New information about the events following Gabby Petito’s disappearance has surfaced in a Netflix documentary.
On February 17, Netflix released “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” a three-part docu-series that delves into the last days of the 22-year-old.
In the summer of 2021, Gabby and her fiancé Brian Laundrie embarked on a cross-country journey in a van they had bought to live in.
The couple began dating in 2019, with Brian proposing just over a year later.
Unfortunately, they never made it to the altar.
Gabby was reported missing in September 2021 by her parents after they had not heard from her for several days, which was not typical.
They attempted to contact Brian to find out what was happening, but their efforts were unsuccessful. They eventually discovered that Brian had returned alone to his parents’ home in Florida in the van, which was registered under Gabby’s name.
Brian soon became the main suspect in Gabby’s disappearance, and authorities began tracing his actions following the last known whereabouts of his fiancée.
Surveillance footage showed the couple at a Whole Foods store in Wyoming on August 27.
The next day, authorities deduced that Brian had hiked from Spread Creek, where he and Gabby had camped, to the Colter Bay area.
On August 29, cell phone records indicated multiple calls between Brian and his parents, one being nearly an hour long with his mother, Roberta.
Following the 55-minute conversation, records showed that Brian’s father, Christopher, contacted a lawyer.
The family exchanged several calls in the hours that followed. These conversations occurred three weeks before Gabby’s body was discovered.
In legal documents filed last year, Brian’s parents disclosed what they allegedly discussed with him that day.
It was reported that Brian informed his parents that Gabby was “gone” and suggested to his father that he might need a lawyer, although he did not disclose the reason, according to CNN.
Roberta later admitted that the thought of her son being involved in Gabby’s death ‘probably went through [her] mind’.
Adding to the complexity, “American Murder: Gabby Petito” reveals that after talking to his parents, Brian sent texts back and forth between his and Gabby’s phones, pretending they were from her.
“The activity between the two phones was almost instantaneous,” explains FBI agent Loretta Bush in the documentary.
“Brian was holding both phones and talking directly to himself. It was apparent that he was trying to create an alibi.”
“American Murder: Gabby Petito” is now available for streaming on Netflix.