Brian Laundrie’s Parents Critique ‘Inaccuracies’ in Gabby Petito Documentary

Brian Laundrie’s family has responded to Netflix’s Gabby Petito documentary, criticizing what they claim are inaccuracies.

“A single viewpoint presented as the ‘truth’ through their perspective,” stated the lawyer for Roberta and Christopher Laundrie, Steven Bertolino, to the U.S. Sun and TMZ on Tuesday, February 18, the day after the release of American Murder: Gabby Petito.

“Each party feels their viewpoint is accurate,” Bertolino added. “It’s difficult to understand the perspective of the opposing side amidst the confusion and distrust.”

The statement emphasized that “there were no inconsistencies” expressed by Roberta and Christopher.

“The documentary features numerous inaccuracies, erroneous timeline juxtapositions, and mistakes and omissions — possibly intentional to portray their ‘truth,’ or perhaps merely mistakes,” Bertolino said. “We all acknowledge that Brian took Gabby’s life and subsequently ended his own. Allow the parents of both Gabby and Brian to grieve in peace.”

Bertolino did not clarify which aspects of the documentary he deemed incorrect. Netflix and Stage 29 Productions have yet to respond publicly to the Laundrie family’s statement.

American Murder: Gabby Petito delved into the turbulent relationship between Petito and Brian leading up to their notorious cross-country journey. The couple documented their 2021 road trip for Petito’s YouTube channel, but Gabby ultimately did not come home.

Brian was found at his parents’ residence in September 2021 while Petito was missing. He was reported missing more than a week later following the discovery of Petito’s body. A highly publicized search for Brian concluded in October 2021 with the discovery of his remains in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.

In January 2022, relying on entries found in Brian’s journals, the FBI concluded he was accountable for Petito’s murder. Following this, Petito’s parents launched a civil lawsuit against Brian’s parents, alleging they were aware of the circumstances surrounding Petito’s murder and the location of her body.

A judge ruled in favor of Petito’s family in the wrongful death case in late 2022, granting $3 million to her mother, who serves as the administrator of her daughter’s estate. Prior to the release of American Murder, filmmakers Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro discussed their attempts to contact Roberta and Christopher in an exclusive interview with Us Weekly.

“We did reach out to his family. It’s a sensitive topic for them, so we put in our best effort to connect with them,” Nason shared, while Gasparro added, “We made contact with the family, their lawyer, and Brian’s sister. We respected their decision not to participate.”

Nason and Gasparro conveyed to Us that they were able to narrate Petito’s story with the assistance of her parents.

“In all our documentaries, we aim to go directly to the sources and those closest to the individuals affected, whether they are victims who are no longer alive or people with firsthand experiences,” Nason clarified. “That’s our starting point as we sift through the extensive data and narratives surrounding these significant stories.”

She continued: “Her parents were pivotal in helping us uncover the truth. They provided access to her personal archive of videos and artwork, letting us bring her story to life from her own perspective, which we were incredibly fortunate to have.”

American Murder: Gabby Petito is currently available for streaming on Netflix.