Wed Feb 19 01:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Laundrie Staged Texts to Create Alibi in Petito Murder, Docuseries Reveals
**New York, NY** – A new Netflix docuseries, *American Murder: Gabby Petito*, has unveiled chilling details surrounding the murder of Gabby Petito, including how her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, attempted to create a false alibi using her phone.
The docuseries reveals that after killing Petito in Grand Teton National Park, Laundrie hiked to a different location, sent texts from his own phone to her phone, making it appear as though she was still alive and planning to meet him. He then returned to the van where he’d left Petito’s phone, and only then responded to the messages he’d sent himself, crafting a narrative of her arrival. FBI Special Agent Loretta Bush stated that the near-instantaneous exchange of texts clearly indicated Laundrie was manipulating both phones to fabricate an alibi.
Following the staged conversation, Laundrie drove back to Florida, using Petito’s debit card for gas and sending a Zelle payment to himself from her account, with the memo “Goodbye Brian, I’ll never ask you for anything again.” He also texted Petito’s mother, oddly referring to her grandfather by his first name instead of “Grandpa.”
Laundrie’s notebook, found near his later discovered remains, detailed a version of events contradicting the autopsy report which determined Petito died from strangulation and blunt-force trauma. The docuseries also highlights concerns raised by Petito’s family and friends about Laundrie’s controlling behavior and the Moab, Utah police’s handling of a domestic violence incident involving the couple. The police’s response is criticized for seemingly prioritizing Laundrie, despite Petito exhibiting clear signs of distress.
The docuseries paints a picture of a controlling relationship and Laundrie’s calculated efforts to cover up his crime. The revelation of his manipulative text exchanges further underscores the chilling nature of the case and the lengths Laundrie went to evade responsibility. Petito’s family has since received a $3 million settlement in a wrongful death lawsuit against Laundrie’s estate and a further settlement in a suit against his parents.
First Piper 