Gabby Petito's Family Speaks With Dr. Phil Tuesday

BLUE POINT, NY — The four parents of slain Long Islander Gabby Petito will appear on the Dr. Phil Show on Tuesday to speak in their first televised interview since the death of their daughter.

In what is billed by the Dr. Phil show “as an exclusive interview,” Petito’s parents speak out for the first time with a talk show host since the 22-year-old former Blue Point resident, who developed a social media following as a Van Life blogger, was discovered in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on Sept. 19.

“As the manhunt for her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, continues, they share their knowledge about his survival skills, and talk about the heartbreaking moment her stepfather had to identify Gabby,” the show’s producers state on the show’s website.

“They also honor her life and memory, and discuss what they hope will be her legacy,” the website states.

The event will be streamed live on Facebook at 12 p.m.

In a preview of the show, Dr. Phil poses the question, “Is there any doubt in your mind who caused her death?”

The clip then shows Petito’s father, Joseph Petito saying: “She’s gone — I am not going to let him take her name in vain, again.”

In the highlight clip, Petito’s stepfather, Jim Schmidt says that the family, who are from a quiet waterfront community in Blue Point, feel as though they are in a “soap opera.”

“Somebody needs to start talking,” her mother, Nichole Schmidt adds.

The doctor then asks if the parents believe Laundrie is hiding somewhere, and he is told yes.

“He’s a coward,” says Joseph Petito.

Dr. Phil then asks if he believes Laundrie is living off of the land.

The next clip then shows Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, telling Phil: “He bragged about that, like he was good about that stuff.”

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Petito went on a cross-country road trip with Laundrie back in July. They were touring the national parks system by van and were documenting their Van Life experiences on social media with plans to end in Oregon around Halloween. Laundrie returned home to North Port, FL, where the couple had been living in his parents’ home for two years, on Sept. 1, alone.

Petito’s family reported her missing in her home state of New York on Sept. 11. Her remains were found in Wyoming on Sept. 19 after a frantic inter-state search. Her death has been ruled a homicide, though the cause has not yet been released.

Laundrie has never spoken with the police and was named a person of interest in her disappearance. He was reported missing by his parents on Sept. 17, after allegedly going hiking in a Sarasota swamp. A warrant had been issued for his arrest in connection with illegal activity on a bank account that does not belong to him.

In the meantime, there is a massive manhunt for Laundrie by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. In recent weeks, celebrities like John Walsh and Duane “Dog the Bounty Hunter” Chapman have been taking tips and are searching for him. A hiker now claims Laundrie, 23, a person of interest in the death of Petito, interacted with him near the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina on Saturday.

Laundrie has not been named a suspect in Petito's death.

In a previous statement, Laundrie's attorney, Steven Bertolini of East Islip, said his parents Christopher and Roberta Laundrie do not know where Brian is and "they are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him," according to The New York Post.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is asking for anyone with information about Laundrie to contact a special hotline at 1-800-CALL-FBI.

Tiffany Razzano contributed additional reporting to this story.