Witness Says Brian Laundrie Was Acting 'Like a Lunatic' Before Gabby Petito Murder

Before Gabby Petito's tragic murder in 2021, there were warning signs that something was terribly wrong. Newly released FBI documents reveal that just two weeks before her death, a witness saw Brian Laundrie acting erratically and aggressively toward Petito in Moab, Utah. The disturbing encounter, which included Laundrie reportedly slapping Petito and "acting like a lunatic," according to The New York Post and FBI document, came just minutes before the infamous police stop. But despite the warnings, tragedy still followed. 

New Details About Petito's Final Days

The witness, who was on a road trip with his family on Aug. 12, 2021, told the FBI that he saw Laundrie and Petito pulled over in their white Ford Transit van. The man said he became concerned when he saw Laundrie slap Petito, prompting him to make a U-turn and observe them from across the road.

According to the FBI documents published by The New York Post, Laundrie was seen "opening and slamming doors and pacing around the van. He seemed to be pleading with the female and at one point may have tried to hug the female, but was pushed back by her." The scene escalated when Laundrie forcibly pushed Petito's legs into the van's passenger seat, shut her door, and entered through the driver's side.

The witness also recalled seeing Laundrie put his head in his hands while both he and Petito appeared to be crying. Though the man considered stepping in, he ultimately decided against it because he had already called 911 earlier that day for an unrelated incident where a trucker nearly ran him off the road.

A Missed Opportunity for Intervention

Just minutes later, Moab police pulled the couple over following another 911 report about their argument. The bodycam footage from that stop showed Petito visibly upset, while Laundrie appeared calm and even laughed with officers. Despite the witness' report and the 911 call stating Laundrie had hit Petito, police categorized the incident as disorderly conduct and chose not to arrest either of them.

Instead, the officers decided to separate the couple for the night, taking Laundrie to a nearby motel, leaving Petito with their van. It was a decision that would later come under heavy scrutiny as the tragic timeline continued to unfold.

The Final Days of Gabby Petito

Petito and Laundrie resumed their cross-country road trip, but on Aug. 27, Petito was last seen alive on surveillance footage at a Whole Foods in Jackson, Wyoming. Laundrie later returned alone to his parents' home in Florida on Sept. 1, where he refused to speak with authorities about what had happened.

On Sept. 19, Petito's body was discovered at Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area near Grand Teton National Park. A forensic report determined that she had died from "blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation," according to FBI Denver. A warrant was soon issued for Laundrie's arrest, but by then, he had vanished.

His remains were later found in Florida, where he had died by suicide. Investigators recovered a written confession in which he admitted to killing Petito.

The FBI Call That Came Too Late

The witness who saw the troubling scene in Moab only realized its significance weeks later when he and his daughter saw news coverage of Petito's disappearance. After reviewing photos of the couple, they were confident that the people they had seen were Petito and Laundrie. The man then contacted the FBI to report what he had witnessed.

Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, told Fox News Digital that she was unaware of the witness' report but wished she could speak with him. "(I) wish we could get a hold of this person," she said. "I would love to ask questions."

References: Brian Laundrie Was 'Acting Like a Lunatic' Shortly Before Gabby Petito's Killing, Witness Says | Brian Laundrie was acting 'like a lunatic' 2 weeks before killing Gabby Petito, witness told FBI | Witness saw Brian Laundrie acting 'like a lunatic' 2 weeks before Gabby Petito murder, FBI files reveal | FBI Denver Provides Final Investigative Update on Gabrielle Petito Case