Gabby Petito: Mom reveals how instincts warned her daughter maybe dead after she was reported missing

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NORTH PORT, FLORIDA: Gabby Petito's mother expressed her heartbreaking feelings that her daughter was dead as soon as she disappeared. 

To provide context, Gabby, a 22-year-old travel blogger, was tragically killed in 2021 by her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, 23, with whom she had embarked on a cross-country journey in a renovated white van.

What did Gabby Petito’s mom report?

As reported by DailyMail, initially, Gabby and Laundrie, who were high school sweethearts, appeared to have an idyllic life as they set out on a four-month adventure to explore the United States.

However, during Gabby's disappearance, the search efforts to locate her captured the attention of millions worldwide.

In a new ITV documentary, "The Disappearance Of Gabby Petito," Gabby's family members recounted the agonizing ordeal they endured when she vanished.

Grieving mother, Nichole Schmidt, revealed that upon Gabby's official declaration as missing on September 11, 2021, she harbored a deep sense of loss. 

Nichole stated, "That night a detective showed up at my door and from that moment on, I knew in my heart that my daughter was gone – but I kept strong for everyone else."

"It was a mother’s instinct. I just knew. Her dad Joe asked what I thought and I said, ‘I don’t know but we need to find her."

The search for the blogger evolved into a widespread social media phenomenon, with online sleuths uncovering clues about her disappearance. 

Ultimately, it was revealed that Gabby had been strangled and left in a forest by her high school friend-turned-boyfriend, Laundrie, whom she had met in 2019.

Following an extensive search for the defendant, Laundrie tragically took his own life with a single gunshot to the head, after confessing to Gabby's murder in a notebook. 

This revelation brought closure to her loved ones, finally laying to rest the uncertainty surrounding her fate.

What were Gabby Petito and Brain Laundrie doing?

Gabby and Laundrie embarked on a cross-country road trip across America in a renovated van, intending it to be a four-month adventure. 

According to Nichole, Laundrie consistently appeared "nice" and "kind," and Gabby had complete trust in him.

They commenced their journey on July 2, 2021, departing from Blue Point, Long Island, and making stops at various national parks along the way.

Their initial destination was Monument Rocks in Kansas, which they reached on July 4th, before continuing on to Colorado Springs.

Throughout the journey, Gabby documented their experiences on her YouTube channel and social media, aspiring to achieve social media stardom through her videos on #vanlife.

In a video titled "Beginning Our Van Life Journey," posted on August 19, Gabby captured moments of Laundrie practicing yoga by the van, showcasing her own cheerful demeanor.

Gabby Petito’s mom describes her daughter as ‘spitfire’

Nichole expressed about her daughter saying, "Gabby was a spitfire. She knew what she wanted from early on. I knew she was going to go for it and be successful."

Meanwhile, her father, Joe, shared in the documentary, "That was my baby you know, my angel."

Nichole elaborated, stating, "'I think she wanted to become a famous vlogger. She was really focused on enjoying the travel and putting it out there for everyone to see."

Initially, Gabby maintained frequent communication with her parents, who are separated, almost daily. 

She created a shared folder with her mother, where she regularly uploaded photos to keep her informed about their adventures.

They would frequently call and text, and Gabby even sent postcards to Laundrie's family, providing updates about their travels.

Gabby’s mother found strange turn in her behavior

Upon Gabby's arrival at Mystic Hot Springs in Utah, Nichole confessed that she had never witnessed her daughter as radiant as she appeared in the photograph.

However, things soon took a strange turn. Gabby's activity on social media dwindled significantly. Previously, her posts featured detailed captions about her whereabouts, but they gradually became accompanied by vague quotes.

Her final post, shared on August 25, 2021, depicted her holding a crocheted pumpkin with the caption "Happy Halloween," despite the holiday being over a month away. 

This coincided with her last FaceTime call with her parents, unbeknownst to them that it would be their final interaction with her.

Subsequently, peculiar messages surfaced. The first, which struck as odd, read: "Can you help Stan? I just keep getting his voicemails and missed calls."

Though seemingly referring to her grandfather, it was a name she had never used for him.

On August 30, Nichole received a text message claiming they were in Yosemite with no service.

However, Gabby was supposed to be in Wyoming, and communication ceased thereafter.

Concerns escalated, leading to Gabby being officially reported missing on September 11.

On September 1, Laundrie returned alone to his parents' home with the van, leaving Gabby behind.

Moreover, on August 12, a witness made a 911 call reporting seeing the couple, with Gabby being subjected to physical aggression.

This incident shed light on a previously unseen aspect of their relationship, contradicting the idyllic image they portrayed on social media.

Public interest intensified when police body-cam footage showed the couple being pulled over near Arches National Park after the 911 call.

During the encounter, Gabby appeared visibly distressed, while Laundrie displayed scratches on his body.

Despite the concerning nature of the call, police deemed Laundrie a victim of domestic assault, providing him with a hotel room for the night before releasing them.

This proved to be a pivotal moment, as Gabby was within reach of protection but was ultimately left vulnerable once again.

A YouTube video later revealed Gabby's van in Wyoming in late August, and on September 19, 2021, her remains were finally located.

The focus then shifted to locating Laundrie, whose remains were eventually found in Florida's Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on October 20.