Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, Gabby Petito’s parents, have added attorney Steven Bertolino to their civil lawsuit. The civil lawsuit is against Brian Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, and Bertolino is their attorney. The lawsuit claims that they knew that Brian Laundrie had murdered Gabby and knew the location of her remains and refused to speak.
“When they did choose to speak, it was through statements issued by Steven Bertolino, including a statement on September 14, 2021 that it was the ‘hope’ of the Laundrie family ‘that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family,’” Gabby’s parents said in a statement on Tuesday.
“It is believed that at the time the September 14, 2021 statement was issued, the Laundries and Steven Bertolino knew that Gabby Petito was deceased, and that under those circumstances, the statement was insensitive, cold-hearted and outrageous.”
Gabby Petito’s remains were found on September 19 and her death was ruled a “homicide by manual strangulation and blunt-force trauma to the head and neck.” Brian Laundrie went to Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on September 13 and his remains were found on October 20 with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He left a note containing his confession.
“I ended her life,” reads the note. “I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock.”
Gabby Petito’s family also filed a lawsuit against the Moab Police Department:
Gabby’s family has also filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab Police Department, alleging that officers failed to properly handle a 911 call after a witness claimed he saw Brian hitting Gabby and trying to steal her phone just weeks before her death. The lawsuit names the department, two officers who responded to the call and two former leaders.
Steven Bertolino has not commented regarding being added to the civil suit.
