Three crucial details about Gabby Petito's murder were missing from the Netflix documentary.
The tragic story of Gabby Petito is back in the spotlight with the streaming service's latest three-part series, American Murder: Gabby Petito.
The documentary follows the 22-year-old travel influencer, who went on a cross-country trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in 2021, only to mysteriously vanish.
Her remains were found in Wyoming’s Spread Creek camping area in September, where an autopsy confirmed she had died from blunt-force injuries to her head and neck and manual strangulation.
Her ex had returned home to Florida without her and refused to cooperate with authorities. He took his own life in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in October 2021 and left a notebook confession admitting to Petito's murder.
The new true crime series explores the couple's toxic relationship and the investigation that shocked the nation - but a report by Vulture points out three important aspects of the case that didn’t make the final cut.
1. The Petitos’ Lawsuit Against the LaundriesIn February 2023, the travel blogger's family filed a lawsuit against Laundrie’s parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie.
While the specifics of the legal battle remained private, both families later released a joint statement revealing that they had reached a confidential agreement “to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict," per BBC News.
Petito's family also issued a statement, which read: “Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby.”
The lawsuit sparked intense debate, with many questioning whether Laundrie’s parents knew more than they admitted and if they could have done more to prevent the tragedy.
Another shocking detail left out of the documentary is that Petito's family sued Utah’s Moab Police Department in November 2022, claiming officers failed to protect their daughter despite receiving a 911 call about domestic violence.
The lawsuit stemmed from an incident where a witness reported seeing Laundrie slap Petito, but cops reportedly let him go without pressing any charges.
The family sought $50 million in damages and argued that the late influencer's life could have been saved if authorities had acted differently. The case was ultimately dismissed in November 2024, but the Petitos have since appealed the decision.
Their attorney, Judson Burton, stated: “Gabby’s family is determined to see justice served," adding: "They have appealed to the Utah Supreme Court, hoping to change the law to prevent future victims of domestic violence from slipping through the cracks of an inadequate system."
He added that their legal battle could have a lasting impact on law enforcement policies regarding domestic violence cases.
3. The Laundries Paid a $3 Million Wrongful Death SettlementIn March 2024, Brian Laundrie’s parents, Roberta and Christopher, agreed to pay the Petito family $3 million in a wrongful death settlement.
The settlement was seen as a form of financial accountability for their son’s actions, although Laundrie’s attorney, Steven P. Bertolino, had a different take.
He criticized the Netflix documentary, saying: “The documentary was what we expected. One perspective depicted as the ‘truth’ as seen through their lens. Similar to Republicans and Democrats fighting it out lately. Each side believes their perspective is correct. Hard to see through the lens of the other with all the noise and distrust.”
For many viewers, the gripping docuseries brings much-needed awareness to the dangers of domestic violence.
But for others, it’s a selective retelling that leaves out key moments that could have broadened the conversation around accountability, law enforcement failures, and legal repercussions.
American Murder: Gabby Petito is now streaming on Netflix.