The tragic case of Gabby Petito has once again captured public attention with the release of Netflix’s true crime docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito.
The three-part series, which premiered on February 17, explores the 22-year-old travel vlogger’s disappearance and murder at the hands of her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, during a cross-country road trip in 2021.
The documentary features never-before-seen text messages, diary entries, and footage from Petito’s loved ones, as well as chilling details about Laundrie’s attempts to cover his tracks after her death.
However, the series has drawn mixed reactions, with Brian Laundrie’s parents criticizing its accuracy while Gabby’s mother urges viewers to remember the real-life pain behind the story.
Laundrie’s Parents Condemn ‘Inaccuracies’ in Documentary
The Netflix series sheds new light on the final days before Gabby’s murder, including cellphone records showing Brian frantically calling his parents after she was killed.
Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, Brian’s parents, have now spoken out through their attorney, Steven Bertolino, who claims the documentary is misleading.
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In a statement to The U.S. Sun, Bertolino said: “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.”
The attorney further alleged that the series contained “many inaccuracies, incorrect juxtapositions of timelines, and misstatements and omissions of fact".
“We all know Brian took Gabby’s life and Brian then took his own as well,” Bertolino added. “Let the parents of both Gabby and Brian mourn them in peace.”
Gabby’s Mother: ‘This Is Not Just True Crime—This Is Real Life’
Meanwhile, Gabby’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, has made a heartfelt plea to viewers, urging them to see beyond the entertainment value of the documentary.
Speaking to NewsNation, she said: “When you watch the documentary, remember that this is a real person, this is a real family, it’s a real story, and it’s real life. It’s not just true crime. This can happen to anyone. We never in a million years thought this would happen to our family.”
Since Gabby’s murder, Nichole and her husband, Jim Schmidt, have dedicated themselves to raising awareness about domestic violence and coercive control, hoping to prevent similar tragedies.
In a deeply personal revelation, Nichole also shared that she has found the strength to forgive Brian Laundrie — not for him, but for herself.
“I have forgiven Brian, and I know that is what Gabby would have wanted, and I’m moving forward so I can move on,” she said. “That is my personal experience. I don’t think everyone has to forgive. They can when they are ready if they are ever ready. But for me personally, I needed to forgive to let that anchor go.”
Jim Schmidt echoed his wife’s words, adding: “Forgiveness is for you. It is for your healing. For your grief. For you to be able to move on.”
A Case That Shook the Nation
Gabby and Brian’s road trip began in July 2021, but what was meant to be the adventure of a lifetime turned into a nationally followed tragedy. On August 12, Utah police responded to reports of a domestic violence incident between the couple, a moment captured in bodycam footage.
The last known video of Gabby alive places her and Brian in a Wyoming Whole Foods store on August 27.
The next day, Brian hiked from their campsite to the Colter Bay area, where he made multiple calls to his parents before returning home to Florida — alone.
Laundrie then disappeared, sparking a nation-wide manhunt.
Weeks later, Gabby’s body was discovered in Wyoming on October 20, with an autopsy confirming that she had died from “blunt-force injuries” to her head and neck and manual strangulation.”
As authorities closed in on Brian for questioning, he disappeared. A month later, his remains were found in a Florida nature preserve, along with a notebook confession, in which he claimed Gabby had been injured in a fall and that he “ended her life” because she was in “extreme pain.”
Emotional Response to the Netflix Docuseries
Since its release, American Murder: Gabby Petito has sparked an emotional reaction from viewers.
“This Gabby Petito Netflix doc has me on the verge of tears,” one person wrote on X.
“The Gabby Petito documentary on Netflix is so heartbreaking to watch. So so sad,” another commented.
“I had already read a lot about the Gabby Petito case, but the new true crime documentary from Netflix still really moved me and made me angry. Such a poor young woman who still had her whole life ahead of her... He didn’t get the punishment he deserved!”
The series has reignited conversations about domestic violence awareness, media ethics, and the responsibility of true crime storytelling. While opinions may vary on the documentary’s accuracy, one undeniable truth remains: Gabby Petito’s story is one that continues to break the hearts of people across the nation.
American Murder: Gabby Petito is now streaming on Netflix.