Gabby Petito’s family has filed a civil suit once morest the parents of their daughter’s boyfriend, claiming they withheld important information during search operations. “They exhibited behavior that was shocking, atrocious and that exceeded all possible limits of decency,” they claim in their complaint.
The disappearance of 22-year-old Gabby Petito has been making headlines across the United States and across borders for weeks. In June of last year, the young woman and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, had started a road trip across the United States which they reported on social networks. But on September 1, the young man returned alone to his parents. After an intensive search, Gabby’s body was found in a national park in Wyoming. The autopsy determined that she had been strangled.
At the same time, Brian Laundrie had also been reported missing. His body was eventually found in October in a Florida nature preserve, not far from his parents’ home. He had shot himself in the head. A backpack and a diary were also found nearby.
New Complaint
The parents of Gabby Petito now accuse those of Brian Laundrie of having hidden that their son had killed the young woman. In a Florida lawsuit, they allege Christopher and Roberta Laundrie hid from investigators that their son had confessed to the murder, while the search for Gabby was still ongoing.
“Shocking” behavior
“In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or great indifference towards the rights of Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt (Gabby’s parents, editor’s note)”, can we read in the complaint. A behavior, according to them, “shocking, atrocious and which exceeds all possible limits of decency”.
They believe the Laundries were aware of their son’s actions the day following his death. On August 28, the young man’s family contacted attorney Steve Bertolino and sent him a deposit on September 2, according to the lawsuit.
Gabby’s parents add that they were “arranging for him (Brian) to leave the country”. No evidence was provided to support this claim.
They claim at least 30,000 dollars (regarding 27,500 euros, editor’s note) in damages for the “suffering and mental anguish” caused.
“The Laundries had no obligation to speak”
The Laundrie family attorney clarified that his clients had every right not to speak. He also denied the allegations made in the complaint. “This lawsuit does not change the fact that the Laundries had no obligation to speak to law enforcement or any third party, including the Petito family,” Steven Bertolino said. “This basic legal principle renders the Petito claims without merit in law.”
Author: 7sur7.be – 7sur7.be
