What Brian Laundrie's Sister Knew About Gabby Petito's Death

Brian Laundrie's older sister, Cassie Laundrie, has found herself at the center of the ongoing fallout from the Gabby Petito case. The murder of Gabby coupled with Brian's subsequent suicide in 2021 shocked the nation, but new revelations from a Netflix^® docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," have reignited questions about what Cassie knew and when. In the aftermath, Cassie has distanced herself from her parents and spoken out about the strain the case has placed on her family.

A Recap of the Gabby Petito Murder Case

Gabby Petito's murder became one of the most closely followed cases in recent years. In the summer of 2021, Gabby — a 22-year-old aspiring travel blogger — set off on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. After weeks of social media updates, Gabby's family reported her missing on Sept. 11, 2021. Brian had returned to his parents' home in Florida — alone, driving the van he and Gabby shared. He refused to cooperate with investigators and disappeared days later.

Gabby's body was found about a week later near Spread Creek in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. An autopsy revealed she had been strangled.

Brian's remains were discovered in a wooded area in Florida on Oct. 20, 2021, along with a notebook in which he confessed to killing Gabby. The case drew intense public scrutiny, especially toward Brian's parents, who were accused of withholding information during the search. The fallout also deeply affected Brian's sister, Cassie Laundrie, whose role in the case has come under renewed focus following the release of the Netflix docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito."

Were Brian and Cassie Close?

Cassie and Brian reportedly had a close relationship before Gabby's death. They spent time together shortly before Gabby's disappearance, including a camping trip with their parents at Fort De Soto Park in Florida. Cassie saw Brian on both Sept. 1, 2021 — the day he returned home alone from Wyoming — and on Sept. 6, 2021, during the camping trip.

At that point, Gabby had not yet been reported missing, and Cassie claims Brian acted normally.

However, the relationship became strained after Gabby's murder was discovered. Cassie has publicly stated that she was heartbroken and blindsided when she learned about Brian's involvement. In an interview with "Good Morning America" in October 2021, Cassie said, "I am losing my parents and my brother and my children's aunt and future sister-in-law on top of this," as reported by FOX 13.

How Did the Murder Drive the Family Apart?

Cassie now says she has had no contact with her parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie, for nearly two years. The split stems from revelations in the Netflix docuseries, which aired text messages between Cassie and Roberta. The messages, sent during the search for Brian, show Cassie and Roberta joking about how law enforcement let Brian slip away under their noses.

In one exchange reported by FOX 13, Roberta texted Cassie about how police mistook her for Brian:

• ROBERTA: "The north port police said Brian and I have a 'similar build' boy, Brian would not be happy about THAT!!"
• CASSIE: "Yea everyones laughing at that remark because not even remotely close"
• ROBERTA: "short, pudgy and big bottomed! Or short sassy and shapely! (Pear shaped!)"
• CASSIE: "Lol must have just been that hat! Put their top notch guys on surveillance."

The lighthearted tone of these messages, coming at a time when Gabby was still missing, has drawn criticism. Cassie defended herself on Instagram, saying, "I assumed Brian was dead when I was texting that," as reported by Cosmopolitan. She also claimed that law enforcement ignored her input on Brian's likely whereabouts, adding to her frustration.

What Did Cassie Know, When?

Cassie has maintained that she knew nothing about Gabby's death or Brian's involvement until after Gabby's body was found on Sept. 19, 2021. In the early days of the search, Cassie publicly expressed hope that Gabby would be found alive.

However, conflicting reports have raised doubts. A Suffolk County detective, Tracey Barry, claimed Cassie told her Brian admitted to leaving Gabby at a hotel and flying home to Florida alone — information that Cassie now disputes. Cassie insists that the detective misrepresented her statement and that no one from either the Laundrie or Petito families contacted her until Barry reached out.

Cassie also claimed she witnessed Brian being a victim of domestic violence at the hands of Gabby, though Gabby's family has firmly rejected this narrative.

Where Do Things Stand Now?

Cassie was supposed to give a deposition in a lawsuit filed by Gabby's parents against Brian's parents, but her interview was canceled after the sides reached an out-of-court settlement.

Cassie now says she is focused on raising her family and trying to move forward. However, the rift with her parents appears to be permanent. In a recent Instagram post, she wrote, "I've been non contact with my parents for almost two years. Have fun," as reported by FOX 13.

The Gabby Petito case remains one of the most closely watched crime stories in recent years. While Cassie Laundrie has distanced herself from the scandal, the questions surrounding her brother's actions and her family's response remain hauntingly unanswered.

References: Gabby Petito case: Brian Laundrie's sister estranged from family amid explosive new docuseries | Who is Cassie Laundrie, Brian's sister, featured in Netflix's 'American Murder: Gabby Petito'?