The long-awaited Netflix docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito is set to debut on February 17, 2025, offering an intimate and heartbreaking look into the final days of Gabby Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, as they embarked on a doomed cross-country road trip that would end in tragedy. The series promises to provide new insights into the events that led to Gabby’s death, featuring never-before-seen footage and exclusive interviews that paint a far more troubling picture than the couple’s carefully curated social media posts.
Gabby Petito. Photo: The Petito & Schmidt Families
At first glance, Petito and Laundrie’s four-month journey across the United States appeared to be a dream come true, with the couple sharing images of a blissful van life adventure. However, behind the filtered images and picturesque landscapes, the couple’s reality was far from perfect.
Gabby Petito, 22, was found dead on September 19, 2021, in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. Her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, was later determined to be responsible for her death, strangling her in an act of domestic violence. Laundrie, 23, returned to Florida alone in Petito’s van on September 1, 2021, prompting a nationwide search for Gabby after her family reported her missing. Laundrie was named a person of interest in her disappearance on September 15, 2021.
The case took a tragic turn when, in October 2021, authorities found Laundrie’s remains in Florida’s Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. He had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, ending a month-long search for him.
The docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito sheds light on the disturbing reality of the couple’s relationship, revealing moments that were not shared with the world. As described in a Netflix press release, the series “takes viewers on a journey through Gabby and Brian’s final days together,” and exposes the painful truth behind their seemingly perfect lives, exploring key moments where their story could have ended differently.
The anticipated new docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito, is set to premiere on Netflix on Monday, February 17. Directed by Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro, the series offers a closer look at the heart-wrenching case that gripped the nation. Through exclusive interviews and previously unseen footage, the docuseries explores the final days of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, revealing the tragic reality behind their seemingly perfect life on social media.
According to a Netflix press release, American Murder will take viewers "on a journey through Gabby and Brian’s final days together" while uncovering the painful truths that were hidden beneath their curated online presence. "The series will unveil the tragic reality behind their Insta-perfect life and reveal painful moments where their story might have taken a different turn," the release notes.
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The trailer for the docuseries highlights the young couple in happier times, documenting their once-in-a-lifetime road trip. However, what was supposed to be an adventure quickly took a deadly turn as long-held secrets began to surface. Among the most significant moments explored in the series is the infamous bodycam footage from a police stop in Moab, Utah, which shows a domestic dispute between the couple.
“I’d like to report a domestic dispute,” the officer is heard saying in the footage. “Gentleman was slapping the girl." This police encounter, which took place in August 2021, later became a focal point in the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Petito family. They claimed that the officers failed to protect Gabby from Brian Laundrie, despite clear signs of domestic violence. Although the lawsuit was dismissed in November 2022, the Petito family has continued to advocate for justice in Gabby's memory. They created the Gabby Petito Foundation, which raises awareness about domestic violence and pushes for stricter laws regarding police responses to intimate partner abuse and missing persons cases.
The release of American Murder: Gabby Petito offers a new perspective on the tragic case, inviting viewers to reflect on the circumstances that led to Gabby’s untimely death. The series will begin streaming on Netflix on Monday, February 17, 2025.
