Warning: This article contains topics that some may find upsetting
Lawyers working on behalf of Utah police being sued by the family of Gabby Petito have said the $50 million lawsuit is a ‘publicity stunt’.
Ms Petito was murdered by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie in August 2021 after the pair had embarked upon a cross-country trip in their van together.
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In November last year, her parents Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito filed a wrongful death suit against Moab City Police Department.
The filing accuses officers of numerous failings after a 911 call was made about Ms Petito and Laundrie on August 12.
An eyewitness told cops that they had seen Laundrie ‘slapping his girlfriend’, but when questioned by police Ms Petito said she was the one who had hit him.
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Neither Ms Petito or Laundrie was arrested, but the couple were separated for the night.
However, tragically, they reunited and Laundrie strangled the 22-year-old to death, before he took his own life several weeks later.
Earlier this year, her parents shared a selfie showing their daughter’s bruised face, with a timestamp showing it was taken at 4.37pm on 12 August.
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Attorney Brian Stewart, from Parker & McConkie, said in a statement about the image: “Moab police failed to listen to Gabby, failed to investigate her injuries and the seriousness of her assault, and failed to follow their own training, policies, and Utah law.”
The complaint filed by the Petito family alleges Moab PD and officers, ‘deprived Gabby of her safety and ultimately her life’.
The police department and those named in the suit have hired attorney Mitchell A. Stephens, who has said his clients plan to ‘vigorously defend the lawsuit’.
In an interview with The Sun, he said: "The Moab City Police Department did not cause Brian Laundrie to murder Gabrielle Petito. When called, Moab's officers responded with kindness and respect.
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"They also separated Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie for the night. The next morning, Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie chose to continue their ongoing road trip, traveling hundreds of miles together over the following weeks."
He also claimed that the amount the family had asked for was a ‘publicity stunt’.
"The plaintiffs' $50million demand appears to be a publicity stunt,” he continued.
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"Even if the plaintiffs believe that Moab City is liable, it strains credibility to suggest the City is 15-20 times more responsible for Ms. Petito’s death than Brian Laundrie, her murderer.
"The complaint was filed on November 3, 2022. That same day, I informed the plaintiffs' lawyers via email that I represented the defendants. I also offered to accept service of the lawsuit on behalf of my clients."
Topics: US News, Gabby Petito, Crime
Claire Reid