The original lawsuit claimed that Laundrie intentionally killed Petito, a 22-year-old travel blogger, during a road trip. The suit claimed that Petito’s mother and father — Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito — “incurred funeral and burial expenses, and they have suffered a loss of care and comfort, and suffered a loss of probable future companionship, society and comfort.”
Petito and Laundrie spent the summer of 2021 traveling across the country in a white van together,documenting their adventures on YouTubealong the way.
Days after Petito’s body was discovered, the U.S. District Court of Wyoming issued awarrant for Laundrie’s arrestin relation to activities that occurred after Petito’s death — not for her death itself.
Laundrie was never arrested on the Wyoming charges or charged with the disappearance and murder of Petito. On Oct. 20,his remains were discoveredin a Florida nature park alongside his backpack and notebook. He had killed himself and left behind a confession about killing Petito.
Petito’s family does not expect to recover $3 million from Laundries' estate.
In March, Petito’s parents filed a suit against Laundrie’s parents, alleging that they knew he had killed her and were trying to help him flee. The Laundries denied the allegation, and unsuccessfully tried to dismiss the lawsuit. A trial is scheduled for August 2023.
Earlier this month, Petito’s parentsfiled a wrongful death lawsuitagainst the Moab, Utah police department. In the suit, the plaintiffs say that officers should’ve done more when Laundrie was questioned about a domestic violence incident that happened weeks before Petito’s death in which a 911 caller witnessedLaundrie “slapping” Petito.
If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go tothehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
source: people.com
