Nichole Schmidt, the mother of Gabby Petito, made a shocking revelation during her speech at CrimeCon in Nashville on Friday, May 31, stating that while she has found it in her heart to forgive Brian Laundrie for killing her daughter, she does not extend the same forgiveness to his mother, Roberta Laundrie. Schmidt's powerful words came nearly two years after her daughter's tragic death, which occurred during a cross-country road trip with her then-fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
"I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you," Schmidt began, acknowledging that her statement "may shock most people." She explained that she "needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness" and refused to let Laundrie's "despicable act define the rest of my life."
However, Schmidt had harsh words for Brian's parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie, whom she accused of being "complicit in his cowardly flight from justice" and adding "salt" to her wounds regarding Gabby's death. She singled out Roberta, calling her the "mastermind that shattered your family and mind with your evil ways."
"I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions," Schmidt said, addressing Roberta directly. "You are the dark. You are the sociopath that everyone fears. The one who appears so innocent and kind, but harbors darkness within your soul. You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil."
Schmidt also expressed her and Gabby's father, Joseph Petito's, frustration at being "denied the chance to confront our daughter's killer, to look him in the eye." Brian Laundrie committed suicide in October 2021 after becoming a suspect in Gabby's death, having returned to his parents' home in Florida alone on September 1, 2021, following the murder.
The Petito family recently settled their emotional distress civil lawsuit against the Laundries on February 21, 2024, during mediation. The terms of the resolution remain confidential, with both families expressing a desire to put the matter behind them and move forward.
"After a long day of mediation, a confidential resolution has been reached between the parents of Gabby Petito, the parents of Brian Laundrie and attorney Steven Bertolino to which all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict," the Petito family's attorney shared in a statement. "Our hope is to close this chapter of our lives to allow us to move on and continue to honor the legacy of our beautiful daughter, Gabby."
Despite the settlement, Schmidt's words at CrimeCon show that the wounds left by Gabby's death and the subsequent actions of the Laundrie family are still raw. Her ability to forgive Brian while condemning Roberta highlights the complex emotions and challenges faced by families in the aftermath of such a tragedy.
Schmidt ended her speech with a tribute to her daughter, describing Gabby as "a bright light in this world, full of love, compassion, and boundless potential." She vowed to continue honoring Gabby's memory and fighting for justice and change in her name, urging others to "live by these simple words directly from Gabby: Just be a nicer person."
