Seven shock Brian Laundrie revelations in $100k lawsuit including disturbing claim about Gabby Petito’s cause of death
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GABBY Petito's family has accused Brian Laundrie's parents of knowing their son killed his fiancée during the entire search period - and even planning to help him leave the country.
Petito's parents Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt filed a civil lawsuit seeking at least $100,000 in damages from Chris and Roberta Laundrie on Thursday.
The lawsuit, obtained by The Sun, brings up new bombshell details that were previously unknown in the renowned case of the 22-year-old vlogger's murder on August 27 at the hands of her boyfriend, whose death was confirmed in October.
The coroner reports included in the civil lawsuit provide a shocking revelation that though it was originally reported that Petito died by manual strangulation, she also suffered blunt force injuries to her head and neck.
Gabby's body was found at a campsite on September 19, about 1,000 feet from where her van was parked.
Coroners believe she was dead for three to four weeks before her remains were discovered.
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Another disturbing update that the court document reveals is that Gabby's mother claims that Roberta Laundrie blocked her phone number, as well as on Facebook.
Prior to the trip taken by Petito and Laundrie, the future in-laws had a cordial relationship with each other.
The complaint alleges: "In an effort to avoid any contact with Nichole Schmidt, on or about September 10, 2021, Roberta Laundrie blocked Nichole Schmidt on her cellular phone such that neither phone calls nor texts could be delivered, and she blocked her on Facebook."
Gabby's parents believe that Brian exchanged text messages with Schmidt from Petito's phone in an attempt to cover up her death.
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The civil lawsuit alleges that Laundrie's parents knew of Petito's murder because Brian confessed to them when he returned from the trip, days before they secured a lawyer.
"It is believed, and therefore averred that… Brian Laundrie advised his parents, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie, that he had murdered Gabrielle Petito.
“On that same date, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie spoke with Attorney Steve Bertolino, and sent him a retainer on Sept. 2, 2021.”
This claim means that Petito's parents believe that the Laundries had knowledge of Gabby's death and did not reveal it to authorities or Petito's parents, despite their multiple pleas for the truth from the family.
NO CONTACT
According to Petito's parents, there was no contact whatsoever between the two families after Brian Laundrie returned home to North Port alone driving Petito’s van on September 1.
Petito and Schmidt claim in the complaint that while the "Plaintiffs were extremely distraught and were attempting to locate Gabrielle Petito," the Laundrie family "went on vacation to Fort DeSoto Park."
During this time, the Laundries completely cut off contact with the suffering parents and refused to respond to the letter issued to Christopher and Roberta on behalf of Gabby's family on September 16.
"We believe you know the location of where Brian left Gabby," the letter said. "We beg you to tell us."
FLEEING THE COUNTRY
Petito and Schmidt alleged in the lawsuit that the Laundries were covering for Brian by keeping his location a secret.
They also believe that Christopher and Roberta were making arrangements for Brian to leave the country.
Gabby's parents claim that the Laundries knew that they could partly alleviate the mental suffering and anguish that Gabby's family went through by disclosing what they knew about the well-being and location of Gabby's remains.
But by refusing to do so, the family claims that Brian's parents acted with malice to the rights of Gabby's parents.
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The complaint describes the behavior of the Laundries as "shocking, atrocious, and utterly intolerable in a civilized community."
Petito and Schmidt are seeking damages of at least $100,000 from Brian's parents for the damages and emotional stress they have suffered, along with other costs.
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