What really happened to Gabby Petito? Unpacking the true story behind Netflix's “American Murder” documentary and the case that captivated the nation

Two people went on a trip. One person returned. That's the Gabby Petito case in a nutshell. The true story, though, contains a number of twists and turns, the likes of which are unpacked in a new Netflix docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito.

Directed by Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro, the three-part series tells the story of Petito, 22, and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, 23, who planned on documenting their cross-country travels in a van on YouTube. After Petito's family reported her missing in September 2021, her disappearance captured the nation's attention, and the case spiraled into one of the most-discussed true crime cases in recent memory.

Read on for a breakdown of what really happened to Gabby Petito, from the beginning of her relationship with Laundrie to his disputed confession.

Who was Gabby Petito?

Born in 1999, Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito grew up in Blue Point, N.Y., as the oldest of six siblings and half-siblings. In 2019, she began dating Brian Laundrie, a former high school classmate. She later moved in with Laundrie and his parents in North Port, Fla.

They both worked at a Publix in the area, with Petito as a pharmacy technician and Laundrie in the grocery store. When the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up in early 2020, the couple quit their jobs and planned a cross-country adventure together, hoping to start a travel blog and YouTube channel.

On Aug. 19, 2021, the pair posted a YouTube video titled "Beginning Our Van Life Journey." The vlog shows them on various legs of their trip, highlighting beach days, meals, and their camping arrangements.

"After our first cross country trip in a little Nissan Sentra, we both decided we to wanted downsize our lives and travel full time," reads the video's caption. "We quickly realized we had to come up with a solution if we wanted to continue traveling and living nomadically, so that's why we handcrafted our own tiny van, a simple 2012 Ford Transit Connect, utilizing space with unique designs and features. Creating a space for both artistic expression and distance hiking."

She was reported missing less than a month later.

What happened to Gabby Petito?

On Aug. 12, 2021, police pulled the couple over in Moab, Utah, after they were allegedly spotted arguing in town. According to PEOPLE, the caller reporting the argument said he saw a man hitting a woman.

During the traffic stop, Petito admitted to hitting Laundrie first, though she had marks on her face. As shown in body cam footage publicly released after Petito's disappearance, Moab officers deemed her the aggressor and left her with the van while they put Laundrie up in a hotel for the night.

Petito's family officially reported her missing on Sept. 11 after not hearing from her in weeks. It was soon revealed that Laundrie had quietly returned home on Sept. 1 without Petito. He refused to speak with authorities, and his parents told officers to direct all questions to their lawyer.

How did Gabby Petito die?

Petito was found dead in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept. 19, eight days after she was reported missing. According to the FBI, her remains were discovered in the vicinity of the Spread Creek dispersed camping area.

Authorities declared her death a homicide two days later. After nearly three weeks, an autopsy revealed that Petito died from strangulation and that her body sat outside for three to four weeks.

Did Gabby Petito's family suspect Brian Laundrie of her murder?

On September 15, Laundire was named a person of interest by the North Port Police, but neither he nor his parents would speak to authorities, instead telling them to contact their lawyer.

"Oh, he's been a person of interest in my opinion, since this thing started," Joseph Petito, Gabby's father, told PEOPLE. "I've got questions, but the only one that matters is, 'Where'd you leave Gabby? Where did you last see her?'"

He added, "The only reason you invoke your Fifth [Amendment right], in my opinion, is because you don't want to incriminate yourself. I'm not trying to accuse nobody, but right now, it looks like you are guilty. Innocent people don't clam up."

Joseph did, however, note that he thought the couple was happy. "There are no red flags that stick out," he said.

What happened to Brian Laundrie?

On Sept. 17, North Port Police spokesperson Josh Taylor revealed that Laundrie had also gone missing. "We've been trying all week to talk to his family, to talk to Brian, and now they've called us here on Friday, we've gone to the home, and they're saying now they have not seen their son," Taylor told CNN. "So we are working through those details as we speak. It is another twist in this story."

Laundrie's parents claimed they last saw him on Sept. 13, when he departed their home for a hike at the nearby Carlton Reserve.

Four days after the discovery of Petito's body, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued a federal warrant for Laundrie's arrest on Sept. 23, alleging that he used her debit card during the time she was missing.

On Oct. 21, authorities found human remains in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park that were later confirmed to be Laundrie's. The park is connected to Carlton Reserve, where Laundrie's parents said he was going on a hike the last time they saw him.

The following month, the family's lawyer revealed that Laundrie had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His death was ruled a suicide, and no funeral was held.

Did Brian Laundrie kill Gabby Petito?

In January 2022, FBI officials determined Laundrie to be responsible for her murder, revealing that a notebook found near his remains included a written confession. Five months later, the Laundrie family's attorney released the notebook's contents.

"I ended her life," Laundrie wrote, calling her death an "unexpected tragedy." He claimed Petito was injured and that she was "begging for an end to her pain."

He continued, "I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made... I panicked. I was in shock. But from the moment I decided, took away her pain, I knew I couldn't go on without her."

Patrick Reilly, a lawyer for the Petito family, called the confession "nonsense," adding, "He is writing a letter as though he wants people to feel sorry for him."

"Narcissists rewrite history to escape accountability," said Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, in response to the confession.

In March 2022, Petito's parents filed a civil lawsuit against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, claiming they helped their son conceal the murder and were making plans to help him flee the country. The families reached a settlement in February 2024.

Where can I watch American Murder: Gabby Petito?

All three episodes of American Murder: Gabby Petito are now streaming on Netflix.

Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly