“It took everything in my power to not do the thing that was perceived as right.”
Gabby Petito’s mom, Nichole Schmidt, is opening up more about what she knows about her daughter’s murder while a guest on actor Taylor Lautner’s podcast, “The Squeeze.”
During her time on the podcast, co-hosted by Lautner’s wife, Tay, Schmidt revealed that she was recently made aware of new information regarding her daughter’s case.
Gabby Petito was found dead in 2021 after she and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, bought a van to travel around the continental United States together.
Petito was discovered deceased several weeks after her family reported her missing in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming, the last place she and Laundrie were seen together.
Shortly after Petito was reported missing, Laundrie went missing as well. His parents did not cooperate with police during their search for both Petito and Laundrie.
Laundrie was later discovered dead in his home state of Florida after driving the van Petito purchased from Wyoming to Florida.
He admitted to taking Petito’s life in a note he wrote before his death.
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Now, months after a documentary detailing Petito’s life and her relationship with Laundrie was released on Netflix, her mom is sharing new information she’s recently learned.
“I found out some new information a few days ago,” Schmidt told the hosts of “The Squeeze.”
“There was, I actually don't know their name, which is better, that was at the house when Brian was missing,” she explained saying that before he was ever discovered dead, “his room was completely gutted and renovated,” Schmidt claimed.
“None of his things were there. That very same week, Gabby was reported missing, and cops were going to their house to try to get, I guess, a scent for their dogs. The room was completely empty. Just gone.”
As Schmidt continued, saying, “I’m like, just add it to the list, because I didn't even know about that.”
“The van was completely cleaned out. The mattress (they slept on) was never recovered. Gabby's stuff was packed away in a closet,” the mom continued.
“I know the scene where they go to the door and talk to the parents, they never actually talked to Brian directly. Nobody had ever seen him. It drives me crazy. That's the one thing that keeps me up at night sometimes.”
Through their tragedy, the Petito and Schmidt family started the Gabby Petito Foundation to spread awareness about domestic violence.
