'We Cry Every Day': Gabby Petito's Dad On Anniversary Of Death

BLUE POINT, NY — Heartbreaking tributes were posted to social media Saturday as the loved ones of Gabby Petito remembered her on the anniversary of her slaying at the hands of her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, with whom she was in an abusive relationship.

In a vulnerable post on Twitter, her father, Joseph Petito, made note of her death, writing, "Exactly one year ago today you were taken from us."

"We miss you every day," he wrote, adding, "We cry every day."

Petito went on to credit his daughter for inspiring so many "to live, travel, and leave their unhealthy relationships."

"We love you Gabby," he wrote, adding the hashtags, #GabbyPetito #DomesticViolence #MissingPerson #TogetherWeCan #thelightremains"

Petito, a 22-year-old Blue Point vlogger, disappeared in August 2021 while on a cross-country "Van Life" trip with Laundrie, setting off a massive search that spanned several states and involved multiple levels of law enforcement. Laundrie returned to his parents' home in Florida in her van on Sept. 1, but without her. Petito was later found strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Investigators believe that Laundrie shot himself in the head after his remains were found months later inside a Florida swamp, as well as a note in which he claimed responsibility for her death. In his writing, Laundrie said Petito fell and was in so much pain afterward that he strangled her, in what he described as a mercy killing.

Her mother, Nichole Schmidt, also tweeted on the tragic anniversary, noting Petito's life was cut short.

"You are my inspiration every single day," Schmidt wrote. "I #missyou more than words could ever express. We will #keepgoing and #wewontstop spreading #domesticviolenceawareness."

"Please #LightUpTheNight in honor of [domestic violence] victims," she added.

Petito's family is asking that followers around the globe light up the night on Saturday with a candle, lantern, or string lights in her honor and that of other domestic violence victims, and then share a photo on social media under the hashtag, "the light remains."

"There are some that bring a light so great to the world that even after they are gone, the light remains," Schmidt wrote early Saturday.

Petito's stepmother, Tara, also left a touching tribute on Twitter.

"Exactly one year ago our beautiful daughter was taken from us by the hands of another," she wrote. "We miss you so much our hearts hurt. Forever broken, forever missing you, forever we will love you."

In the wake of Petito's death, her parents and family friends started The Gabby Petito Foundation to help other victims of domestic violence. The organization has since raised thousands of dollars for its cause, as well as helped open a domestic violence shelter for women in Florida.

In another tweet on Friday, Schmidt noted that Petito was "taken too soon at the hands of the person she loved."

"This happens too often around the world. By honoring these victims, we can also show our support," she said.

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