Netflix has released a new documentary chronicling the case of Gabby Petito, the 22-year-old travel influencer whose 2021 murder by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, captivated the nation. The three-part series, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," premieres on February 17 and includes exclusive interviews with Petito's family, law enforcement officials, and those involved in the search for her remains.
Filmmakers Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro, known for "Murdaugh Murders: A Southern Scandal" and "Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets," led the project. "The fact that we were able to have access to the family was super important," Gasparro told The Post. He recalled being approached about the project while filming a separate documentary, noting that the Petito family wanted to ensure Gabby's story was accurately represented.
The documentary includes interviews with Petito's parents, former boyfriend, and investigators who worked on the case. One revelation comes from her ex-boyfriend, identified only as Jackson, who says Petito reached out to him shortly before her death in what he described as a "cry for help." "I have a plan. I think I want to leave him. I'm going to do it. I have to figure out when to do it," Jackson recalled her saying.
Petito and Laundrie had been documenting their cross-country travels on social media when she disappeared in August 2021. Her remains were discovered weeks later in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. A coroner determined she had been strangled to death by "human force." Laundrie, who became the primary suspect, fled before his remains were found in Florida's Myakkahtchee Creek Environmental Park. A notebook recovered near his body contained his written confession to killing Petito.
The filmmakers acknowledged concerns that the documentary may have come too soon. "We're only telling it with the family's blessing. That's the key," said Willoughby Nason. "If we were going to make a quick turnaround doc while it was happening, that'd be one thing. And we don't work that way." She emphasized that their priority was ensuring that those directly affected by the case had a voice in the film. "The family wanted to do it, and it was important to shine a light on what Gabby went through."
The series also explores broader themes of domestic abuse and coercive control. "I think it's going to help a lot of people to see this young couple and the abuse that Gabby was going through," said Willoughby Nason. "There is a wall of power that feels impenetrable in these stories that we want to break open." She compared Petito's story to other cases of abuse of power, such as the Duggar family's alleged control over its members and the influence wielded by the Murdaugh family in South Carolina.
One of the lingering questions surrounding the case is the role of Laundrie's parents, who faced scrutiny for their actions following Gabby's disappearance. The filmmakers attempted to include their perspective but were unsuccessful. "Obviously, we wanted to reach out to the Laundrie family to get their participation. They declined, and we respected that," Willoughby Nason said.
The documentary also examines the role of social media in both aiding and complicating the investigation. TikTok users and internet sleuths closely followed the case, analyzing Petito's Instagram posts and speculating about Laundrie's actions. A viral TikTok post led a pair of travel influencers, Kyle and Jenn Bethune, to discover footage of Petito and Laundrie's van parked in a Wyoming campsite. This evidence helped authorities locate Petito's body.
Despite the benefits of social media in assisting law enforcement, the film also highlights the dark side of online true-crime communities. "The happiest people on social media usually have the darkest skeletons in their closet," Petito's best friend states in the documentary. Footage from police body cameras shows Petito visibly distressed during an encounter with officers in Moab, Utah, just weeks before her death. Laundrie was seen in the footage appearing calm, while Petito sobbed and appeared anxious. "We see so much, yet end up understanding so little," the documentary suggests.
Petito's story continues to raise awareness about intimate partner violence. "Even though she ultimately did not escape physically from the power, her story helps others identify subtle forms of intimate partner violence," Willoughby Nason said. "That's why we wanted to tell Gabby's story."
