Love should always be safe..
Gabby Petito was 22 years old when she was murdered by her fiancé during a cross-country road trip.
On September 19, 2021, search teams discovered Gabby Petito’s remains in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. A subsequent autopsy confirmed that she had died from strangulation and estimated that she had been deceased for three to four weeks prior to the discovery of her body.
Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, was named a person of interest in the case but went missing shortly after Petito’s remains were found. After weeks of searching for Laundrie, his skeletal remains were found on October 20, 2021, at Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park near his home. Alongside his remains were his personal items. The cause of death was determined to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In his notebook, Laundrie reportedly took responsibility for Gabby’s death; however, he did not survive to face any legal consequences or provide further details regarding the circumstances surrounding her murder.
Gabby’s story has had a lasting impact and has raised awareness about intimate partner violence. Intimate partner violence alone affects more than 12 million people every year, highlighting its widespread nature.
In response to the tragic death of Gabby Petito at the hands of her fiancé, coupled with the unfortunate and inept handling of the case by law enforcement, her family established the “Gabby Petito Foundation.” The foundation’s mission is to address pressing issues related to missing persons and domestic violence through education, awareness, and preventive strategies.
The death of Gabby underscores critical shortcomings in law enforcement’s response and handling of domestic violence incidents. The system’s failure to protect Gabby can be attributed to several failures within law enforcement protocols, such as misclassifying incidents, inadequate reporting practices, insufficient evidence collection, and inadequate protective measures for victims of domestic violence. Had these failures not occurred, Gabby’s life could have been saved.
Want to know how you can contribute? Visit the Gabby Petito Foundation and explore their remarkable work in fostering genuine and impactful change in combating domestic violence.
Gabby began her journey into content creation with the intention of sharing her adventures and inspiring others to explore the outdoors. She created a YouTube channel and website called Nomadic Statik, where she shared vlogs documenting her travels and experiences while living in a converted Ford Transit van. Her content primarily focused on travel tips, camping spots, and the lifestyle associated with living on the road.
The first vlog she posted was relatively short, lasting only eight minutes, but it provided viewers with insights into her nomadic lifestyle.
Are you in a domestic violence situation and need help?
Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline!
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is a vital resource for individuals experiencing domestic violence. It provides 24/7 access to support, information, and resources for victims and survivors of domestic violence. The hotline can be reached by calling 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), where trained advocates are available to offer assistance, guidance, and a listening ear.