and Roberta Laundrie released a misleading statement through their lawyer that their daughter was still alive when they knew their son Brian had already killed her.

Bevan Hurley has all the details.

[22 June 2022 23:37 · Graeme Massie]

Why Gabby Petito’s parents are suing Chris and Roberta Laundrie

ICYMI: Petito family alleges that Brian Laundrie’s family knew he had killed her and were planning to help him escape.

Bevan Hurley has the story.

[23 June 2022 00:04 · Graeme Massie]

The man who became the most trusted source in the Gabby Petito case

ICYMI: Brian Entin, NewsNation’s senior correspondent, covered the Gabby Petito case 16 hours a day for several months, and became renowned for his commitment to getting out accurate, timely information.

He spoke to The Independent in November about how he pursued the case, and how it might be resolved.