Gabby Petito fought with her fiance before she disappeared. He won't provide 'any helpful details.'

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Tue Sep 14, 2021: "Van life" youtuber returns from road trip without fiance. Wont speak to police; UPDATE _ STATEMENT!

Morning Mix

Gabby Petito fought with her fiance before she disappeared. He won’t provide ‘any helpful details,’ police say.



Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, 22, vanished while on a cross-country trip in a converted camper van with her boyfriend. (North Port Police Department/AP)

By Katie Shepherd
Today at 6:10 a.m. EDT

In the weeks before Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito disappeared during a road trip with her fiance, police responded to a call reporting a “domestic problem” between the couple.

According to a police report obtained by The Washington Post, a witness called 911 on Aug. 12 after he saw Petito, 22, and Brian Laundrie, 23, squabbling over a phone outside the Moonflower Community Cooperative — a natural food store in Moab, Utah.

The onlooker, identified only as Christopher, said he saw Petito slap Laundrie during the argument. Christopher said Petito then climbed into the vehicle through the driver-side window “as if Brian had locked her out and she was trying to find a way in,” the police report said. Then, the couple drove away.

When Christopher saw the fight unfold, he told police he “feared the worst.”

[A 22-year-old and her boyfriend set out on a cross-country road trip in their van. Now, she’s missing.]

{snip}

By Katie Shepherd
Katie Shepherd is a reporter on The Washington Post's Morning Mix team. Before joining The Post, she was a staff writer at Willamette Week in Portland, Ore. Twitter https://twitter.com/katemshepherd

[Klaralven]

1. He probably dropped her off somewhere. or she got out of the van and he drove off.

Revealed: Moment Utah cops tried to calm distressed van-life woman Gabby Petito after she attacked boyfriend leaving HIM with cuts to his face two weeks before she vanished – as he is named 'person of interest'
Bodycam footage shows an emotional Gaby Petito, 22, telling cops the couple 'have been fighting all morning'
She says she suffers from OCD and anxiety and was stressed of the blog they were working on to document the doomed cross-country trip
Her boyfriend Brian Laundrie is seen with scratches on his face and arms which he tells cops were caused when Petito 'was trying to get the keys from me' and 'hit me with her phone'
When cops asks Petito if her boyfriend hit her, she replies 'I guess' and makes a grabbing motion with her chin
Petito admits he 'pushed her' during the altercation and cops determine Petito was 'the primary aggressor'
The couple were traveling across the US in their camper van from early July and were visiting Moab, Utah when they got into an altercation
An incident report reveals officers were called to a 'possible domestic violence' on August 12
Petito was reported missing by her family on September 11 - 13 days after she spoke to her mom on August 25
Laundrie returned to their home in North Port, Florida, without her and has been named a person of interest

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9997531/Bodycam-footage-shows-cops-asking-Gabby-Petito-SLAPPED-boyfriend-days-vanished.html

[honest.abe]

5. This makes it sounds like the girl was the aggressor.

Its highly possible the guy provoked her by taking her phone and control of her van. I think what might have happened is that their quarreling continued and escalated and he forced her out the van and was going to leave her. She might have tried to stop him by attempting to block the van or hang onto the van and he ran over her killing her. That might explain why he is not talking and his parents are protecting him. It could just be a tragic accident that happened in the heat of the moment. It still would be considered at least manslaughter and complicated by the fact he left the scene of the accident. The crime would also be worsened if he hid the body or buried it. The kid is guilty of something no matter what. That is why he is hiding behind parents and lawyers.

Very sad and tragic situation.

[radicalleft]

14. Wow...

You should write for CSI or something...great way to automatically accuse the guy when the GF has demonstrated physical aggressiveness.

[honest.abe]

24. Just a theory to explain the weirdness of the situation.

Also, if you talk to women who have been abused by spouses or partners, they often are in situations like this where they appear to be the aggressor but in reality they are the ones being abused.

[uppityperson]

71. So are men who have been abused.

DV is not gender specific.

[honest.abe]

73. womensaid.org.uk: Domestic abuse is a gendered crime

From https://www.womensaid.org.uk/

Every case of domestic abuse should be taken seriously and each individual given access to the support they need. All victims should be able to access appropriate support. Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. They are also more likely to have experienced sustained physical, psychological or emotional abuse, or violence which results in injury or death.

There are important differences between male violence against women and female violence against men, namely the amount, severity and impact. Women experience higher rates of repeated victimisation and are much more likely to be seriously hurt (Walby & Towers, 2017; Walby & Allen, 2004) or killed than male victims of domestic abuse (ONS, 2020A; ONS, 2020B). Further to that, women are more likely to experience higher levels of fear and are more likely to be subjected to coercive and controlling behaviours (Dobash & Dobash, 2004; Hester, 2013; Myhill, 2015; Myhill, 2017).

Domestic abuse perpetrated by men against women is rooted in women’s unequal status in society and is part of the wider social problem of male violence against women and girls. We found in our research with the University of Bristol that sexism and misogyny set the scene for male abusive partners’ coercive and controlling behaviours. Sexism and misogyny serve to excuse abusive behaviour by men in intimate relationships with women and put up barriers to female survivors being believed and supported to leave abusive men (Women’s Aid et al, 2021). Read the blog about this research here.

[uppityperson]

74. My young friend finally told me they were abused for yrs after partner tried to run them over with a

car. It was a progression of wanting to be with someone, cutting ties with other friends, gradually becoming more and more isolated while their partner got more and more controlling and violent. The car incident, in front of witnesses, finally was the ending point.

They called DV facilities, shelters, lines, for help and were directed to a hot line that answered "hello, are you afraid you might hurt someone? They tried to get help from the police and were told no. Their cat was stolen. Other things were stolen. Stalking at home and work.

Friends "tried to not take sides", not understanding that this meant they were supporting the violent controlling partner. They knew the partner stole the cat and didn't tell my friend, seeking their pet. They downplayed the bruises, black eyes, even water witnessing the car assault.

My friend's biggest crime in this was they were male, the abuser female.

DV affects any gender, by any gender.

There are not enough resources or studies of male victims, but I can tell you from personal experience, volunteering at shelters, nursing career, there are more men being abused then many think.

Oh yes, I was also in a DV relationship was a young adult, escaped with the help of others, emotionally and physically traumatized.

[lagomorph777]

83. Women can be abusers too.

I speak from personal experience. Your sexism is not appreciated.

However, in this case, she's the missing one. It does look pretty incriminating for the one who's not missing.

[honest.abe]

85. Yes.

from the article..

Whilst both men and women may experience incidents of inter-personal violence and abuse, women are considerably more likely to experience repeated and severe forms of abuse, including sexual violence. They are also more likely to have experienced sustained physical, psychological or emotional abuse, or violence which results in injury or death.

[Demsrule86]

36. He slapped her in a previous complaint. If it was an accident, he wouldn't be doing what he is

doing now...he like killed her on purpose and disposed of her body. He is a piece of crap...did you miss the part she was trying to get the keys probably said he was going to leave her there. Having been in that situation those are the things that happen. I was lucky I left, but not before my first husband (we were teenagers) tried to shoot me. He is an abusive guy and anyone who gets involved with them is in danger.

[honest.abe]

45. Yeah, I read that.

But I dont think he is a cold blooded killer. Even her father said he never saw any "red flags" with the guy. That's why I think it was more an accidental or unintentional crime. However its still a crime and the guy will go to jail once the evidence comes out.

[Demsrule86]

50. He hit her. That is a red flag...it always escalates. And if he hid the body well enough he may

not go to jail...wealthy parents and all.

[Demovictory9]

61. i thought that she hit him

[ZonkerHarris]

13. Now explain why she hasn't contacted her family or friends for weeks

[Klaralven]

16. She might have died, might have had a mental breakdown, been picked up by someone

If they separated in some remote spot, there are a variety of things that could have happened to her.

Overboard with Goldie Hawn?

[ZonkerHarris]

22. The simple solution is usually the right one. He probably killed her. Intentionally or not.

There is no other motivation for him to not talk with the police and tell them what happened to her.
If he dropped her at the bus station or some other non guilty activity why wouldn't he tell the police that?
Because he killed her.

After long investigations in cases like this it almost always comes back to the spouse/partner/husband and then we find out he killed her.

My next prediction is that his parents will try to get their son out of the country.

[Klaralven]

23. He probably wouldn't want to talk about it if he dropped her off on some gravel road in the mountain

Abandoning her afoot in grizzly country may not be looked upon too favorably.

[honest.abe]

29. Hard to believe he would do that and feel no guilt after some time.

Supposedly he loved this girl and was going to marry her. You would think after a few hours driving alone in her van he would come to his senses and try to find her or at least tell authorities where he last saw her. He could easily craft a story that they were fighting and she ran off and then he couldn't find her. That's not a "crime".

[Klaralven]

44. That's what the lawyer is for - to keep him for saying something stupid because of feeling guilty

[honest.abe]

47. If he only dropped her off somewhere and she was found safe then he has nothing stupid to say.

Simply an argument that got a bit out of control. No crime there as long as she didn't die or was injured in any way.

[Klaralven]

51. She hasn't been found safe. He may have no idea what happened to her after they separated

[honest.abe]

56. That's my point.. why did he not even try to find her or tell someone where she might be found.

If he cared at all about her he would have done that.. unless he knows she dead.

[Demsrule86]

37. How about he beat her death, stabbed her, choked the life out of her and she is dead...

if he had dropped her off somewhere or she left, he would have said so with his lawyer present. He is not talking because he has something bad to hide.

[ZonkerHarris]

58. Yup

[obamanut2012]

26. Daily Mail

lolz

He killed her.

[Klaralven]

27. It's a tabloid story, and they do them well.

[LanternWaste]

62. Tales to Astound

had much better writers and editors.

[WHITT]

2. Soon To Be

the next 'Dateline' or '48 Hours'.

[Klaralven]

3. Is Gabby Petito's Disappearance Related to Married Couple's Murder? Utah Police Are 'Not Ruling Anyt

Authorities in Utah are looking into a potential link between the disappearance of 22-year-old Long Island, N.Y., native Gabrielle Petito and the gruesome murders of newlywed couple Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte, whose bodies were recovered from a hiking trail near camping grounds located in the La Sal Mountains.

Fox News spoke to a representative for the Grand County Sheriff's Office, who said all investigative avenues available to them are being explored.

"We're looking at everything, I mean, anything and everything that was suspicious around that time or we're not ruling anything out at this time," the unnamed spokesman said. "So, we're just investigating the information as it comes in."

Turner, 38, and Schulte, 24, were last seen on Aug. 13 at Woody's Tavern on Main Street in Moab. The women were found partially clothed five days later, and each had died from multiple gunshot wounds.

According to police, Petito and her fiancé, 23-year-old Brian Laundrie, were in Moab on Aug. 12. That morning, someone called police after the two started arguing outside a food cooperative called Moonflower — where Schulte had worked.

Late Wednesday, police released body camera footage from their interviews that day with both Petito and Laundrie. No charges were filed, even though Laundrie told officers Petito had struck him in the face during their fight.

Later, in paperwork, police would categorize the incident as a "mental health crisis."

https://people.com/crime/utah-police-not-ruling-out-potential-link-gabrielle-petito-crystal-turner-kylen-schulte/

[Wingus Dingus]

4. Hard to see why there would be a link between these people.

Aside from being in Moab at the same time. Moab is a bustling crowded place full of people from everywhere.

[Demsrule86]

40. In my mysteries...he would have killed his girlfriend and they saw it so he killed them too...

yeah, I read that kind of book!

[Klaralven]

46. But the girlfriend was alive later, after the couple was dead

How about they killed the couple, she started to feel guilty, he killed her to keep her quiet.

But at this point, it's all fictional.

[Demsrule86]

48. True that but how do we know the girl friend was alive...missed that.

[Klaralven]

53. Facetime with her mother.

[Quakerfriend]

6. How is it the Laundrie

has not been brought in for questioning?

[honest.abe]

8. I think he has declined to be questioned which is his right I believe.

They can only force him to be questioned by charging him with some crime and they want to make sure they have enough evidence before doing that. At least that is what I understand from reading about this.

[greenjar_01]

12. They can never force him to be questioned, charged or not

You literally have the right to remain silent.

[honest.abe]

25. Right but they could at least bring him in for questioning if they charged him with something.

Then he could just sit there and say nothing.

[Klaralven]

28. Wouldn't they need some evidence in order to charge him?

[honest.abe]

30. Yeah, that's why I think they are waiting to do it.

[greenjar_01]

34. He could demand a lawyer and wouldn't have to sit there saying nothing

That's not how it works in the US. If he asks for a lawyer, they have to stop questioning him immediately.

[honest.abe]

41. I think cops do actually bring suspects in to be questioned despite the possibility they wont talk.

[greenjar_01]

43. Sure, and they have to stop questioning immediately upon the request for a lawyer

There's not a situation where you have to sit there and listen to questions after you've invoked your rights under the Fifth Amendment. They are required to cease questioning immediately.

[honest.abe]

49. They are going to bring him for questioning at some point regardless of whether he talks or not.

I suspect there will be enough evidence since I think this guy is guilty as sin and is not too smart.

[greenjar_01]

54. They can arrest him

They cannot "bring him in for questioning." And they certainly cannot force him to listen to questions. This is basic stuff.

[honest.abe]

55. Yeah I got that, but the original question was why haven't they brought him in for questioning.

My response was I think they are waiting to get more evidence. The question whether he talks or not is another matter that you have clearly answered. Ciao.

[LanternWaste]

63. "This is basic stuff..."

Like wearing shirt and shoes for service?

[winstars]

7. Cops called... Let the (white) guy go after talking to them both...

I saw body cam footage yesterday on the news. Multiple cops were there in the parking lot. No audio but I bet the boyfriend did the "my crazy GF" routine and the cops split...

If they find this girl dead the police will have A LOT TO ANSWER FOR...

If the BF was a POC, the police probably would have shot him, after tasering him...

[honest.abe]

9. Indeed.

If it was a black guy fighting with a cute young white girl... probably another deadly knee on neck incident.

[LisaL]

32. Sounds like they would have to arrest her since she was the one whom witness saw hitting him.

NT

[Zeitghost]

57. From the reports

It appears the couple was released because the primary aggressor was a woman, not a white man. Had they followed through and not let their preconceived notion that men can not me victims of DV, the young lady may well still be alive.

[greenjar_01]

10. Dude is definitely going to spend decades in a Utah prison

A real POS.

[Klaralven]

18. Only if he murdered the couple. Gabby was still alive in Wyoming.

[Demsrule86]

38. He killed her...why else would he refuse to give any details? Why are you defending him...

He will likely do it again at some point. They usually do.

[uppityperson]

11. Please don't jump to conclusions so fast.

I've volunteered numerous hours at DV places and while this is a frightening situation for the parents, realize that assumptions can be inaccurate. I hope she's found soon, and all those involved get the help they need.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

19. Good point. I removed my comment ("Here we go again.") NT

[LiberalFighter]

15. If the police are competent they should be able to piece together a digital trail.

[Klaralven]

17. I think they've done that and the trail ends in Grand Teton Nat Park in Wyoming

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

[mahatmakanejeeves]

20. If they argued all the way from Moab to Grand Teton, that's a long way to argue. NT

[Klaralven]

21. 8 hours, 21 minutes of driving according to Google. They were allegedly headed to Yellowstone.

It's long ago, but one of my high school teachers used to work in Grand Teton during the summers. I think it is less developed and a little wilder than other National Parks.

[LisaL]

33. It's a safe bet they argued more than once.

NT

[liberal_mama]

31. It's probably too early to assume he killed her, but he needs to talk to the police and be helpful

because this does look very suspicious. It's possible she went off by herself, but why wouldn't the boyfriend want to help the investigation? I hope she will be found and be alive & okay.

I can't think of anything more stressful than living in a van with my husband! OMG, we'd be fighting all the time.

I just started reading a book about a guy who lived in a van to save money to pay off his student loans. I'm early in the book, but it doesn't sound like a lot of fun so far.

[greenjar_01]

35. Any competent criminal attorney would give the advice he and his family have clearly received

Say nothing to the police. Period.

[Demsrule86]

39. Really...well if she just left and he could help the police find her, I say he is a piece of

garbage. But I don't think that is what happened. She would have called her parents.

[greenjar_01]

42. I don't think that's what happened either

And I think he's a piece of shit. That said, talking to the police except through an attorney is foolish whether he did something or not (he did, in my view).

[Demsrule86]

52. He might get away with it...but I wonder how a Blackman who tried this would fare...

[Treefrog]

60. I don't know.

OJ did pretty well.

Meanwhile, this is not a racial story, but it almost certainly will be a story involving violence against women.

Is that not enough? You have to try and make it about race when it’s got nothing to do with that? How about caring about the missing woman instead making up some story to fit some other narrative?

I can’t believe the number of misogynistic comments I’ve read here today. It’s blowing my mind.

You ignore the story of a woman who has likely suffered violence at the hand of yet another man, and use it to try and make a completely unrelated point.

[MVP Kamala]

84. OJ wasn't a regular Black man, he was wealthy and famous

[mathematic]

68. He's literally a victim of intimate partner violence per this police report

Why don't you take that seriously and hold off on calling him a piece of garbage until more facts come out?

[uppityperson]

72. Thank you.

[displacedtexan]

77. Have you watched the police dash & body cams footage? She told them

and even re-enacted, how he had grabbed her face and left marks, and he belittled her for not being able to do anything that needed to be done on a van trip. And the police ignored her.
Later, as the police were driving the BF to a hotel, they compared their (my emphasis- "crazy wives," and the BF said something about getting her to go to the back of the van and make him a sandwich—so he could have some peace while driving.
There's a lot more to this story.

[womanofthehills]

69. Her fear was he was going to leave her - he locked her out of the van

And there were reports she had to climb in the window

[Xolodno]

59. Lot of trails to get lost on in the Grand Tetons.

And if made it to Yellowstone, a lot of thermal features and not all of them are fenced off.

They could have had one more major blow out and in the heat one of them said it was over. Then she told him to get in the van and go away, but continued the trip on her own.

Could have easily dropped her phone into a lake, river, etc. Plus service can get spotty in some places.

Campgrounds usually have a reservation system or if first come first serve, you have to list the license plate in the envelope you pay. Doesn't sound like they were boondocking. But that's all on paper, going to take awhile to narrow it down where they were exactly at the end. But if she's camping at a hikers campground...hope she used the sign in sheet.

If he just left her at a campground and went back home, he's regretting not telling her parents right away.

Or he could have done something a lot worse. But, why would you just go home? If he did murder her, usually dispose of the body and create a fake alibi..."I went to pick up some supplies and when I came back, she was gone".

And what about his phone?

Something really bizarre about this.

[FakeNoose]

64. That's what I'm thinking - his phone would incriminate him

... if he is guilty of something. Maybe he left her somewhere in Utah and drove home, well OK but why didn't he call anyone during all that time? It must have taken him 4 maybe 5 days to get back to Florida, he would have spoken to somebody.

If his phone has GPS - and almost certainly it does - then the cops would be able to see whether the guy went looking for her, or tried to call her in all that time. Oh, he didn't try to call her? Why not ... maybe because he knew she's already dead.

His phone is going to give him away, once the cops get to examine it.

[mahatmakanejeeves]

65. Police Release Body Cam Footage Of Incident Two Weeks Before Van Lifer's Disappearance

Police Release Body Cam Footage Of Incident Two Weeks Before Van Lifer's Disappearance

Now-missing Gabby Petito and her fiancée had been pulled over after witness reports of a "domestic problem."

By Adam Ismail
Today 11:22AM

Moab police have released body cam footage recorded during an August 12 incident between Gabby Petito — the 22-year-old New York woman who later went missing during a cross-country road trip — and her fiancée Brian Laundrie.

It’s understood that Petito and 23-year-old Laundrie, self-described “van lifers,” were traveling to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks in Wyoming in August. Their trip began in New York in July, according to ABC News. Petito’s mother reportedly last heard from her on August 25, but Laundrie returned home to North Port, Florida alone with the white Ford Transit registered to Petito on September 1. Ten days later, Petito’s family reported her missing.

Laundrie hasn’t yet cooperated with investigators. On Wednesday he was named by police as a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance.

The body cam footage, which lasts for an hour and 17 minutes, begins with an officer following the van, noting erratic driving and speeding. The couple are pulled over, with Laundrie behind the wheel and Petito in the passenger seat, visibly distraught with tears in her eyes.

{snip}

[edhopper]

66. 2000 people died from COVID today

but let's talk about the "Missing White Lady".
The NEWS has it's priorities straight.

[Drunken Irishman]

67. This post is illogical.

So, are you suggesting the news can only talk about COVID and nothing but COVID?

The top story on CNN is that the Department of Homeland Security is worried that the upcoming right-wing rally has the potential for violence - but 2,000 people died today from COVID, so, who cares, right?

[edhopper]

75. So you think this story deserves the attention it is getting

including being part of network news every night this week.

I don't.

[Drunken Irishman]

78. That's on you.

I think it's a pretty big story. It's not the top story on any station but it certainly is a compelling story. But if you're not interested, why are you even here?

[edhopper]

79. Why are we here?

Are we just a collection of sentient dust? Or placed here for a larger purpose?
I am here because you have to be somewhere, or you are nowhere at all.

[Drunken Irishman]

81. Just seems weird to come into a thread about a case you don't care about.

I guess some people just enjoy complaining.

More power to you. Have a good one.

[womanofthehills]

70. It's a fascinating story that many women can relate to

Many women, including myself, have exited cars in not the best places to get away from verbal (or physical) abusers. However, sounds like her fear was about him locking her out of the van.

She quit her job to become a blogger and she told the police he was telling her she would not succeed - sounds like he was sick of the blogging or purposely putting her down. Many women have dealt with insecure men trying to take them down and vice versa So, he keeps putting down her dream, she acts out and she’s the aggressor- according to the police.

[edhopper]

76. That's fine

I still don't think it needs nightly network coverage and the top of various newsfeeds.

[Niagara]

82. Her name is Gabby Petito, not "missing white lady".

Newlyweds Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte were found murdered in Moab, Utah. This is the same area were Gabby Petito and her tight-lipped boyfriend Laundrie hung out for 8 hours at a coffee shop. I don't know if the two incidents are related, but it's not being ruled out.

[struggle4progress]

80. ... Moab, Utah, police had an encounter with the couple on August 12, where officers described them

as having "engaged in some sort of altercation" ... Petito family attorney Richard Stafford said the family's last communication with Petito was August 30, but they do not believe the message they received was from Petito. He declined to share what the message said or why they did not believe it was her writing ... Laundrie returned to the couple's North Port home, where his parents also live, on September 1 ... September 11, 2021 .. Petito's family -- who lives in New York -- reported her missing on Saturday evening to the Suffolk County, New York, Police Department ... North Port authorities went to Laundrie's home .. asking to speak to him and his family but "we were essentially handed the information for their attorney" ...

A timeline of missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito's case
By Christina Maxouris, CNN
Updated 6:28 PM ET, Thu September 16, 2021