{"id":1172095,"date":"2022-08-09T18:55:26","date_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:55:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/09\/family-of-gabby-petito-files-wrongful-death-claim-against-moab-police\/"},"modified":"2022-08-09T18:55:26","modified_gmt":"2022-08-09T18:55:26","slug":"family-of-gabby-petito-files-wrongful-death-claim-against-moab-police","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/08\/09\/family-of-gabby-petito-files-wrongful-death-claim-against-moab-police\/","title":{"rendered":"Family of Gabby Petito Files Wrongful Death Claim Against Moab Police"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<p>The tragic story of Gabby Petito\u2019s murder involved many parts, from true crime TikTokers to Brian Laundrie\u2019s parents.<\/p>\n<p>Brian abused and ultimately murdered her.<\/p>\n<p>But, as the entire world noted, there were others who catastrophically dropped the ball while Gabby was alive.<\/p>\n<p>Most significantly, police failed Gabby even when an eyewitness called to report abuse. Gabby\u2019s family is taking action.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript\/><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"794\" alt=\"Gabby Petito Bodycam Footage Released: Did Police Help to Conceal Brian Laundrie's Abuse?\" class=\"wp-image-409926 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-bodycam-footage-released-did-police-help-to-conceal.png\" loading=\"lazy\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Gabby Petito\u2019s parents have filed a wrongful deth claim against the police of Moab, Utah.<\/p>\n<p>The family accuses officers of failing to recognize their daughter as a victim of domestic violence.<\/p>\n<p>This was, of course, despite a 911 call and other obvious signs of abuse.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"520\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-family-addresses-media-28-september-2021-1024x520.png\" alt=\"Gabby Petito family addresses media (28 September 2021)\" class=\"wp-image-409778\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"520\" alt=\"Gabby Petito family addresses media (28 September 2021)\" class=\"wp-image-409778 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-family-addresses-media-28-september-2021.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Gabby\u2019s parents say that the abject failure of police led to Gabby\u2019s death.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe believe that these officers were negligent,\u201d attorney Brian Stewart stated in a press conference this week.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd,\u201d Stewart continued, \u201cthat their negligence contributed to the cause of Gabby\u2019s death.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"876\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/gabby-petito-on-her-gram-876x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Gabby Petito on Her Gram\" class=\"wp-image-410172\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"876\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Gabby Petito on Her Gram\" class=\"wp-image-410172 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-on-her-gram.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>The family\u2019s civil action seeks $50 million from the police department, its assistant chief, and the officers themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Two weeks before Brian Laundrie murdered Gabby, these police officers stopped the couple.<\/p>\n<p>Professional failings by the cops and a failure of training in the department, the family argues, amounts to negligence.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"743\" height=\"721\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-body-cam-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Gabby Petito Body Cam Photo\" class=\"wp-image-409872\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"743\" height=\"721\" alt=\"Gabby Petito Body Cam Photo\" class=\"wp-image-409872 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-body-cam-photo.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhile the full evidence has not been made public,\u201d attorney James McConkie acknowledged.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen it is released,\u201d McConkie continued, \u201cit will clearly show that if the officers had been properly trained.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>McConkie went on: \u201cAnd followed the law, Gabby would still be alive today.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1005\" height=\"969\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-on-instagram.jpg\" alt=\"Gabby Petito on Instagram\" class=\"wp-image-57621\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1005\" height=\"969\" alt=\"Gabby Petito on Instagram\" class=\"wp-image-57621 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-on-instagram.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Moab officers Eric Pratt and Daniel Robbins made catastrophic mistakes in their response.<\/p>\n<p>On August 12, 2021, they responded to a \u201cdomestic problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A previous investigation concluded that the mistakes were not intentional (that\u2019s why we call them mistakes).<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"625\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/gabby-petito-family-brian-laundries-family-must-help-us-find-him-1024x625.png\" alt=\"Gabby Petito Family: Brian Laundrie's Parents MUST Help Us Find Him!\" class=\"wp-image-410038\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"625\" alt=\"Gabby Petito Family: Brian Laundrie's Parents MUST Help Us Find Him!\" class=\"wp-image-410038 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-family-brian-laundries-family-must-help-us-find-him.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Almost one year ago, a 911 caller contacted authorities after witnessing Brian abusing Gabby.<\/p>\n<p>The responsible citizen reported to the 911 operator that they had seen him hit her in the face.<\/p>\n<p>Curiously, police did not interview the 911 caller.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/gabby-petito-and-brian-laundrie-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie\" class=\"wp-image-409606\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie\" class=\"wp-image-409606 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-and-brian-laundrie.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption>Gabby Petito posed with Brian Laundrie in this photo. Evidence related to her disappearance, from eyewitness reports of domestic violence to Brian\u2019s later disappearance, has made all photos of their \u201chappy\u201d times together disturbing in retrospect.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Instead, police focused their attention upon Gabby, branding <em>her <\/em>as the aggressor.<\/p>\n<p>We won\u2019t joke that the police were acting out a sneak peek of this spring\u2019s Johnny Depp vs Amber Heard lawsuit.<\/p>\n<p>Gabby told officers that her soon-to-be murderer had grabbed her face hard enough to scratch her cheek. He had also grabbed her arm hard enough to leave marks.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"828\" height=\"818\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-and-a-winged-mural.png\" alt=\"Gabby Petito and a Winged Mural\" class=\"wp-image-409527\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"828\" height=\"818\" alt=\"Gabby Petito and a Winged Mural\" class=\"wp-image-409527 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/gabby-petito-and-a-winged-mural.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption>Gabby Petito posed in front of a colorful mural designed for influencers and others to pose in front of.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In fact, the incident in which he grabbed her face was particularly ominous.<\/p>\n<p>It appears that his hand restricted her airway. Initially unreleased photos also showed that Brian had drawn blood.<\/p>\n<p>As we all know, he went on to strangle her to death later that month.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/brian-laundrie-pic-1024x531.png\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Pic\" class=\"wp-image-409912\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"531\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Pic\" class=\"wp-image-409912 lazyload\" src=\"http:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/brian-laundrie-pic.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption>Brian Laundrie is still on the run from the authorities. The former YouTuber is wanted in connection with the murder of Gabby Petito.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhen asked about her fight with Brian, Gabby displayed the classic hallmarks of an abused partner,\u201d the legal claim notes.<\/p>\n<p>The filing continues: \u201cattempting to take blame for the fight because she had hit Brian first.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd,\u201d the claim explains, \u201cthat she did not want to be separated from him.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"634\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/brian-laundrie-photo.jpg\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Photo\" class=\"wp-image-409557\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"634\" height=\"1024\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Photo\" class=\"wp-image-409557 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/brian-laundrie-photo.jpg\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><figcaption>Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito pose together here for an Instagram photo, snapped not long before the latter was killed.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u201cWhether for lack of training or refusal to follow their training,\u201d the wrongful death claim laments, \u201cthe officers did not press further.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Officers did not seem to question obvious inconsistencies in Brian Laundrie\u2019s version of events.<\/p>\n<p>Instead, they helped him to find a hotel room for the night, leaving Gabby to sleep in the van.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"618\" height=\"767\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/brian-laundrie-instagram-photo.png\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Instagram Photo\" class=\"wp-image-410125\"\/><\/noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"618\" height=\"767\" alt=\"Brian Laundrie Instagram Photo\" class=\"wp-image-410125 lazyload\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/gp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/brian-laundrie-instagram-photo.png\" data-trellis-processed=\"1\"\/><\/figure>\n<p>Nichole Schmidt hopes that her daughter\u2019s tragic murder can make a difference to someone in the future.<\/p>\n<p>In the mean time, this wrongful death suit may be difficult. And not only because Gabby\u2019s cause of death is so clear.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, SCOTUS has ruled that police have no <em>legal <\/em>obligation to \u201cprotect and serve.\u201d It\u2019s unclear how precedents like this will impact this case.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The tragic story of Gabby Petito\u2019s murder involved many parts, from true crime TikTokers to Brian Laundrie\u2019s parents. Brian abused and ultimately murdered her. But, as the entire world noted, there were others who catastrophically dropped the ball while Gabby was alive. Most significantly, police failed Gabby even when an eyewitness called to report abuse. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1172097,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1172095","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrity-gossip"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172095","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1172095"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1172095\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1172095"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1172095"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2022\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1172095"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}