Gabby Petito

2022 - 8 - 9

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Image courtesy of "Jezebel"

Gabby Petito's Parents Sue Utah Police for $50 Million, Say She'd ... (Jezebel)

Her tragic case is emblematic of systemic police failure to intervene and protect victims—often to fatal consequences.

In January, an independent investigation of Pratt and Robbins determined they should be placed on probation and said the officers had made a number of crucial mistakes. The officers’ mishandling of Petito’s case stemmed from “an institutional failure plain and simple.” At least one caller reportedly alleged that “the gentleman was slapping the girl,” and another witness said Laundrie had taken Petito’s phone and locked her out of their shared van, which served as their home during their road trip. Instead of investigating further or offering Petito any support, Pratt and Robbins determined the couple should simply be separated for the night. A month after the incident, on Sept. 19, Petito’s body was found near Grand Teton national park in Wyoming. Laundrie disappeared shortly after being named a person of interest in Petito’s case, and his body was found in October along with a notebook containing his written confession to killing Petito. A year ago, on Aug. 12, cops from the small desert town in Moab, Utah, responded to concerned callers who said they’d witnessed the couple fighting in front of a grocery store.

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Image courtesy of "KQ2.com"

Gabby Petito's family seeks $50 million from Utah police department ... (KQ2.com)

The family of Gabby Petito has submitted a $50 million claim against the Moab, Utah, Police Department, arguing the 22-year-old may not have been killed ...

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Image courtesy of "Snopes.com"

Gabby Petito's Family Files Claim Alleging Police Failed Her (Snopes.com)

Nicole Schmidt vividly remembers the pain she felt watching body camera footage of her daughter Gabby Petito sobbing.

“Most likely the scenario ended that way because something was happening for a while.” I think the only two people that will ever know what happened in that relationship was Gabby and Brian. And we can guess and we can make assumptions but we don’t really know what happened,” she added. The search for Petito drew worldwide attention, spurring amateur sleuths to scour social media for clues. Notices of claims are required before people can sue government entities and the family’s claim said that the lawsuit will seek $50 million in damages. The video was released last summer after Petito had gone missing during a cross-country van trip with her boyfriend. He added: “They did not have the training that they needed to recognize the clear signs that were evident that morning, that Gabby was a victim and that she was in serious need of immediate help.”

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Image courtesy of "Salt Lake Tribune"

The Daily Buzz: Why Gabby Petito's parents are seeking $50M from ... (Salt Lake Tribune)

In this episode, reporter Courtney Tanner talks about why Gabby Petito's parents filed a notice of claim against the Moab Police Department on Monday.

You can listen to both today’s episode and past episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud. In this episode, reporter Courtney Tanner talks about why Gabby Petito’s parents filed a notice of claim against the Moab Police Department on Monday. Petito’s parents are seeking $50 million, alleging that Moab police made numerous errors when they interacted with their daughter during a traffic stop last August, a month before she was killed.

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Image courtesy of "Evening Standard"

Gabby Petito: Family to file wrongful death case against Utah police (Evening Standard)

Ms Petito's strangled body was discovered in September on the edge of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, admitted killing her ...

He added: “They did not have the training that they needed to recognise the clear signs that were evident that morning, that Gabby was a victim and that she was in serious need of immediate help." The family’s lawyer, James McConkie, told reporters in Salt Lake City that “the officers failed to recognise the serious danger that she was in, and failed to investigate fully and properly.” The pending lawsuit will allege officers failed to recognise that the 22-year-old was in danger and in need of help.

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

Gabby Petito's family seeks $50 million from Utah police department ... (CNN)

The family of Gabby Petito has submitted a $50 million claim against the Moab, Utah, Police Department, arguing the 22-year-old may not have been killed ...

Petito's parents and stepparents did not comment on the litigation during Monday's virtual news conference at the direction of their lawyers. He admitted to pushing Petito away when she tried to slap him and also to taking her phone, claiming he didn't have one and was afraid that she would leave him. But Petito also "displayed the classic hallmarks of an abused partner," the notice says, taking blame for the incident. Footage recorded by police body cameras shows Moab police officers talking to Petito and Laundrie, who admitted to having a fight in which Petito said she struck her fiancé first. Laundrie told police the couple had been under increasing stress. in which he claimed responsibility for her death.

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Image courtesy of "Insurance Journal"

Gabby Petito's Family Plans to File Utah Lawsuit Alleging Police ... (Insurance Journal)

Gabby Petito's family this week notified Utah officials of plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that police failed to recognize their daughter.

“Most likely the scenario ended that way because something was happening for a while.” I think the only two people that will ever know what happened in that relationship was Gabby and Brian. And we can guess and we can make assumptions but we don’t really know what happened,” she added. Notices of claims are required before people can sue government entities and the family’s claim said that the lawsuit will seek $50 million in damages. Appearing by video at a news conference to announce the claim, Petito’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, said “watching it is very painful.” Gabby Petito’s family this week notified Utah officials of plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit alleging that police failed to recognize their daughter was in a life-threatening situation last year when officers investigated a fight between her and her boyfriend. The officers ultimately allowed the couple to leave after requiring them to spend a night apart.

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Image courtesy of "The Washington Post"

Gabby Petito's parents to sue Utah police, claiming missed chance ... (The Washington Post)

The footage, captured by body-worn cameras on Aug. 12 of last year, showed the 22-year-old aspiring video blogger crying as an officer in Moab, Utah, explained ...

“Nobody knows and nobody will ever know the answer to that question.” The police determined Petito was the perpetrator and Laundrie the victim. Laundrie told police that Petito thought he was trying to leave her in Moab without her phone and tried to slap him. That is an impossible question to answer despite it being the answer many people want to know,” he wrote. He took a picture of the license plate and gave the plate number to the dispatcher. He wrote that oftentimes in domestic violence cases, the long-term victim reaches a point where they defend themselves or act out in a way that summons law enforcement. In body-camera footage, a distraught Petito told police she and Laundrie had been fighting over “some personal issues,” adding that she had obsessive compulsive disorder and became frustrated while straightening up the van. She said Laundrie had locked her out of the van, telling her to “take a breather,” and she had fought to get back in. The couple came to the attention of law enforcement on Aug. 12 after a witness called police, saying he had seen what he called a “domestic dispute.” He said he saw a “gentleman slapping the girl,” adding that the two had run up and down the sidewalk and then got into a van and drove off. The officer asked where Laundrie hit her, encouraging her to be honest. Petito’s parents announced during a Monday news conference that they plan to sue the Moab City Police Department over its handling of the domestic violence incident, saying officers failed to recognize their daughter was in danger and needed help. The disappearance of Petito, a “van life” enthusiast who traversed the country with Laundrie, documenting their travels on social media, captivated the American public last year.

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