US2 min(s) read
Published 17:22 06 Oct 2021 GMT
Gabby Petito's mom has revealed she had a gut instinct her daughter was dead when they learned Brian Laundrie arrived back in Florida with their van but without her on September 1.
Fighting back tears, heartbroken Nicole Schmidt appeared on Dr. Phil as she revealed that Brian had bragged about being able to live off the land.
Laundrie is currently a "person of interest" in the case involving the death of Gabby.
The couple had been traveling across the country together in their converted van over the summer - but Laundrie returned to the Florida home the couple shared with his parents on September 1 without her.
Just days after Gabby was reported missing by her family, Laundrie went missing and has yet to be found despite widespread searches for him by authorities. Gabby was confirmed dead by the FBI on September 21 after her remains were discovered inside a Wyoming national park.
Gabby's family refused to comment on who they believe is responsible for their daughter's death but spoke of their heartbreak when her body was found on Dr. Phil on Tuesday, October 5.
Her stepdad Jim Schmidt was in Wyoming when the FBI found remains they believed to be Gabby's.
He described the moment FBI agents told him that they had found a body, adding that there was an identifying piece of clothing.
Jim confirmed that Gabby had a sweater like the one found, before calling the rest of the family as they awaited an official autopsy.
"We knew it was Gabby even though we were hoping it wasn’t," said mom Nicole as she broke down in tears.
"It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to listen to. It didn’t hit me right away but I knew she was gone.
"I didn’t want to admit it but felt it the night I found out the van was in Florida," she admitted, adding that when she first reported Gabby missing on Saturday 11, she believed the couple could both be gone.
However, she learned that the van was back at the Laundrie family home in North Port that night when cops when to the house.
"It had to get there somehow. It's infuriating," she said.
"I didn't want to believe it," Gabby's stepmom Tara Petito added of when the body was found on September 19.
"My body went into shock and then you break down, you just fall and cry. It’s horrible, horrible, horrible."
