Gabby Petito’s Family Awarded $3 Million In Lawsuit
A judge ruled that the estate of Brian Laundrie must pay the Petito family $3 million for killing their daughter, Gabby Petito, in 2021. The Petito family was orginally suing for $50 million for emotional distress. They claimed the Laundrie’s knew Brian killed Gabby while authorities were searching for her body and didn’t tell detectives. Brian was able to return home to his family in North Port, but Gabby never saw her family again.
The lawsuit claims that the Laundrie’s hid behind their legal counsel and tried to shield their son from questioning. This also allowed Brian to flee to a nature preserve in Sarasota County, where it’s presumed he took his own life.
The Petito family called the number “arbitrary” and that it won’t bring their daughter back. They know the Laundrie family doesn’t have $3 million to cough up, but it’s more about accountability.
In a statement reported by Fox 13 News, the Petito family’s attorney said “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.”
The Petito family is also suing suing the Moab, Utah police for $50 million. This lawsuit is in response to their handling of a domestic violence situation involving Gabby and Brian just shortly before her death. The family filed this lawsuit in hopes for justice for Gabby, and accountability from the Moab Police department.
Any money that the family receives from the Laundrie family will go to the Gabby Petito Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to provide aid to organizations that find missing persons and assist victims of domestic violence situations, through education, awareness, and prevention strategies.
