NetflixBrian Laundrie’s parents are facing renewed criticism following the release of American Murder: Gabby Petito, particularly when it comes to the ‘burn after reading’ letter Roberta Laundrie wrote to her son.
The tragic case at the center of the Netflix docu-series unfolded in 2021, when Brian murdered his partner Gabby during their cross country trip. He then quietly traveled home while his parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie, lawyered up.
During the search for Gabby, Brian went on the run before dying by suicide. Prior to this, the FBI searched his home and discovered the ‘burn after reading’ letter, in which Roberta told her son, “If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.”
It’s one of many details in American Murder: Gabby Petito that has reignited debate over the Laundries’ actions and what they knew. Despite public opinion, Roberta claimed the letter was innocent.
Roberta Laundrie claimed letter wasn’t about Gabby Petito
NetflixIn 2023, during Gabby Petito’s family’s civil lawsuit against the Laundrie family, Roberta claimed that the undated letter was written before Gabby and Brian went on their vanlife trip.
In a statement to CNN shared through her attorney, Steven Bertolino, Roberta said, “I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him.
“I am sure people use phrases all the time to express to their loved ones the depths of their love. Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in no way related to Gabby.
“I ask that you read it in its entirety, and understand that the letter contains other phrases besides those highlighted by Pat Reilly for sensationalism and to bolster his case.”
She added that the goal was “to reach out to Brian while he and I were experiencing a difficult period in our relationship.”
The ‘burn after reading’ letter in full
NetflixSo you don’t have to look it up, here’s the letter in full: “I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy.
“Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing will or could ever divide us. No matter what we do, or where we go or what we say – we will always love each other.
“If you’re in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I’ll get new guts.
“Remember that love is a verb, not a noun. It’s not a thing, it’s not words, it is actions. Watch people’s actions to know if they love you – not their words.
“Therefore I am certain that neither death nor life, nor angels nor the ruling spirits, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers from above, nor powers from below, nothing in the entire created world can separate our love.
“Neither hostile powers nor messengers of heaven nor monarchs of earth. Nothing has the power to separate us…”
“Romans 8:38 (extended version!) (Nothing can separate us: not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not threats, not even sin, not the thinkable or unthinkable can get between us.) ~ Not time. Not miles and miles and miles ~.”
Gabby’s family said explanation was “self serving”
NetflixDespite Roberta’s claim of innocence, the public and Gabby’s family believe the letter is “evidence” that they knew about Brian’s crime, with the latter describing their explanation as “self serving”.
The Petito-Schmidt family said in a statement through their attorney, “The letter is undated, and while Roberta Laundrie has suggested it was written before Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito left on their trip, a reasonable inference is that it was written after Gabby Petito was murdered.”
They went on to say it “is evidence that the Laundries and attorney Bertolino were aware of Gabby Petito’s demise when the statement at issue was released on September 14, 2021… We look forward to having a jury determine when the letter was written at the time of trial.”
Due to the fact that the letter’s date couldn’t be determined, it was unable to be used in a criminal proceeding. However, the Petito-Schmidt family successfully sued the Laundrie estate for damages, with a Florida judge awarding them $3 million.
American Murder: Gabby Petito is streaming on Netflix now. For more on the doc, read what the Laundrie parents said about the series, why you can’t find the heroic FBI agent Loretta Bush online, and why the conspiracy theory Brian faked his death is wrong.
