If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

Moab police responded to a domestic violence call involving the late van life travel blogger Gabby Petito and her suspected killer ex Brian Laundrie one year ago Thursday.

The ill-fated encounter, recorded on harrowing police bodycam video, preceded Petito’s brutal strangling at Laundrie’s hands just two weeks later.

Despite a Utah statute that requires someone to be arrested or cited during a domestic response, no such action was taken.

GABBY PETITO'S PARENTS ANNOUNCE WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST MOAB POLICE OVER BRIAN LAUNDRIE 911 CALL

Gabby Petito smiles

Gabby Petito in an undated photo.? (@petitojoseph/Instagram?)

The couple left on a cross-country road trip in June 2021, taking Petito’s converted Ford Transit van on a tour of national and state parks, chronicled on Petito’s Instagram and YouTube accounts.

Her disappearance under suspicious circumstances garnered international attention and spotlighted missing persons and domestic violence cases.

In the year that followed her death, her parents founded and built up a national nonprofit that continues to raise awareness.

The Gabby Petito Foundation

In response to their daughter’s tragic story, Petito’s parents and stepparents founded the Gabby Petito Foundation to raise awareness of missing persons and domestic violence.

The organization became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit on Oct. 22, 2021, and last week announced a $100,000 donation to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.

Gabby Bryce Canyon

Gabby Petito poses for an Instagram photo in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Family of Gabby Petito)

"Domestic violence can be stopped, and organizations like the Hotline are at the forefront of ensuring that survivors get the support they need to seek a safer future," Nichole Schmidt, Petito’s mother, said in the announcement. "We support organizations doing this life-saving work and encourage everyone to join us by making a gift to The Hotline’s emergency campaign. Thousands of people in need are depending on us." 

Answering questions from Fox News Digital and other outlets at a news briefing Monday regarding the family’s intent to sue Moab police for their handling of the Aug. 12 call, Petito’s parents said they hope her case will encourage other people trapped in abusive relationships to seek help and get out as soon as possible.

"Reach out if you can," Nichole Schmidt, said during the briefing, wiping tears from her eyes. "Reach out to someone."

The foundation declined to comment for this story, deferring to the parents’ Monday remarks.

"All we can hope is that Gabby’s legacy will be a positive one," Jim Schmidt, Petito’s stepfather, said. "That people will see her, and they recognize her and possibly compare maybe what they’re going through in their life and make a positive change."

Gabby Petito Brian Laundrie family courthouse Florida

Gabby Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, center, seen walking into a Florida courtroom ahead of a hearing on June 22, 2022. Jim Schmidt, Petito's stepfather, holds her hand. (Fox News Digital/Michael Ruiz)

To that end, the National Domestic Violence Hotline says the number of calls it has received since Petito’s story seized global headlines last summer has doubled to almost 80,000 a month.

"People care; we care; there are people that care," Joseph Petito, Gabby’s father, added. "And we think everyone out there should know that there are people who will do whatever we can to help."

GABBY PETITO HOMICIDE: TIMELINE OF DISAPPEARANCE WITH BRIAN LAUNDRIE

The Moab Incident

After Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, reported her missing on Sept. 11, 2021, Fox News Digital was the first media outlet to uncover the Moab domestic violence call – in which a witness told police he saw Laundrie hitting and slapping Petito and attempting to drive off without her. 

Petito climbed in through the window, according to the witness, and Laundrie slammed the car into a curb when police pulled the couple over outside town on the entrance ramp to Arches National Park a few minutes later.

The crossroads city’s police department drew scrutiny after a pair of bodycam videos were released in response to public records requests. Petito appeared in hysterics – upset the entire time, crying, motioning at her face and neck, where she suggested Laundrie had grabbed and scratched her. Lawyers for her parents earlier this week said a previously unreleased photo will show blood smeared over her face – something not clearly visible in the bodycam footage.

Laundrie was calm and collected and struck up a conversational tone with officers – despite lying to them about having a cellphone.

Laundrie told the officers that he didn’t have a phone and was afraid Petito was the one who would drive off on him and leave him without a way to communicate. 

Gabby Petito with step-mom Tara Petito.

Gabby Petito poses with her stepmother Tara Petito in an undated photo. (Tara Petito/Twitter)

GABBY PETITO'S MOTHER SLAMS BRIAN LAUNDRIE'S NOTEBOOK CONFESSION

"I was holding onto the keys because I didn’t want to go anywhere, and my big fear is, I don’t have my phone. I don't really – I don’t have a phone. So if she goes off without me…I’m on my own," he said in the bodycam video.

About 40 minutes later, they asked him for his phone number. He took a phone out of his pocket. But the officers never pressed him on this inconsistency.

Police made no arrests or citations despite a Utah statute requiring one to be issued in domestic violence incidents. After interviewing both Petito and Laundrie, as well as another witness, officers ruled out domestic violence and deemed the incident a "mental health break."

An outside investigation into Moab police’s handling of the Aug. 12 stop found "unintentional mistakes" – and issued recommendations on how the department should move forward.

Moab has not provided Fox News Digital with any documents, comment or confirmation that any of these recommendations had been followed. A city spokesperson declined to comment Monday citing a policy on pending litigation.

Baby Gabby in mother's arms

Nichole Schmidt used an image of a very young Petito in her lap as her avatar during the virtual news briefing on Monday. (Hunter Richards for Fox News Digital?)

Price, Utah, Police Capt. Brandon Ratcliffe, who conducted the outside review, did not respond to requests for an interview.

"I am confident and comfortable in stating the mistakes that were made were not made intentionally," he wrote in the report.

Pratt, who also did not respond to an interview request and is named in a pending notice of claim filed by Petito’s parents, is quoted in Ratcliffe’s report as skeptical of Laundrie’s innocence.

BRIAN LAUNDRIE SEARCH: FAMILY LAWYER ADDRESSES RUMORS PARENTS PLANTED EVIDENCE IN FLORIDA SWAMP

"Brian didn't get away with anything for being cute, and Brian showed more red flags than a Chinese Communist rally going on that he was a s----- boyfriend," Pratt told Ratcliffe. But, he claimed, "I couldn't charge him. The fingernail thing, the way it was described by [the redacted witness] and Gabby, even if I didn't clarify it with him, that's not something I can arrest him for."

Gabby Petito memorial bench in North Port

Gabby Petito memorial bench in Florida adorned with flowers. It was installed near where a temporary makeshift memorial had existed for months as police desperately searched for Petito and then Brian Laundrie. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)

Police ultimately ordered the couple to split up for the night. They left Petito with the converted camper van and drove Laundrie to a motel on Main Street, where the manager told Fox News Digital he could not confirm that the 23-year-old actually spent the night.

"We believe that these officers were negligent, and their negligence contributed to Gabby’s death," said Bryan Stewart, a Salt Lake City-based attorney representing the Petito and Schmidt families. "They did not understand the law and did not apply the law properly in Gabby’s situation."

Brian’s Break and Gabby’s Final Days

Gabby Petito poses on a hiking trail

Gabby Petito wanted to be a travel blogger and social media influencer and had dedicated herself to the outdoor lifestyle. (Instagram)

The couple's Aug. 12 fight, in part, grew out of an argument they'd had at a Moab coffee shop as Petito worked on her travel videos, according to conversations captured on police bodycam.

On Aug. 17, 2021, Laundrie flew home to Florida alone. During this break, Petito posted a video to her Van Life YouTube channel, painting a peachy portrait of the first half of the couple’s journey. Her REI water bottle, hung prominently in the back of the van in this video, would later turn up near Laundrie’s remains.

Laundrie returned to Utah where he and Petito resumed their road trip on Aug. 23.

Petito made her final Instagram post on Aug. 25. That’s also the last day she spoke with her family, according to her mother, Nichole Schmidt.

On or around Aug. 28, according to a lawsuit filed by Petito’s parents against Laundrie’s, the aspiring travel blogger was killed in Bridger-Teton National Forest north of Jackson, Wyoming. An FBI-led search effort found her remains there on Sept. 19. Laundrie confessed to the killing in a notebook entry found near his remains the following October, as Fox News Digital was first to report.

After Petito’s death, Laundrie drove cross-country from Wyoming to his parent’s house in North Port, Florida. He arrived on Sept. 1 and refused to speak with police or answer questions from the public. The Laundrie family went camping from Sept. 6 to 8, as Petito’s parents were still desperate for answers. Within days, Laundrie snuck off into the nearby Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park and shot himself in the head, according to the FBI.

Gabby Petito claps her hands

A still from one of Petito's travel-blogging videos. (Gabby Petito/YouTube)

BRIAN LAUNDRIE FOUND: PARENTS MAY HAVE JUST MISSED UNCOVERING REMAINS THEMSELVES

Fox News Digital was in the park with Laundrie’s parents and investigators five weeks later – when they found his partial remains and a dry bag that contained a handwritten confession, in which he wrote, "I ended her life."

"I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made," he continued. "I panicked. I was in shock."

Laundrie was the only person of interest and suspect in Petito’s death. She was beaten and strangled, according to the Teton County coroner Dr. Brent Blue.

The Lawsuit Against Moab Police

In addition to a pair of lawsuits filed against Laundrie’s parents, Petito’s family has also filed a $50 million notice of claim against the Moab Police Department, Officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Robbins, as well as former Assistant Chief Braydon Palmer and former Chief Bret Edge. They are alleging negligence and poor training on behalf of the city are to blame for their daughter’s death.

But such claims are hard to prove, according to legal experts.

Mike Padden, a St. Paul-based civil rights attorney who has battled Minneapolis police in a wrongful death case, said the Moab police will likely claim immunity.

"With a case like that, it’s difficult, I think it’s gonna be a really tough case for the plaintiff," he told Fox News Digital. "The lawyers representing law enforcement have probably taken the position that their clients are entitled to immunity – and I think that will be a really strong argument."

He predicted a motion to dismiss could come quickly.

He also said the court might find Ratcliffe’s independent investigation inadmissible.

"That’s evidence that would invade the province of the jury," he said. "That would typically not be admissible because it’s an entity that’s looking at the facts and reaching a conclusion – and that’s for the jury to decide."

Or, he said, the report could help the defense.

Petito-Schmidt attorneys hold news briefing Salt Lake City

Attorneys for the Petito and Schmidt families announced a notice of claim against Moab police at a news briefing in Salt Lake City Monday, Aug. 8. From left to right, Brad Park, Steven Jensen, Brian Stewart, Jim McConkie. (Hunter Richards for Fox News Digital?)

"They may have made the wrong decision, but that’s the whole point here – that’s why they have immunity," he said. "It’s a difficult decision, and even if they ultimately didn’t make the right decision, they should not be treated unfairly for not making the right decision."

Neama Rahmani, a Los Angeles-based trial attorney and former federal prosecutor who has been following the Petito story since it began, agreed.

"The Petito lawsuit against the Moab Police Department will likely be dismissed," he said. "Law enforcement is generally immune from civil liability for a failure to act, unless there is a specific legal duty like a duty to provide medical aide."

He said the Petito’s have a better case against Laundrie’s parents, if they can prove they helped their son escape after the slaying.

"Though the Moab officers probably should have arrested Laundrie, or both Laundrie and Petito, that failure is not actionable under civil law," he said. 

Moab bodycam shows bruising on Gabby Petito's arm

Attorneys for Gabby Petito's family say new photo evidence shows injuries she sustained before the Moab 911 call. (Parker + McConkie)

Padden said he thinks the Petito-Schmidt family could fare better with a federal lawsuit against Moab than in Utah state court.

Attorneys for the Petito-Schmidt family said they would argue that immunity in this case is unconstitutional and would allow the department to escape responsibility for its own actions.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Steve Bertolino, an attorney for Laundrie’s parents, said their son had not told them about the Moab incident, and they only learned of it when Fox News Digital exposed the Moab 911 call last September.

He has voiced support for Moab police.

"I don’t know that they did everything wrong," he told Fox News Digital. "Everybody assumes it was a judgment call. People don’t deserve to get arrested because they got in a fight with someone that they love."

If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.

universo-virtual.com
buytrendz.net
thisforall.net
benchpressgains.com
qthzb.com
mindhunter9.com
dwjqp1.com
secure-signup.net
ahaayy.com
soxtry.com
tressesindia.com
puresybian.com
krpano-chs.com
cre8workshop.com
hdkino.org
peixun021.com
qz786.com
utahperformingartscenter.org
maw-pr.com
zaaksen.com
ypxsptbfd7.com
worldqrmconference.com
shangyuwh.com
eejssdfsdfdfjsd.com
playminecraftfreeonline.com
trekvietnamtour.com
your-business-articles.com
essaywritingservice10.com
hindusamaaj.com
joggingvideo.com
wandercoups.com
onlinenewsofindia.com
worldgraphic-team.com
bnsrz.com
wormblaster.net
tongchengchuyange0004.com
internetknowing.com
breachurch.com
peachesnginburlesque.com
dataarchitectoo.com
clientfunnelformula.com
30pps.com
cherylroll.com
ks2252.com
webmanicura.com
osostore.com
softsmob.com
sofietsshotel.com
facetorch.com
nylawyerreview.com
apapromotions.com
shareparelli.com
goeaglepointe.com
thegreenmanpubphuket.com
karotorossian.com
publicsensor.com
taiwandefence.com
epcsur.com
odskc.com
inzziln.info
leaiiln.info
cq-oa.com
dqtianshun.com
southstills.com
tvtv98.com
thewellington-hotel.com
bccaipiao.com
colectoresindustrialesgs.com
shenanddcg.com
capriartfilmfestival.com
replicabreitlingsale.com
thaiamarinnewtoncorner.com
gkmcww.com
mbnkbj.com
andrewbrennandesign.com
cod54.com
luobinzhang.com
bartoysdirect.com
taquerialoscompadresdc.com
aaoodln.info
amcckln.info
drvrnln.info
dwabmln.info
fcsjoln.info
hlonxln.info
kcmeiln.info
kplrrln.info
fatcatoons.com
91guoys.com
signupforfreehosting.com
faithfirst.net
zjyc28.com
tongchengjinyeyouyue0004.com
nhuan6.com
oldgardensflowers.com
lightupthefloor.com
bahamamamas-stjohns.com
ly2818.com
905onthebay.com
fonemenu.com
notanothermovie.com
ukrainehighclassescort.com
meincmagazine.com
av-5858.com
yallerdawg.com
donkeythemovie.com
corporatehospitalitygroup.com
boboyy88.com
miteinander-lernen.com
dannayconsulting.com
officialtomsshoesoutletstore.com
forsale-amoxil-amoxicillin.net
generictadalafil-canada.net
guitarlessonseastlondon.com
lesliesrestaurants.com
mattyno9.com
nri-homeloans.com
rtgvisas-qatar.com
salbutamolventolinonline.net
sportsinjuries.info
topsedu.xyz
xmxm7.com
x332.xyz
sportstrainingblog.com
autopartspares.com
readguy.net
soniasegreto.com
bobbygdavis.com
wedsna.com
rgkntk.com
bkkmarketplace.com
zxqcwx.com
breakupprogram.com
boxcardc.com
unblockyoutubeindonesia.com
fabulousbookmark.com
beat-the.com
guatemala-sailfishing-vacations-charters.com
magie-marketing.com
kingstonliteracy.com
guitaraffinity.com
eurelookinggoodapparel.com
howtolosecheekfat.net
marioncma.org
oliviadavismusic.com
shantelcampbellrealestate.com
shopleborn13.com
topindiafree.com
v-visitors.net
qazwsxedcokmijn.com
parabis.net
terriesandelin.com
luxuryhomme.com
studyexpanse.com
ronoom.com
djjky.com
053hh.com
originbluei.com
baucishotel.com
33kkn.com
intrinsiqresearch.com
mariaescort-kiev.com
mymaguk.com
sponsored4u.com
crimsonclass.com
bataillenavale.com
searchtile.com
ze-stribrnych-struh.com
zenithalhype.com
modalpkv.com
bouisset-lafforgue.com
useupload.com
37r.net
autoankauf-muenster.com
bantinbongda.net
bilgius.com
brabustermagazine.com
indigrow.org
miicrosofts.net
mysmiletravel.com
selinasims.com
spellcubesapp.com
usa-faction.com
snn01.com
hope-kelley.com
bancodeprofissionais.com
zjccp99.com
liturgycreator.com
weedsmj.com
majorelenco.com
colcollect.com
androidnews-jp.com
hypoallergenicdogsnames.com
dailyupdatez.com
foodphotographyreviews.com
cricutcom-setup.com
chprowebdesign.com
katyrealty-kanepa.com
tasramar.com
bilgipinari.org
four-am.com
indiarepublicday.com
inquick-enbooks.com
iracmpi.com
kakaschoenen.com
lsm99flash.com
nana1255.com
ngen-niagara.com
technwzs.com
virtualonlinecasino1345.com
wallpapertop.net
nova-click.com
abeautifulcrazylife.com
diggmobile.com
denochemexicana.com
eventhalfkg.com
medcon-taiwan.com
life-himawari.com
myriamshomes.com
nightmarevue.com
allstarsru.com
bestofthebuckeyestate.com
bestofthefirststate.com
bestwireless7.com
declarationintermittent.com
findhereall.com
jingyou888.com
lsm99deal.com
lsm99galaxy.com
moozatech.com
nuagh.com
patliyo.com
philomenamagikz.net
rckouba.net
saturnunipessoallda.com
tallahasseefrolics.com
thematurehardcore.net
totalenvironment-inthatquietearth.com
velislavakaymakanova.com
vermontenergetic.com
sizam-design.com
kakakpintar.com
begorgeouslady.com
1800birks4u.com
2wheelstogo.com
6strip4you.com
bigdata-world.net
emailandco.net
gacapal.com
jharpost.com
krishnaastro.com
lsm99credit.com
mascalzonicampani.com
sitemapxml.org
thecityslums.net
topagh.com
flairnetwebdesign.com
bangkaeair.com
beneventocoupon.com
noternet.org
oqtive.com
smilebrightrx.com
decollage-etiquette.com
1millionbestdownloads.com
7658.info
bidbass.com
devlopworldtech.com
digitalmarketingrajkot.com
fluginfo.net
naqlafshk.com
passion-decouverte.com
playsirius.com
spacceleratorintl.com
stikyballs.com
top10way.com
yokidsyogurt.com
zszyhl.com
16firthcrescent.com
abogadolaboralistamd.com
apk2wap.com
aromacremeria.com
banparacard.com
bosmanraws.com
businessproviderblog.com
caltonosa.com
calvaryrevivalchurch.org
chastenedsoulwithabrokenheart.com
cheminotsgardcevennes.com
cooksspot.com
cqxzpt.com
deesywig.com
deltacartoonmaps.com
despixelsetdeshommes.com
duocoracaobrasileiro.com
fareshopbd.com
goodpainspills.com
kobisitecdn.com
makaigoods.com
mgs1454.com
piccadillyresidences.com
radiolaondafresca.com
rubendorf.com
searchengineimprov.com
sellmyhrvahome.com
shugahouseessentials.com
sonihullquad.com
subtractkilos.com
valeriekelmansky.com
vipasdigitalmarketing.com
voolivrerj.com
zeelonggroup.com
1015southrockhill.com
10x10b.com
111-online-casinos.com
191cb.com
3665arpentunitd.com
aitesonics.com
bag-shokunin.com
brightotech.com
communication-digitale-services.com
covoakland.org
dariaprimapack.com
freefortniteaccountss.com
gatebizglobal.com
global1entertainmentnews.com
greatytene.com
hiroshiwakita.com
iktodaypk.com
jahatsakong.com
meadowbrookgolfgroup.com
newsbharati.net
platinumstudiosdesign.com
slotxogamesplay.com
strikestaruk.com
trucosdefortnite.com
ufabetrune.com
weddedtowhitmore.com
12940brycecanyonunitb.com
1311dietrichoaks.com
2monarchtraceunit303.com
601legendhill.com
850elaine.com
adieusolasomade.com
andora-ke.com
bestslotxogames.com
cannagomcallen.com
endlesslyhot.com
iestpjva.com
ouqprint.com
pwmaplefest.com
qtylmr.com
rb88betting.com
buscadogues.com
1007macfm.com
born-wild.com
growthinvests.com
promocode-casino.com
proyectogalgoargentina.com
wbthompson-art.com
whitemountainwheels.com
7thavehvl.com
developmethis.com
funkydogbowties.com
travelodgegrandjunction.com
gao-town.com
globalmarketsuite.com
blogshippo.com
hdbka.com
proboards67.com
outletonline-michaelkors.com
kalkis-research.com
thuthuatit.net
buckcash.com
hollistercanada.com
docterror.com
asadart.com
vmayke.org
erwincomputers.com
dirimart.org
okkii.com
loteriasdecehegin.com
mountanalog.com
healingtaobritain.com
ttxmonitor.com
bamthemes.com
nwordpress.com
11bolabonanza.com
avgo.top