Nichole Schmidt, the mother of late murder victim Gabby Petito, made a startling declaration at CrimeCon2024 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The grieving parent publicly forgave Brian Laundrie, Petito's murderer, and accused his mother, Roberta Laundrie, of orchestrating the tragic events that captured the world's attention, as the Daily Mail reports.
Gabby Petito’s murder took place during a cross-country trip in 2021, garnering nationwide attention. Brian Laundrie, who confessed to the murder in a note, subsequently took his own life.
"I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you," Schmidt expressed during her speech. She further explained her motivation, stating, "I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life."
Petito's remains were discovered in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest in September 2021. Authorities determined her cause of death was manual strangulation.
Schmidt didn't hold back when addressing Roberta Laundrie during her poignant address. She labeled Roberta as the "mastermind" behind the series of events that led to her daughter's murder.
"As for you, Roberta, and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways, I see no empathy in your eyes. No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions," she charged.
The Petito family has pursued legal action against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, accusing them of having knowledge about Gabby's murder and aiding Brian's subsequent actions.
In their lawsuit, the Petito family sought at least $100,000 in damages. Part of the evidence included an undated letter from Roberta to Brian, with the chilling instruction, "burn after reading" on the envelope.
In the letter, Roberta indicated a willingness to assist her son in dire circumstances. Attorney Steve Bertolino confirmed that "Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved."
Bertolino emphasized that the "terms of the resolution are confidential" but conveyed a desire to "put this matter behind us." The two families reached this settlement in February 2024 before the civil trial commenced.
The FBI concluded that Brian Laundrie had written a confession in a notebook about Gabby Petito's murder. Additionally, Brian's remains were discovered on Oct. 20, 2021. Disputes regarding the letter's timing persist, with Roberta claiming it was written before the trip in early June 2021.
Ultimately, Nichole Schmidt's aim was to find personal peace through forgiveness and to highlight the unresolved questions surrounding Roberta Laundrie's involvement. Her speech at CrimeCon2024 called for empathy and accountability, with hopes for healing on all sides.
