After a Murder That Shocked America, the Family Fights Together

In 2021, Gabby Petito's parents experienced the unthinkable. Four years later, still grieving their daughter, they are helping other victims of domestic violence.

Gabby's Legacy

Gabby Petito was a "van life" blogger when she was murdered by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who later confessed in a written note before taking his own life. The case sparked important conversations about emotional and physical abuse and how to spot the warning signs of intimate partner violence. Gabby's mom and stepdad, Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and her dad and stepmom, Joseph and Tara Petito, all share their thoughts four years after the tragedy in a Netflix^® docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito."

"The family wanted to be able to tell a story through Gabby's eyes," said Michael Gasparro, who directed and helped produce the documentary with Julia Willoughby Nason, as reported at TODAY.com. "They were like, 'Listen, we have a lot of material that people haven't seen ... and we want Gabby's legacy to be out there.' So, we said we'd love to do it, we'd love to tell that story."

Cross-Country Trip Turned Nightmare

In the summer of 2021, Gabby had been sharing her life with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, on her YouTube channel as they traveled across the country in a white Ford Transit van. But in September, Laundrie came back home without her, and a search started to find Gabby. On Sept. 19, her body was discovered at Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Authorities later revealed Laundrie had allegedly strangled her to death. By then, Laundrie himself had gone missing, and his remains were eventually found. He had taken his own life.

Who Are Gabby's Parents?

Gabby had four parents who adored her. She was born to Joe and Nichole Petito in 1999 in New York, but they separated when she was young. Nichole later married Jim Schmidt in April 2005, and Joe married Tara in July of the same year. Both couples played an important role in her life. They all called themselves Gabby's "four parents" on the Gabby Petito Foundation's website, TODAY.com reports. When Gabby went missing in September 2021, her parents and stepparents began a nationwide search for her. After her death, her parents, stepparents, siblings, and some of her friends went to Grand Teton National Park together to spread her ashes at the place where her body was found.

The Gabby Petito Foundation

To keep Gabby's memory alive and honor her legacy, her parents started The Gabby Petito Foundation. This nonprofit focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence and pushing for stronger laws and better police responses to intimate partner abuse and missing persons cases.

"We have to prevent this from happening to other people," Nichole told PEOPLE. "It keeps us strong. Gabby works through us. We can't not do it. We have to move forward and change the world together."

In 2022, Gabby's parents also donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline to help support their work. Each of the four parents has a role in the foundation. Nichole, who was a teacher's assistant, is now a full-time volunteer and president of the organization created in Gabby's memory. Joe, a warehouse store manager, works closely with the foundation on policy and legislative efforts. Jim, a fire and rescue administrator, focuses on training first responders in domestic violence awareness. Tara, who used to work in real estate, now handles the foundation's administration.

Gabby's parents wrote in a statement, "We can only use Gabby's story to continue to help others and hopefully save the lives of those impacted by the epidemic of domestic violence that plagues our society," as reported by PEOPLE. "If we can save even one life, that's one more person saved because of Gabby."

The Parents' Bond

In the years since Gabby's death, her parents and stepparents have shared how their grief has brought them closer together. In June 2024, Joe talked to PEOPLE about their strong bond, saying, "We lean on each other one day at a time." He also mentioned now that some time has passed, "it's much easier to get through the day," but they still have their "hard days."

"Then we'll call up, and talk to one another, and get grounded, and then go back," Joe continued. "We all are in it together. And the more we help, the more it makes us feel better."

Tara added that they've all become close friends, which was "something Gabby always wanted," as reported by PEOPLE.

"She always wanted us, all four parents, to live together under one roof," Tara continued, explaining that she talks to Nichole almost every day.

Nichole similarly reflected on how Gabby wanted her four parents to be closer, telling PEOPLE, "I think her spirit shines down now and is so happy that we're working together and we're together all the time because that's what she wanted."

Today, Gabby Petito's parents are continuing to honor her memory by working hard with The Gabby Petito Foundation. They focus on spreading awareness about domestic violence and pushing for changes in laws to protect others. Even though their grief will always be there, they find strength in helping others, knowing that they are making a difference in Gabby's name. By sharing their story, they hope to prevent more tragedies and save lives, just like Gabby would have wanted.

References: Where Are Gabby Petito's Parents Now? All About Their Lives Nearly 4 Years After the YouTuber's Death — and Why They Think They'll Never Get 'Justice' | Where are Gabby Petito's Parents Now? What They Shared About Her in a New Documentary | Gabby Petito Foundation | Gabby Petito's '4 Parents' Share How Her Tragic Death Fulfilled Her Lifelong Dream of Bringing Them 'All Together' (Exclusive)