Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt never imagined their lives would be defined by tragedy. But in the summer of 2021, everything changed. Their daughter, Gabby Petito, set out on what was supposed to be a dream cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. She documented the journey on YouTube, sharing moments of joy, love, and adventure.
By early September, Brian returned home to North Port, Florida—alone. Gabby was missing. The nation watched as a desperate search unfolded, one that ended in heartbreak on September 19, 2021, when Gabby’s remains were discovered in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. She had been strangled to death. The man who once promised to love and protect her was the one who took her life.
Where Are Gabby Petito’s Parents Now?
For Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt, along with their spouses, Tara Petito and Jim Schmidt, life has become a mission. Grief doesn’t go away, but they’ve chosen to turn their pain into purpose. Shortly after Gabby’s death, they founded The Gabby Petito Foundation in late 2021, aiming to support survivors of domestic violence and missing persons cases. Over the past four years, they’ve worked tirelessly to ensure Gabby’s name is not just remembered, but that her story changes lives.
Joe has often said that closure is a word that doesn’t apply to parents who have lost a child. “You’re never going to get closure over the loss of a child. There will always be a hole in your heart that’s never going away,” he told PEOPLE in June 2024. Nichole echoed his thoughts later that year, admitting, “We’re never going to feel like we have justice.”
The pain remains fresh, even as time moves forward. “I think what hits me is it’s been three years now since the last time I heard her voice or seen her, and that’s really hard,” she said in October 2024. But while justice in the legal sense may never come, they have found their own form of justice—through advocacy and change.
“We would consider a settlement.”
Here is my interview with Gabby Petito’s parents attorney Pat Reilly — discussing allegations Brian Laundrie’s parents knew Gabby was “gone” almost two weeks before she was reported missing. pic.twitter.com/vmpyrLOHIP
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) December 5, 2023
Their fight started the moment Gabby Petito went missing. In September 2021, they pleaded with Brian’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, for information. They wrote a public letter, urging them to help find Gabby. “We believe you know the location where Brian left Gabby,” they wrote. “As a parent, how could you let us go through this pain and not help us?” The Laundries remained silent. Weeks later, Brian’s body was found in a Florida nature reserve. He had taken his own life, leaving behind a notebook in which he confessed to Gabby’s murder.
Gabby’s parents didn’t stop there. In November 2022, they filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Moab, Utah, citing police negligence. Just weeks before her death, Gabby and Brian had been stopped by Moab police after a witness reported seeing Brian physically assault her. Bodycam footage showed Gabby sobbing, clearly in distress, yet officers failed to recognize the signs of domestic violence.
Instead of protecting her, they let Brian go. “We saw the police officers intentionally ignoring the facts,” her parents wrote. They believe that had officers taken appropriate action, Gabby might still be alive today. In November 2024, their lawsuit was dismissed, but they remained undeterred. “We never anticipated that this would be an easy process,” they said, vowing to take the case to the Utah Supreme Court.
Their battle against the Laundries was even more personal. In early 2024, they filed a civil lawsuit for emotional distress, claiming Brian’s parents knew about Gabby’s death and did nothing. The case was settled before it went to trial. Afterward, Gabby’s parents released a statement: “Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby.”
The parents of Gabby Petito say they have reached a settlement in their suit against the parents of Brian Laundrie, the man who admitted responsibility for her death, as well as his parents’ attorney. pic.twitter.com/AfEwHnoxNJ
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) February 22, 2024
Today, Joe, Nichole, Tara, and Jim have found solace in each other. They have built an unbreakable bond, supporting one another through their darkest moments. “We lean on each other one day at a time,” Joe said in June 2024. Nichole added that Gabby would have loved to see her parents united in this way. “I think her spirit shines down now and is so happy that we’re working together and we’re together all the time because that’s what she wanted.”
They keep her memory alive in many ways. The Gabby Petito Foundation has made significant strides in domestic violence awareness, providing financial support to survivors and lobbying for legislative changes. They’ve helped pass four major laws that reform the way police handle missing persons cases and domestic violence reports.
In 2022, they donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, ensuring that others in abusive relationships can get the help Gabby never received. Nichole now works full-time as the foundation’s president, while Joe specializes in policy and legislation. Jim focuses on training first responders to recognize domestic violence, and Tara manages the foundation’s operations.
Gabby Petito’s parents crushed her van.
They did not want anyone else owning it – and it was too painful to keep.
They have pieces of the van in their living room as a memory of Gabby. pic.twitter.com/alvqW1JRLX
— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) February 18, 2025
Their work doesn’t end with legislation. They also fight for media attention on missing persons cases that don’t receive the same level of coverage as Gabby’s. “Over 600,000 people go missing in the US each year, and nearly half of them are Black or people of color. So why don’t you see those stories in the mainstream media?” Joe asked. They’ve partnered with organizations like the Black and Missing Foundation, ensuring that all victims receive the attention they deserve.
In February 2025, a three-part Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito, was released. While the series brought renewed attention to Gabby’s story, her parents were quick to remind viewers that this was not just entertainment—it was their reality. “When you watch the documentary, remember that this is a real person, this is a real family,” Nichole urged. “This can happen to anyone.”
Gabby Petito’s parents continue to find signs of her presence in their lives. “She sends us butterflies and rainbows,” Tara shared. “We’ll see her initials. She’ll send me signs, and I start texting them. As I’m texting them to Nichole, Nichole is getting the same signs.” It’s these small moments that keep them going, reminding them that Gabby is still with them.
In 2021, Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie went on a four month road trip across the United States documenting their van life on social media. Only one of them returned.
American Murder: Gabby Petito premieres February 17. pic.twitter.com/n5HR9XjB58
— Netflix (@netflix) January 27, 2025
Joe and Nicole’s mission is clear: to ensure that no other family endures the same heartbreak. “We can only use Gabby’s story to continue to help others,” they wrote. “If we can save even one life, that’s one more person saved because of Gabby.” And so, they push forward—through grief, through pain, through the relentless fight for change. Because for them, this isn’t just about justice. It’s about making sure Gabby’s light never fades.
