Table of Contents
- Tragic Picture Sparks Memories
- Raising Awareness for Domestic Violence
- A Disturbing Case
- Supporting the Initiative
Gabby Petito’s devastated family has shared a now-heartbreaking image of the slain vlogger that has evoked painful memories of what could have been.
The grieving parents are raising awareness about domestic violence years after Petito was tragically murdered by her then-fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
Gabby Petito’s family shares a distressing image of the vlogger in a heartbreaking new post that raises ‘what if’ questionsCredit: Moab Police Department
In the summer of 2021, Gabby and Brian embarked on a cross-country van trip. However, less than two months into their journey, tragedy struck. Gabby disappeared while Brian returned home alone to Florida.Credit: Social Media – Refer to source
The bodycam footage, recorded in August 2021, captures the moment Moab police in Utah stopped the couple after they were seen arguing.
This traffic stop became a crucial moment in Petito’s tragic case, as she went missing at Teton National Park in Wyoming just days later.
In the image, Petito is shown in the back of a police car, visibly upset as she speaks with an officer.
The family reopened old wounds with this picture to discuss their efforts to assist victims of domestic violence.
The police separated the couple and questioned them individually to understand the situation. At that time, Petito seemed to minimize their altercation and stated that she had struck Laundrie first.
In the caption, Petito’s family wrote, “They separated them for the night, and then sent her back without any support. Her life was cut short just a few days later.
“No advocate. No resources. No guidance. No safe connection in the moment she needed it the most.
“What if, right then, officers had the means to connect Gabby to real help on scene?”
What if survivors didn’t have to wait until “later” or fall through the cracks entirely?
The family explained that their M1LLION to One project, in partnership with the Gabby Petito Foundation, will fund survivor-focused technology to provide immediate support when it’s needed most.
“We’re funding survivor-centered technology so that every domestic violence call, regardless of race, age, income, or status, has a pathway to immediate, safe support,” the family shared on Facebook.
A Disturbing Case
In the summer of 2021, Petito and Laundrie began a cross-country van trip.
However, less than two months in, Petito vanished, and Laundrie returned home alone to Florida, triggering a nationwide search for the 22-year-old travel blogger.
Just weeks before her disappearance, Moab Police had stopped the couple on August 12, 2021, outside Arches National Park in Utah after a 911 caller reported witnessing a man “slapping the girl.”
The police separated the couple but did not make any arrests, despite Gabby appearing distressed, admitting she had hit Brian, and showing visible injuries.
Her body was later discovered in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest on September 19, 2021. Authorities ruled it a homicide by strangulation.
The family emphasized a significant gap in domestic violence protections: modern abusers are utilizing advanced technology faster than systems can protect victims.
“Across various agencies, there are no consistent tools to safeguard survivors from digital surveillance, cloned devices, hidden tracking, or even to safely reach out for help,” they stated.
This reality led to the establishment of the Committee for Victim Technology Reform and a collaboration with experts to develop HERO QR™, a tool that enables police, EMS, fire, and healthcare professionals to instantly connect victims to assistance, even if their devices are being monitored.
One Facebook commenter praised the initiative, saying, “As a domestic violence survivor who fell through the cracks of a broken system, thank you!
“Every officer. Every resource. Every person who encounters a domestic violence situation should be required to undergo training on it.
“We are not just a case; we are humans with families to return to. We deserve better!”
The Petito family mentioned that anyone can support the initiative with just $1, helping to ensure that no survivor stands alone again.
Gabby’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, expressed her gratitude in the post, saying, “I want to personally thank every single person who supports us.
“This is not just about what happened to Gabby. It’s about the thousands of victims who suffer every day.
“It’s about lives lost that didn’t have to be taken. This work is about saving lives, breaking the silence, and preventing tragedy before it’s too late.
“Thank you; we are going to #changetheworld #together.”
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Eze Chidiebere Paul
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