Nichole Schmidt, the mother of Gabby Petito, on Friday filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the curator of the estate of Brian Laundrie.
The lawsuit states that Schmidt and Gabby’s father, Joseph Petito, ‘incurred funeral and burial expenses, and they have suffered a loss of care and comfort, and suffered a loss of probable future companionship, society and comfort’ after Brian intentionally their daughter.
They are seeking wrongful death damages of at least $30,000 and a trial by jury and judgement for compensatory damages, according to the lawsuit, which was obtained by .
Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney, said the lawsuit was ‘fully expected.’
‘This lawsuit will most likely not be defended and the Petitos will have gained nothing more than a piece of paper that tells them what everyone already knows – which is that Brian was responsible for Gabby’s death as indicated by the FBI,’ Bertolino said.
The wrongful death lawsuit comes a week after Schmidt and Petito filed an amended civil suit against Brian’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. Petito’s parents allege that Christopher and Roberta were aware that their son Gabby, and attempted to help him flee the country.
Gabby’s parents also claim in the suit that instead of helping them locate their daughter, they ignored their pleas for help and went on a family vacation.
Gabby and Brian were traveling cross-country last summer when her parents reported her missing on September 11, having not heard from her in days. Brian returned from the trip alone on September 1, and his family refused to share information with law enforcement or Gabby’s parents about her whereabouts.
Twenty-two year old Gabby’s remains were found at Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming on September 19. It was later determined she died of homicide by strangulation at least three weeks before her remains were discovered.
Listed as a person of interest in Gabby’s death, Brian, 23, took off from his parent’s Florida home, prompting a massive search in the Myakkahatchee Creek Reserve, where his remains were found in October.
Brian died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In a notebook found by his remains he admitted to killing Gabby.
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