 What began as a missing person's case last summer rode a wave of true crime obsession to become a social media sensation, drawing amateur online sleuthers and the kind of worldwide attention that can help authorities locate missing people. It was later revealed Gabby and Laundrie were stopped by police officers in Moab, Utah last summer but were ultimately not cited for domestic violence despite signs of distress and their own statements about physical conflict. Gabby's mum, dad and other family members have hoped to keep her name in the news to help make sure signs of abuse are recognized by authorities in a position to intervene, they said Thursday. Image from a police bodycam released by the Moab City Police Department in Utah shows Gabby Petito speaking with police as they responded to an altercation between her and Laundrie ( Moab City Police Department/AFP) 'There are laws put in place to protect victims. And those laws were not followed. A){kind=link}
The victim’s family believe her death could have been avoided if officers had fully investigated reports of domestic violence after a bystander called to report Gabby fighting with Brian Laundrie
The family of murdered 22-year-old Gabby Petito have sued the police, saying a ‘sloppy investigation’ and a ‘bungled’ traffic stop were partly responsible for her death.
The wrongful death suit filed on Thursday is the latest development in the high-profile case around the tragedy last year.
Gabby, 22, and boyfriend Brian Laundrie, 23, had been travelling across the United States documenting their travels on social media when the young woman was reported missing on September 11 2021.
Laundrie disappeared within days and a warrant for his arrest was issued on September 23, four days after Gabby’s strangled body was found. His remains were discovered in October.