Suffolk Detective Who Opened Gabby Petito’s Case An ‘Angel’: Mom

BOHEMIA, NY — The mother of slain Long Islander Gabrielle Petito had a special thank-you for the Suffolk County police detective who opened the missing persons case that started the frantic interstate search to find her daughter.

Nichole Schmidt, speaking publicly on Tuesday for the first time since her daughter’s remains were found Sept. 19 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming, said she did not think she could “thank everybody enough.” She credited The AWARE Foundation for creating the first missing persons poster that reached over 2 million people worldwide within 48 hours.

And Schmidt credited Det. Tracey Barry of the 5th Precinct in Patchogue for starting the case, saying “without her, we don’t know when this would have even happened.”

“She got the ball rolling,” Schmidt said at a news conference, adding, “She’s my angel, and I thank her the most.”

Petito was reported missing to Suffolk police on Sept. 11, and an alert was issued the following day.

Barry has been with the department since September 2000, a police spokeswoman said Wednesday.

The department declined to comment on Barry's involvement in the case due to the ongoing investigation.

In a previous interview, Schmidt told Patch that she was having difficulty filing a missing persons report. Family attorney Rick Stafford of Bohemia said there were jurisdictional issues involving police in North Port, Florida — where Petito had been living the past two years — in Wyoming, and with the National Parks Service.

Schmidt was able to file a report with Suffolk straightaway, he said.

“They were fantastic,” he added.

At the news conference Petito’s parents— including Schmidt, her husband, Jim Schmidt, and Joseph Petito — said they are very grateful for the work that law enforcement has undertaken in her case.

Jim Schmidt credited the law enforcement agencies in western Wyoming “and across the country for doing an amazing job with locating Gabby.”

He said that the Grand Teton County Search and Rescue team, who are all volunteers, did an “unbelievable job” and “are second to none.”

Joseph Petito credited the new media's attention, as well as social media, saying that it was instrumental in helping the case, adding that he did not want “to dismiss the ridiculously hard work that the FBI and law enforcement all-around did.”

THE LATEST FROM OUR TEAM IN NEW YORK AND FLORIDA:

• 'Not Just Gabby Petito' Case Deserves Media Attention: Dad
• Brian Laundrie's Family Camped At Pinellas County Park: Report
• Laundrie Might Be In Appalachian Trail, Some Experts Say
• 'Be Inspired': Gabby Petito's Dad At Long Island Memorial Service

Petito last had contact with Schmidt on Aug. 25 and was believed to have been in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. At the time, she was traveling on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who is now a person of interest in the case examining her disappearance. He was indicted in connection with the use an unnamed bank account in the days after Petito’s disappearance and is now being sought by the FBI.

In recent days, there has been speculation that the parents of Laundrie, who has not been named a suspect in the homicide case, somehow aided him to evade law enforcement. Their attorney denied that on Sunday night, saying they do not know where he is and are concerned about him, according to published reports.

Petito’s family has refused to speak specifically about the Laundries through Stafford.

He said the family’s focus is still on mourning and honoring Gabby.

“The FBI is doing everything they can; we have our full faith in them,” he added.

Stafford said the Laundries “did not help us find Gabby.”

“They’re sure not going to help us find Brian,” he said, adding, “For Brian: We're asking you to turn yourself into the FBI or the nearest law enforcement agency.”

The FBI is asking anyone with information about the whereabouts of Laundrie to call 800-CALL-FBI.