What Happened to Gabby Petito, Who Died at 22? — New Details Emerge

The young woman was ready to kick off her career as a content creator, but everything changed when tragedy struck. A new docuseries is now revealing the details of how her life took a sudden turn.

Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old YouTuber, tragically lost her life at the hands of her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie. The Netflix docuseries "American Murder: Gabby Petito," takes a deep dive into her life, shedding light on the events leading up to her heartbreaking fate, including that of her lover.

The docuseries not only delves into Gabby's life but also explores her relationship with Brian, tracing their connection back to their teenage years.

In March 2019, Gabby, then 20, began dating Brian, a familiar face from high school. At first, she kept their relationship quiet, but when she finally shared it with loved ones, it was clear they were already deeply committed.

By December — nine months into their romance — they left her New York hometown and moved to Florida to be near Brian's family. Although she initially got along with his mother, Roberta, tensions between them reportedly grew over time.

As their relationship progressed, Gabby and Brian took the next step in their commitment to each other. In July 2020, after more than a year together, Gabby shared the news of their engagement.

Though Brian didn't propose with a ring, they saw the moment as meaningful. Instead of focusing on wedding plans, they decided to buy a van and explore the country. Gabby hoped to turn their travels into a career as a #vanlife vlogger.

With their engagement set, the couple set off on their adventure, eager to embrace life on the road. After visiting Gabby's family, they began their journey.

However, in August 2021, witnesses in Moab, Utah, reported a domestic dispute between the couple, prompting police to step in. An unidentified 911 caller revealed, "I'd like to report a domestic dispute. The gentleman was slapping the girl."

After questioning them separately, officers deemed Gabby the aggressor and arranged for Brian to stay in a motel. Soon after, he returned to Florida to empty a storage unit before reuniting with Gabby.

Their relationship grew more strained that month, and Gabby confided in an ex-boyfriend, Jackson, hinting at a falling out with Brian. She suggested she wanted to leave but, according to Jackson, wasn't sure "how" to do it.

In the docuseries, he revealed that she feared Brian's reaction. "She wasn’t sure of what he would do, or what he could do," he said. Days later, Gabby messaged Jackson again on Snapchat from Wyoming, saying she was thinking of him.

She later called, but he was at work. That same day, surveillance captured her walking through a Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming, with Brian — the last known video of her.

As Gabby reached out for support, Brian was moving through Wyoming, his actions later traced through phone records and witness accounts. On August 28, he left the Spread Creek campsite for Colter Bay Village, taking photos and calling his mother for an hour.

The next day, he hitchhiked toward Jackson, Wyoming. A woman named Miranda Baker picked him up, and another named Norma Jean Jalovec later drove him back to Spread Creek, where he said Gabby was waiting.

As Brian made his way back to Florida alone, suspicious activity on Gabby's accounts and phone raised alarm. On August 30, he drove home, using Gabby's debit card for gas and transferring $700 from her account with a memo stating, "Goodbye Brian, I'll never ask you for anything again."

That same day, Gabby's mother, Nichole Schmidt, received a text from her daughter's phone referring to her grandfather by his first name — something Gabby never did. It left Nichole uneasy, suspecting Brian had sent the message himself.

Concerned by the unusual message and unable to reach Gabby, Nichole took action. In early September 2021, she filed a missing persons report with the Suffolk County Police Department.

Authorities in Florida soon discovered Brian had returned home in Gabby's van without her. The Laundries hired an attorney and refused to cooperate.

The search took police to several locations, including Grand Teton National Park, where Gabby's phone was last active. Authorities urged the public for leads, prompting a #vanlife blogger to review footage and spot Gabby's van at Spread Creek.

Three weeks into the search, on September 19, 2021, her body was found. The discovery painted a chilling picture of what had happened in her final moments.

An FBI Special Agent from the Denver division, identified only as Kyle in "American Murder: Gabby Petito," recalled the moment they found her. "She was laying on her side," he revealed. "She was wrapped up in a sweater."

The last confirmed sighting of Gabby alive was on August 27, and she was not found until September 19. Investigators believed she had stayed near Spread Creek.

Kyle described a burn scar in front of her, suggesting an attempted fire, though no materials were found. "Her boots were off and they were next to her body, and next to that fire. She was not laying in a natural position," he disclosed.

Authorities reached a grim conclusion — Kyle stated, "It appeared to investigators at that time that the crime scene had been staged." As the investigation unfolded, attention shifted to Brian. Not long after Gabby's tragic death, he took his own life. His body was found in Sarasota County, Florida, on October 20, 2021.

A forensic report later revealed new details, including personal items found near his remains — a backpack, clothing, a white metal ring, and a handgun. Nearby, investigators discovered a half-written note, skeletal animal remains, and a hat with the MOAB Coffee Roasters logo.

On October 21, 2021, FBI Denver announced on X that a comparison of dental records had confirmed the remains found at the T. Mabry Carlton, Jr. Memorial Reserve and Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park belonged to Brian.

He had been the subject of a month-long manhunt before his remains were found in the Carlton Reserve. The medical examiner confirmed he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His body had likely been submerged in floodwater for weeks, complicating the search. A dry bag found 250 feet away held a journal, a wooden box, a smaller notebook, and photos, including at least one of Brian.

Among the items recovered, investigators also found a letter in which Brian admitted to killing Gabby. The written confession provided his account of what happened, claiming she fell into a stream at their campsite and was injured.

"Her feet hurt, her [wrist] hurt but she was freezing, shaking violently," he wrote. Brian further recounted Gabby's final moments, stating that she was in constant pain as he carried her.

He claimed she spoke little, drifting in and out of consciousness while shaking violently and gasping in pain. According to him, she begged for relief, falling asleep only to be shaken awake out of fear that she might have a concussion.

Brian insisted that he acted out of mercy and was unsure of the extent of Gabby's injuries but claimed she was in severe pain. "I ended her life, I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked, I was in shock. But from the moment I decided, took away her pain, I knew I couldn't go on without her," he admitted.

Though he attempted to justify his actions, investigators ruled her death a homicide caused by blunt force trauma and strangulation.

According to officials, months before their road trip, Gabby tried to comfort Brian in a previously unseen letter, urging him to "stop crying" as she attempted to mend an unknown conflict.

In June 2024, the FBI released hundreds of pages of case files, including two handwritten pages from Gabby to Brian. The letter, seemingly written after returning from New York, expressed her devotion.

"Brian, you know how much I love you, so (and I'm writing this with love) just please stop crying and stop calling me names, because we're a team," she wrote. "And I'm here with you. I'm always going to have your back."

She also apologized for getting upset over "a dumb piece of paper" and tried to console the man who would later take her life. Gabby's letter provided insight into the dynamics of their relationship.

After her tragic death, her family sought justice in other ways. In 2022, the Petito-Schmidt family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian's parents, Roberta and Chris Laundrie.

The case was settled for $3 million, though no criminal charges were ever filed against the Laundrie family. Meanwhile, the Petito family has spoken publicly about their ongoing search for justice and closure.

In a recent joint interview, Gabby's father, Joe Petito, and stepmother, Tara Petito, confirmed they never received an apology from the Laundrie family. "No," they both said after being asked if they did, with Joe acknowledging they never will.

Tara added, "At this point, I don't want one." While she wished Brian’s parents could face legal consequences, she admitted it is unlikely. Court depositions revealed that Brian's parents already knew Gabby was "gone" before she was reported missing, though they denied any wrongdoing through their attorney.

In addition, Gabby's mother, Nichole, reflected on the unanswered questions surrounding her daughter's death. She stated that the true reason behind Gabby's death would never be known, as only she and Brian had that knowledge.

Despite the uncertainty, she shared that she has chosen to forgive Brian. "I know that's what Gabby would've wanted. And I'm moving forward so I can help people," she said, referring to the Gabby Petito Foundation, which was created in her memory.