The mother of Gabby Petito is suing the estate of her daughter’s killer for $30 million.
Despite Brian Laundrie committing suicide after murdering Petito during a cross-country trip, Nichole Schmidt still seeks justice for her daughter. In the newly filed lawsuit, Schmidt accuses Petito’s boyfriend at the time of intentionally killing her. This latest filing comes two months after Petitos parents sued Laundrie’s family for helping him evade law enforcement even after learning that he’d killed Petito.
Petito was reported missing on September 11th, about ten days after Laundrie returned home from his family’s Florida home without Petito. Her remains were located on September 19th near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. An autopsy confirmed that she’d been strangled to death. Laundrie committed suicide in October in a Florida preserve shortly after being reported missing himself. A notebook belonging to him was found along with his body, and a confession was written inside.
Steven Bertolino, the attorney representing the Laundries said that the wrongful death lawsuit was “expected.” He says the Petito’s will have “gained nothing more than a piece of paper that tells them what everyone already knows.” He has also asked the court to dismiss the civil lawsuit filed by Petito’s family.
Nichole Schmidt is seeking damages for “incurred funeral and burial expenses,” and her family’s “loss of care and comfort,” and “loss of probable future companionship, society, and comfort.” The complaint is also asking for a jury trial.
