Joe Petito, the father of Gabby Petito, has expressed his inability to watch police bodycam footage from August 2021 that showed his daughter being interviewed after a domestic dispute with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Gabby was later murdered by Laundrie during their road trip across the United States.
In a recent interview on Weekend Today, Joe revealed, "I never watched the video," admitting he has only seen fragments and read the transcript. The footage shows police questioning Gabby and Brian after they were pulled over for erratic driving near Arches National Park. Although officers noted signs of a conflict between the couple, they opted not to file any charges, choosing instead to separate them for the night. Sadly, Gabby was reported missing a month later, and her body was ultimately discovered.
Gabby’s stepmother, Tara, has seen the footage and described it as deeply distressing, stating her desire to help Gabby in that critical moment. She mentioned that their family hopes the footage can serve as a training resource for police on recognizing signs of domestic abuse. "We’re trying to take our pain and turn it into something positive," Tara added.
Remembered fondly by her family as a vibrant person full of goals and dreams, Gabby’s life was tragically cut short. "She was a bright light… her smile could light up an entire room," Tara shared. In Gabby’s honour, her parents are establishing a foundation aimed at raising awareness for domestic violence victims and survivors. They continue to seek initiatives that could prevent similar situations from occurring in the future.
For those seeking assistance, support is available through the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).