Utah Officers' Lawyer Claims Petito Family's Lawsuit Is A Stunt: Report

LONG ISLAND, NY — Attorneys for the Moab City, Utah police officers who have been sued in a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit by the family of Gabby Petito have called their demand a publicity stunt and say they plan to vigorously defend the lawsuit, The U.S. Sun reported.

Petito's parents, Nichole Schmidt, and Joseph Petito, sued last year, claiming the police officers who responded to the traffic stop after Petito and Lauundrie's fight improperly handled the incident, leading to her death.

The police officers' attorney, Mitchell A. Stephens, of Salt Lake City, told The Sun, they did not cause Brian Laundrie to murder Petito.

"When called, Moab's officers responded with kindness and respect," he told the outlet.

"They also separated Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie for the night. The next morning, Ms. Petito and Mr. Laundrie chose to continue their ongoing road trip, traveling hundreds of miles together over the following weeks."

For more in The Sun, click here.

Patch has reached out to Schmidt and Petito's attorney, Brian Stewart, for comment.

On Aug. 12, 2021, about 15 days before Petito is believed to have been killed, she and Laundrie had a physical fight on Main Street in Moab that was reported to police by a 911 caller. The two were pulled over in a traffic stop a short time later in an incident and it was recorded by police bodycam.
Petito cries throughout the entire video as she and Laundrie separately tell their stories to the officers. The officers ended up labeling Petito the primary aggressor because she struck Laundrie, and rather than arrest her, they decide to separate the pair for the night.

Petito and Laundrie had been traveling in her van across the country while documenting their adventures.

Petito's mother reported her missing Sept. 11 after she lost contact with her.

After Laundrie is alleged to have killed Petito, he then drove her van to his parents' house in Florida, where they had been living. Multiple law enforcement agencies across the country undertook a massive investigation into her disappearance, while Laundrie refused to speak with them.

Laundrie later went to a Florida swamp, where he shot himself, but not before leaving his confession, which claimed he strangled her out of mercy after she fell into a ravine.

In the two years since Petito's death, her family has continued to work with the foundation they founded in her honor to help the victims of domestic violence.

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