In a heartbreaking new revelation, Gabby Petito’s parents have opened up about the emotional decision they made to destroy the van that she and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, traveled across the country in before her tragic murder in 2021.

Gabby’s father, Joe Petito, shared with NewsNation that they decided to crush the vehicle out of concern that it might fall into the wrong hands.

“We crushed the van,” Joe explained.

“We didn’t want the van to be out there and someone owning it and then saying, ‘Here’s the van that Gabby was…’ So, we had it crushed.”

Preserving Keepsakes

While the van was destroyed, Joe and Tara Petito, Gabby’s stepmother, chose to keep a few meaningful items from it.

They preserved a gasoline cap from the white Ford Transit Connect, as well as a sticker Gabby had picked up during her visit to the Great Smoky Mountains.

These keepsakes serve as precious reminders of Gabby’s life and her ill-fated journey.

The Journey and Tragic End

Gabby, who was 22 at the time, set out on a cross-country road trip with Brian, 23, on July 1, 2021.

The couple planned to document their adventure and potentially grow a social media following with their “van life” content.

However, the trip took a dark turn when police responded to a domestic dispute between the couple on August 12, 2021, in Moab, Utah.

The body camera footage from the incident captured a heart-wrenching moment where Gabby was visibly upset and crying, while Brian appeared calm.

That would be the last time anyone saw Gabby alive.

Brian returned to his parents’ home in Florida on September 1, but Gabby was never heard from again.

Authorities later determined that Gabby had been murdered by strangulation on August 27, 2021, in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Her remains were discovered a month later.

The Hunt for Brian Laundrie

Following Gabby’s death, a nationwide manhunt for Brian Laundrie began.

Initially, there was speculation that he might be hiding out on the Appalachian Trail, but it was later discovered that he had been in Florida’s Carlton Reserve.

Tragically, Brian’s remains were found on October 20, 2021, after he had taken his own life.

Laundrie Family’s Controversial Actions

The involvement of Brian Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, also became a major point of focus after they hired a criminal defense attorney shortly after Gabby’s disappearance.

Gabby’s family filed two wrongful death lawsuits, one of which resulted in a $3 million payout from Brian Laundrie’s estate.

A third lawsuit, accusing the Moab Police Department of contributing to Gabby’s death, was dismissed in November 2024.

Court documents revealed shocking details, including claims that Brian Laundrie called his parents multiple times after killing Gabby, admitting his crime and asking for a lawyer before she was even reported missing.

Emotional Responses from Gabby’s Parents

When asked if Christopher and Roberta Laundrie had ever apologized to them, both Joe and Tara Petito quickly responded with a resounding “no.”

Joe Petito expressed his frustration, stating, “No. We’re never gonna get that.”

Tara added, “At this point, I don’t want one.

I would love for them to be charged with something, I really, really would love that.

Do I think that’s happening now? Unfortunately, no. So I really want to erase that name out of my memory.”

Meanwhile, Gabby’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, shared a deeply personal sentiment about her journey of forgiveness.

“I have forgiven Brian, and I know that’s what Gabby would have wanted. And I’m moving forward so I can help people,” Nicole said.

“I don’t think that everybody has to forgive.

They can when they’re ready, or they might never be ready, but for me personally, I needed to forgive to let that anger go.”

New Netflix Documentary Sheds Light on the Case

These emotional comments come just as Netflix released a three-episode documentary titled American Murder: Gabby Petito, which premiered on February 17, 2025.

The series, which has quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s trending list, offers an in-depth look at Gabby’s life and the events leading up to her tragic death.

It has captivated millions of viewers, continuing to keep her story in the public eye as her family navigates the painful aftermath.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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