Creepy text message Brian Laundrie sent to his friend days after he killed Gabby Petito on a cross-country road trip
BRIAN Laundrie told his friend he and fiancée Gabby Petito had a once-in-a-lifetime trip after he strangled her, haunting text messages reveal.
Just days after leaving 22-year-old Gabby’s body in the Teton National Forest during their cross-country trip in August 2021, he showed no signs of distress.
![A New York woman who traveled across the United States with her fiancé while living in a van was reported missing after he returned home without her. Gabby Petito, 22, of Blue Point, New York, was last seen on August 24, checking out of a hotel with her fiancé, […]](https://www.the-sun.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2023/09/new-york-woman-traveling-across-726046838.jpg)
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“The trip was good,” Brian, 23, told his friend on Sept. 4, according to text messages viewed by The messenger.
“Gab and I had fun. Now I’m tired and I’m going to sleep for a week.”
Brian had just returned to Florida without Gabby when he reportedly sent the messages.
According to Gabby’s idyllic YouTube videos, they had been enjoying the #vanlife during a four-month excursion across the US.
Brian discusses the vlogs with his friend and says, “We created a lot of content.”
“Once upon a time in a lifetime,” the news said.
On September 19, Gabby’s remains were discovered after a week-long search.
An autopsy revealed that she had been strangled and her body abandoned to the heartless elements.
Police had tried to contact Brian since she was reported missing but had been unable to locate him.
On October 20, his body was finally discovered with a single gunshot wound in a swampy nature reserve not far from his parents’ home in Florida.
His diary nearby contained the eerie murder confessions police were looking for, and Gabby’s family finally had answers.
The murder sparked a series of lawsuits against her parents, Nichole Schmidt and Joe Petito.
The heartbroken mother and father have accused Utah police of failing to help their emotionally distressed daughter during a stop that was captured on bodycam footage.
They also received $3 million from Brian’s parents, Christopher and Roberta, after winning a wrongful death lawsuit.
The Laundries are still fighting another emotional distress lawsuit filed by the Petitos, which claims they knew about the murder but did nothing to notify police.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that her team had filed for a settlement, but a resolution had not been found.
No criminal charges were filed against Christopher and Roberta.
Two years after her death, Gabby’s parents are still fighting to keep her memory alive through the Gabby Petito Foundation.
The organization raises awareness of domestic violence by turning its tragedy into meaning.
On September 11th, Gabby’s mother shared a heartbreaking tribute to the day she reported her daughter missing.
The Reads post: “9/11 is a day we will never forget. Please #be kind to each other today, #strongertogether.”
“For me, it is also the day that I walked into a police station two years ago and was finally able to report our daughter missing.
“Please share #Missing posters. #TogetherWeCan.”
The comments were full of support for the grieving mother.
“We are all with you in spirit. Gabby’s light remains,” one commented.