BREAKING NEWS: Gabby Petito’s family files $50 MILLION wrongful death lawsuit against Moab police “after cops failed to see she was in a life-threatening situation with killer boyfriend Brian Laundrie.”
The notice of claim alleges that police in the resort town of Moab missed signs that Petito was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Brian Laundrie.Disturbing body camera footage filmed last summer showed an upset Gabby crying as she spoke to Utah police about a fight with LaundrieShe was murdered in late August 2021, with her body dumped in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming.Petito was found dead on September 19. At the time, Laundrie had traveled home to Florida, but ran away from her parents’ home and committed suicide on September 21.
Gabby Petito’s family notified Utah officials Monday of plans to file a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging police failed to recognize their daughter was in a life-threatening situation last year when officers they investigated a fight between her and her boyfriend.
The fight took place in Moab last summer, weeks before authorities say her boyfriend Brian Laundrie killed her while the couple was on a cross-country van trip.
The $100 million notice of claim claims that police in the resort town of Moab missed signs that Petito was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Brian Laundrie on Aug. 12, 2021. Eventually, officers went allow the couple to leave after asking them to spend a night apart.
Police body camera video from that day showing a visibly upset Petito, 22, was widely viewed as the investigation unfolded and raised questions about whether a different police response could have prevented his death .
“Had the officers been properly trained and followed the law, Gabby would still be alive today,” attorney James McConkie said in a statement announcing the filing of the notice of claim.
Notices of claims are required before people can sue government entities, and the family’s claim said the suit will seek $50 million in damages.
Moab officials did not immediately respond to phone and email messages Monday seeking comment on the claim.
Body cam footage from the stop shows Petito crying in the back of a police cruiser on August 8, 2021
Petito went missing a month after that traffic stop, and her strangled body was discovered Sept. 19 on the edge of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Laundrie, 23, later killed herself in Florida after being named the only person of interest in her death. Petito and Landrie were originally from Long Island, New York.
Petito’s search attracted worldwide attention, spurring amateur detectives to scour social media for clues.
Earlier this year, an independent investigation found that Moab police made “several unintentional errors” when they encountered Petito and Laundrie.
In the report, police said it was highly likely that Petito “was a long-term victim of domestic violence, whether physical, mental and/or emotional.”
Brian Laundrie is seen off to the side as he talks to officers
Gabby Petito’s parents have filed a $50 million wrongful-death lawsuit against Moab police, accusing them of negligence. Petito was killed by fiancé Brian Laundrie weeks after the couple was arrested after strangers reported seeing them fighting.
Laundrie committed suicide in a Florida swamp, leaving behind a notebook that authorities say contained a confession.
Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, spoke about her daughter last week as she announced a $100,000 donation from the Gabby Petito Foundation to partner with the National Domestic Violence Hotline to help others survive to turbulent and violent relationships.
Schmidt told The Associated Press in an interview last week that he still has many unanswered questions about what went wrong.
“Looking back, I didn’t really see any signs. I think the only two people who will ever know what happened in that relationship were Gabby and Brian. And we can guess and we can make assumptions, but we don’t really know what happened,” she add.
“Most likely the scenario ended up like that because something was going on for a while.”
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