Four years after the crime, Netflix released “American Murder: Gabby Petito”, a documentary miniseries that compiles key audiovisual material to understand a femicide that shocked the United States and the world. The Gabby case, a young influencer who was murdered by her boyfriend Brian Laundrie during a road trip, revealed the dark side of abusive relationships and the failings in the authorities' response.
The false image on social networks
The documentary shows how Gabby maintained the image of an idyllic relationship on social media, but behind the scenes, she was suffering from her partner’s control and manipulation. Her best friend, Rose, recounts that Brian was jealous and domineering, traits that became more evident during their trip.
The August 12 Incident
One of the key moments was on August 12, 2021, when a witness saw Brian assaulting Gabby in public and called the police. Footage from the officers' body cameras shows an anxious and distressed Gabby, while Brian appeared calm. Instead of considering Gabby as a victim of domestic violence, the officers decided to separate the couple for one night without taking any further action.
Brian’s cover-up evidence
The documentary also reveals Brian’s attempts to cover up the crime. In his notebook, found next to his remains, he left a note claiming that Gabby had asked him to kill her, a version that the police refuted. Additionally, he sent messages from Gabby’s phone to mislead her family.
The Role of Brian’s Parents
The behavior of Brian’s parents is also questioned in the documentary. It became known that they did not cooperate with the police and even found their son’s remains before the authorities. Additionally, a letter from Brian’s mother titled “Quemar después de leer” was found, in which she offered him unconditional help.
The Impact of the Case on Legislation
In the wake of the case, Gabby’s family created the Gabby Petito Foundation, advocating for laws to improve the response to domestic violence. One of these is the Lethality Assessment Protocol, which requires the police to ask key questions to detect abusive relationships.
The Netflix documentary not only reconstructs Gabby’s story, but also leaves a reflection on the danger of toxic relationships and the need to prevent gender-based violence.