It has been more than three years since the heartbreaking case of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie captivated the world. The tale of a young couple on a cross-country van journey that transformed into a tragic true-crime narrative still resonates in public consciousness. With the release of Netflix’s new documentary American Murder: Gabby Petito, many are now curious: Where are Brian Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta, currently?
The Involvement of Brian Laundrie’s Parents in the Case
From the instant Brian returned to Florida—without Gabby—the actions (or lack thereof) of Christopher and Roberta Laundrie sparked intense debate.
Brian reached his parents’ North Port residence on September 1, 2021, driving the van registered under Gabby’s name. Ten days later, Gabby’s mother reported her missing, prompting police to visit the Laundrie residence. Their reaction? Silence. Rather than cooperating, they provided their attorney’s contact details and declined to answer any inquiries.
As the search for Gabby intensified, Brian himself disappeared. The Laundries maintained they were unaware of their son’s whereabouts, despite reporting him missing days after he was last seen. However, on October 20, 2021, after extensive searching, it was Christopher and Roberta—not law enforcement—who found Brian’s remains in Florida’s Carlton Reserve. A notebook discovered near his body contained a confession to Gabby’s murder.
The Civil Lawsuit and Controversial Evidence
Gabby’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, initiated a civil lawsuit in 2022, claiming that Christopher and Roberta not only knew about Gabby’s murder but also assisted Brian in covering it up and possibly planned to help him escape the country. Although no criminal charges were filed against the Laundries, evidence presented during the case raised significant concerns regarding their involvement.
One of the most shocking pieces of evidence was a letter from Roberta to Brian, which bore the words “burn after reading.” The letter contained phrases such as: “If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.” Roberta later asserted that the letter had no connection to Gabby and was composed prior to the trip, but the timing and content of the note left many feeling uneasy.
The civil lawsuit was settled in February
through mediation, with the details kept confidential. The Laundries’ attorney merely stated that they were “looking forward to putting this matter behind them.”
Where Are Christopher and Roberta Laundrie Now?
In spite of the public scrutiny, Christopher and Roberta have successfully maintained a low profile since the lawsuit’s conclusion. They are believed to still reside in their North Port, Florida home—the same place Brian returned to before his disappearance.
In contrast to Gabby’s family, who have leveraged their tragedy to advocate for domestic violence awareness, Christopher and Roberta have remained predominantly silent. They have not participated in any interviews, and their attorney continues to manage any public communication on their behalf. Reports suggest they have largely retreated from public life, likely due to the substantial backlash they encountered throughout the investigation.
As true-crime enthusiasts and advocates for justice consistently revisit this case, one fact remains clear—Gabby Petito’s story is far from erased from memory.
