Brian Laundrie Lawyered Up With Bigwigs In Aftermath Of Gabby Petito's Death: Report

LARAMIE, WY — Brian Laundrie hired a high-powered law firm more than a week before his fiancée Gabby Petito was reported missing, according to an amended complaint filed against his parents and attorney Fox News reported.

In the complaint, which was filed Thursday after Petito family attorney Patrick Reilly deposed Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and Steven Bertolino, Laundrie allegedly told his parents in a "frantic" phone call "that Gabby was gone and he needed a lawyer" on Aug. 29, 2021, the outlet reported.

On Sept. 2, 2021, according to the document, Laundrie's parents relayed that information to Bertolino, retaining him and then he entered into a fee agreement with Fleener Peterson LLC in Laramie, WY, close to where Petito's remains were found.

Tom Fleener, the firm's partner, is a U.S. Army veteran who became a JAG lawyer and represented Osama Bin Laden's personal assistant and press secretary when he was detained at Guantanamo Bay, The New York Post reported.

Bertolino declined to comment specifically about Fleener, adding, that "the amended complaint will be answered in due time."

Patch has reached out to Reilly and Fleener for comment.

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Petito was found strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park.

She had been reported missing on Sept. 11, 2021, after a cross-country road trip with Laundrie.

In a suicide note, Laundrie said that he strangled her because she was in so much pain after falling into a ravine, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.

His remains were found in a Florida swamp after he shot himself in the head, according to the FBI.

Petito's parents are suing the Laundries and Bertolino for intentional infliction of emotional distress.

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