Brian Laundrie's Family Told To Pay $3 Million To Gabby Petito's Loved Ones In Wrongful Death Judgment

The parents of Brian Laundrie have been ordered to pay $3 million to the estate of Gabby Petito in a wrongful death case, according to reports.

“The Petito family lost their daughter, and they were also denied the opportunity to confront her killer,” the family said in a statement. “No amount of money is sufficient to compensate the Petito family for the loss of their daughter, Gabby, at the hands of Brian Laundrie.”

It’s unclear if the Laundrie’s have the full amount to pay. In their statement, Petito’s parents admitted the figure was an arbitrary number.

Laundrie was the prime suspect in the disappearance and then murder of Petito in 2021. The two were on a cross-country trip and Laundrie returned to his Florida home without Petito. That sparked a massive manhunt, with the young woman’s remains found in Utah.

The case garnered national interest and became a focus for True Crime fanatics.

It sparked many questions and discussions on social media. It also caused the media to descend on the Laundrie’s Florida home. Some questioned the police investigation and pleaded with Laundrie for information.

It appeared authorities were closing in on arresting Laundrie when he fled his Florida home. That sparked another search as people across the nation reported seeing Laundrie in their area.

Weeks later, he was found dead in a Florida nature preserve.

The Petitos have filed several lawsuits, including the wrongful death case, and one against police in Utah. The parents have never been criminally charged, but some have accused them of covering up their son’s crimes or not telling the Petito’s family information they knew.

The family said the $3 million would be donated to the Gabby Petitio Foundation to help other families find missing loved ones and support domestic violence victims.

“Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt wish to turn their personal tragedy into a positive,” the statement read. “It is their hope that Gabby’s foundation will bring these important issues to the forefront of the public eye to benefit all communities.”