The notebook belonging to Gabby Petito’s killer, Brian Laundrie, confirmed that he indeed killed her before ending his own life.
After Laundrie was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in October 2021 after a massive manhunt, a notebook containing his handwriting was found with him. On Friday, an attorney for the Laundrie family released the notebook publicly. The only suspect in Petito’s death wrote, “I ended her life.”
“I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted,” he wrote. “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.” He claimed Petito wanted him to “end her pain” after a bump on her forehead grew larger during their time together on their cross-country trip. Laundrie also claimed that she sustained other painful injuries that left her not wanting to go on.
While his words alluded to Petito choosing to die with his assistance, law enforcement does not believe that was the case.
Petito was reported missing on September 11th after failing to return home following her and Laundrie’s trip. He returned to his family’s home without Petito and didn’t give the police or her family any clues about her whereabouts. Her body was located on September 19th near an undeveloped camping area along the border of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The coroner determined that she’d died three to four weeks before her remains were discovered. The cause of death was ruled homicidal strangulation.
Patrick Reilly, an attorney for the Petito family, slammed Laundrie for painting himself as a victim.
The Laundrie family has not publicly commented on the notebook’s contents.
