The tragic story of has now been told in but there are a few key details from the case that the documentary didn't explore.

In the eyes of her social media followers, appeared to be having the adventure of a lifetime as she set off on a summer van life trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie. The young couple hit the road in July 2021, stopping off at destinations such as Mystic Hot Springs, Canyonlands National Park, and Monument Rocks.

Beneath the Instagrammable surface, however, all was not well. Gabby was last seen alive in late August, and on September 11, her concerned mother filed a police report. By this time, Laundrie had returned alone to his family home in North Port, Florida.

Following a frantic search, Gabby’s body was sadly discovered on September 19, 2021, in Wyoming's Bridger–Teton National Forest. An autopsy determined she'd died from blunt-force injuries to the head and neck and manual strangulation.

A nationwide manhunt began for suspect number one, Laundrie, who had fled home. One month later, Laundrie's skeletal remains were found discovered in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. An autopsy concluded he'd died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

A confession note discovered beside Laundrie's remains read: "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."

What followed was a desperate search for answers, with Gabby's heartbroken family seeking justice for their daughter.

READ MORE:

Although the documentary does briefly mention that Gabby's parents, Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, received a cash settlement in the aftermath of their daughter's tragic death, this aspect of the story isn't delved into in too much detail. Back in November 2022, in what was to be a landmark ruling, a Florida judge ordered Laundrie's parents to pay $3 million (£2.5 million) to Gabby's grieving family after they filed a wrongful death lawsuit.

This suit alleged that parents Christopher and Roberta Laundrie had obstructed the search for missing Gabby, all while being aware that she had been murdered by their son. Christopher and Roberta repeatedly refused to cooperate with authorities throughout the investigation as the desperate search for Gabby was underway.

In the new doc, viewers heard how Roberta had written Brian a “burn after reading” letter, in which she allegedly offered to help her son bury a body out of love. Although Roberta claimed the note had been written before Laundrie and Gabby’s trip, it was undated - a fact that disturbed Gabby's family.

After the court's decision was made, the Petito family's lawyer issued the following statement: "The Petito family lost their daughter, and they were also denied the opportunity to confront her killer. No amount of money is sufficient to compensate the Petito family for the loss of their daughter, Gabby, at the hands of Brian Laundrie."

He added that the awarded funds would support the Gabby Petito Foundation, an organisation set up in Gabby's name that aims to "prevent domestic violence and support the search for through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.

CNN reports that, in February 2024, a subsequent settlement with the Laundries was reached, with a reluctant agreement made by all involved parties to sidestep additional legal costs and ongoing personal strife. Without this settlement, it was anticipated that a trial would have taken place in May of that same year. Both sides opted to keep the specifics of this second settlement confidential, as per the Petito family, in a bid to "to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict".

Expressing a desire for closure at the time, Joseph and Nichole issued the following statement: "Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honour the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby."

Back in November 2022, Gabby's family sued Utah’s Moab Department - seeking $50 million (£39.6 million) worth of damages in a wrongful death lawsuit that alleged "negligence" on the part of the cops. The bereaved parents accused officers of failing to do enough to keep their daughter safe after receiving a 911 call informing them that Gabby had been slapped by Laundrie.

On August 12, 2021, the same day that the couple were asked to make a traffic stop for driving erratically, a witness allegedly saw Laundrie "slapping" Gabby. However, when she admitted to hitting him, officers determined that she was the "primary aggressor." It was then that police instructed the pair to go their separate ways, and no arrests were made.

Nichole and Joseph filed an initial complaint alleging that Gabby's death resulted from the Moab Police Department's "negligent hiring practices and failure to provide proper training."

The lawsuit was dismissed in November 2024; however, the Petitos went on to appeal this decision, filing a second amended complaint. Court documents obtained by read: "In this case, Brian Laundrie murdered Petito 15 days after they left Moab together.

"During that 15-day interval, Petito had her van, keys, and contact with her family. Instead of leaving Laundrie, she drove with her fiancé to Wyoming – 400 miles away from Moab. Moab's police department did not cause Petito's engagement to Laundrie, her decision to remain with him, her decision to continue driving to Wyoming, or Laundrie’s criminal conduct weeks later.

The department continued: "Petito’s murder is an undeniable sorrow. Laundrie's crime was undisputedly depraved. But the judicial system is not a substitute for a GoFundMe campaign; heartbreak is not enough." In this 14-page motion to dismiss, the department also referenced multiple cases where crimes were committed following encounters with police officers.

Attorney Mitchell A. Stephens, who represents the Moab Police Department, previously told The U.S. Sun: "The Moab City Police Department did not cause Brian Laundrie to murder Gabrielle Petito."

He added: "When called, Moab's officers responded with kindness and respect. They also separated Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie for the night. The next morning, Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie chose to continue their ongoing road trip, travelling hundreds of miles together over the following weeks.

"The plaintiffs' $50 million demand appears to be a publicity stunt. Even if the plaintiffs believe that Moab City is liable, it strains credibility to suggest the City is 15-20 times more responsible for Ms. Petito’s death than Brian Laundrie, her murderer."

The Petito family's attorney, Judson Burton, said: "Gabby’s family is determined to see justice served. They have appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, hoping to change the law to prevent future victims of domestic violence from slipping through the cracks of an inadequate system. Their courage and resilience in this ongoing legal fight are poised to have a lasting impact on the state’s approach to law enforcement and governmental accountability."

You can stream American Murder: Gabby Petito on Netflix now.

Do you have a story to share? Email me at julia.banim@reachplc.com

READ MORE: