In a recent development in the Gabby Petito case, the lawyer representing her parents has withdrawn his request for the court to order the attorney for her suspected killer, Brian Laundrie, to break attorney-client privilege. The motion aimed to test whether privilege exists between a deceased client and a lawyer when the client confesses to a crime in a suicide note. However, the attorney, Pat Reilly, argued that the handwritten confession counted as a waiver.
The withdrawal of the motion has resulted in the cancellation of a scheduled hearing on the issue, which was set for December 20. Reilly stated that he no longer believes it is necessary to obtain the testimony of Laundrie’s lawyer, Steven Bertolino, to make the case.
In separate filings related to the same lawsuit, Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta, denied allegations that they knew about Petito’s death but admitted contacting Bertolino for legal representation for their son after the incident. It was recently revealed that Bertolino had worked to secure a top Wyoming lawyer for Brian Laundrie, a fact that was unknown to the public until last week.
The timeline of events indicates that Petito was allegedly killed on August 27, and between that time, Laundrie drove from Wyoming to his parents’ house in Florida in her van, reportedly using her debit card during the journey. He went camping with his family over Labor Day weekend and did not disclose his missing fiancée’s whereabouts.
Brian Laundrie was questioned by the police in Moab, Utah, about two weeks before Petito’s alleged murder. His remains were discovered in a Florida swamp, and a suicide note confessing to killing Petito was found nearby. Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, Gabby’s parents, are suing the Laundries, claiming that they had direct knowledge of her death and likely knew the location of her remains when they issued a statement expressing hope for her safe return.
The Laundries argue that they felt pressured to make a statement due to media coverage, protests outside their home, and alleged death threats. Since the case gained national attention, Petito’s parents have become advocates for missing persons and domestic violence victims.
It is important to note that if you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, assistance can be sought from the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE).
