Gabby Petito

[mom2rtk]

But they asked her what happened. They asked her if she hit him first, they asked her why she hit him and she said because she wanted him to stop "telling her to calm down". She also answered "I guess" when they asked her if he hit her, and when they asked her where she said "he grabbed my face like this", and demonstrated him grabbing her chin.
If they had the info from the 911 call what would they have done differently?

And she also knew she would eventually be getting back into that van with him. With no way of distancing herself.

I know they spent that night apart, but she might not have known that at that point and she also would know they'd be back together the next day regardless.

The 911 call specifically said he was slapping her.

 

[tzolkin]

But we should assume the male is the abuser despite the only official report that I've seen so far, the police report, saying otherwise? That's pretty weird logic.

I'm open to either option or (more likely) somewhere in between, but I will say that just because a police report says that he did not hit her does not mean that's the truth. There are countless victims who tell police/family/etc every day that their abuser "absolutely did not hit me". Even when there is strong physical evidence proving that they did, the victim will often still lie to protect them.

That said, the police report that you keep referencing as proof that she was definitely the aggressor and him the victim does say that he "grabbed her face" and pushed her. It also states that "it was reported the male had been observed to have assaulted the female". So I don't really understand how anyone is reading that as 100% one sided.

 

[Skywalker]

Personally, I disagree. Others witnessed violence that they felt worth calling the police including mentioning seeing him hit her. And both of them acknowledged that he "grabbed her face" and shoved her. If I saw a man grab a woman's face and shove her enough to knock her off balance, I certainly would not consider that to be a completely one sided attack with the woman as the perpetrator.

Even if he was getting his face smashed by a phone? Why?

I assume because *something* happened and he went home, didn't report it, then went into hiding? Leaving her parents hanging with questions about the welfare of their daughter?

Yeah but we don't know what happened or if he was even there. He could have left, she could have met someone else completely different who meant her harm. In that case, was he a jerk to leave? Maybe, I mean they were two adults, they could go their separate ways if they wanted to. Maybe she tripped and hit her head on a rock and he panicked. Maybe he was an abused man who snapped. Maybe he was the abuser and finally killed her . Maybe maybe maybe....

The point is no one knows, but some people seem very invested in whatever theory they pull out of their hats I guess.

 

[Sinder]

And she also knew she would eventually be getting back into that van with him. With no way of distancing herself.

I know they spent that night apart, but she might not have known that at that point and she also would know they'd be back together the next day regardless.

The 911 call specifically said he was slapping her.

That doesn't answer my question, what would have been done differently if the police had the info from that call. Would their questions not be the same?
Would Gabby's answers be different?

I'm with you, I think he most likely killed her.
But I do not believe for one second that we can know that he is a gaslighting abuser for sure based on a few minutes of an upset Gabby talking the police.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah but we don't know what happened or if he was even there. He could have left, she could have met someone else completely different who meant her harm. In that case, was he a jerk to leave? Maybe, I mean they were two adults, they could go their separate ways if they wanted to. Maybe she tripped and hit her head on a rock and he panicked. Maybe he was an abused man who snapped. Maybe he was the abuser and finally killed her . Maybe maybe maybe....

The point is no one knows, but some people seem very invested in whatever theory they pull out of their hats I guess.

If that's what happened, then he would have served both himself and her parents well to 1) not run and 2) give them information on what happened. He loses all credibility when he runs off and never even tries to inform them about what happened to their child.

 

[mom2rtk]

That doesn't answer my question, what would have been done differently if the police had the info from that call. Would their questions not be the same?
Would Gabby's answers be different?

I honesty don't know. There's only so much law enforcement can do with a situation like that. Especially when people are away from home living out of a van.

I do think if the information was more accurate, maybe that would have been reflected in the report and Brian would have been watched more closely once he got home and word got out that she was gone.

I'm just saying it's possible she wasn't fully honest in her response because she knew she'd end up isolated with him again in tight quarters.

 

[GreatLakes]

Is a 911 call not considered official?

Not really. Eyewitness testimony is always problematic and the caller only witnessed a part of the altercation and from a distance. That 911 call started a chain of events that ended with the police interviewing both of them for a lengthy amount of time. That interview and the resulting report is what is official because it wasn't just what one person might or might not have seen from afar.

During that interview both sides had the opportunity to tell the officers exactly what happened and did. They were able to conclude, from actually talking to both of them at length, what happened. The 911 call shouldn't really mean much since it resulted in a lengthy interview with both involved.

 

[Marrila]

That doesn't answer my question, what would have been done differently if the police had the info from that call. Would their questions not be the same?
Would Gabby's answers be different?

I'm with you, I think he most likely killed her.
But I do not believe for one second that we can know that he is a gaslighting abuser for sure based on a few minutes of an upset Gabby talking the police.

Opinions vary, and that's fine.
I believe the 911 call. I'm not calling either party names.
Yes, many officers would want important details from the 911 call. It would impact their approach.

 

[Sinder]

I honesty don't know. There's only so much law enforcement can do with a situation like that. Especially when people are away from home living out of a van.

I do think if the information was more accurate, maybe that would have been reflected in the report and Brian would have been watched more closely once he got home and word got out that she was gone.

I'm just saying it's possible she wasn't fully honest in her response because she knew she'd end up isolated with him again in tight quarters.

I agree, anything is a possibility. I think it's very easy to paint him as an abuser because we know Gabby is dead so we see what we want to see when watching that video.
It could have been a stressed out couple at their wits end with each other, and got into a very heated argument where both parties got physical. IMO that's just as possible a scenario to believe based on that video.

 

[mom2rtk]

Not really. Eyewitness testimony is always problematic and the caller only witnessed a part of the altercation and from a distance. That 911 call started a chain of events that ended with the police interviewing both of them for a lengthy amount of time. That interview and the resulting report is what is official because it wasn't just what one person might or might not have seen from afar.

Yes, but that eyewitness saw more of it than the police officers did.

During that interview both sides had the opportunity to tell the officers exactly what happened and did. They were able to conclude, from actually talking to both of them at length, what happened. The 911 call shouldn't really mean much since it resulted in a lengthy interview with both involved.

They were able to conclude what they *think* happened. Based on interviews with 2 people with a highly vested interest in the outcome.

 

[mom2rtk]

I agree, anything is a possibility. I think it's very easy to paint him as an abuser because we know Gabby is dead so we see what we want to see when watching that video.
It could have been a stressed out couple at their wits end with each other, and got into a very heated argument where both parties got physical. IMO that's just as possible a scenario to believe based on that video.

Absolutely. But I'm far more likely to paint him as an abuser based on his behavior after her death than before. A lot of what we have is conjecture and supposition. But we know she's dead. And we know he 1) didn't talk to her parents and 2) went on the run. Doesn't mean he's guilty, but it's pretty damning.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Except the dispatcher didn't tell the officers the important specifics from the 911 call.
And the officers approach and conclusions showed that.

I am troubled the critical information from the 911 call was never given to the responding officers.
Did that skew their approach and conclusions? I'm sure opinions vary.

I think the issue of whether the 911 caller information was conveyed fully to the officers or not, isn’t fully known yet.

However, what we do know is that there was an hour+ long “investigation” talking to all the parties involved, including the 911 caller, Christopher (and the female park ranger I posted about earlier today). In fact, one of the officers later called Christopher (or Chris, as he’s sometimes referred to) with some follow up questions. The police report concluded they were all in agreement once everyone sorted out what had happened.

I guess this is where opinions can vary. Was Brian acting self-defensively, or was he the aggressor? The police concluded she was the aggressor. Are they a bunch of misogynists who twisted the story around? it didn’t seem that way to me, but I know that some (not here, necessarily) are saying as much, or that somehow, Gabby was gaslighted, etc.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here, was that, apparently, what got Gabby upset was that Brian’s feet were dirty, and she had cleaned the car and didn’t want dirt in the car. That’s what set them off that day, she admittedly became overly emotional and manic about it, and he was asking her to calm down when things escalated to the physical issues between them.

A recent pp has it right. If someone is hitting you (smashing a phone against your face, hitting or scratching you), you do have the right to defend yourself. I think there are some people who would’ve really pounded - if not worse - someone who smacked them in the face with a phone. From what we know, ie what all parties admitted to in the police report, he held back her face and pushed her away from him. Is this what the 911 caller saw? Or was there more? These are the questions I have. I guess eventually, we will find out.

 

[neverlandsky]

Abuse victims will blame themselves for the abuse. So if Gabby admitted she was the aggressor it could be because she was threatened with her life to do so.

John Walsh’s take wow. I do feel the vibe he’s on the run as well given that he walked, hitched a ride, panicked, and got out. Great predictor of future behavior is past behavior.

Curious of the autopsy and toxicology results.

 

[TwoMisfits]

As for the cops and why they probably decided on the aggressor they did, it's probably b/c of the injuries. He had multiple scratches and open cuts on the face and arms - she had none. So, when they heard the 2 people giving accounts that would match how that could occur, they went with it when no one wanted to press charges (now, they should have arrested someone or both of them for domestic assault - if they had, both would likely be alive b/c her parents, at least, would have heard about her arrest and likely stopped the trip - but you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20).

Now, was the cops' report totally accurate - who knows, b/c if I'm a betting person, both parties involved are dead. (Yes, I suspect he's committed suicide and it being Florida, his body will never be found b/c bodies don't hang around long with the predators there)...

 

[GreatLakes]

I think the issue of whether the 911 caller information was conveyed fully to the officers or not, isn’t fully known yet.

However, what we do know is that there was an hour+ long “investigation” talking to all the parties involved, including the 911 caller, Christopher (and the female park ranger I posted about earlier today). In fact, one of the officers later called Christopher (or Chris, as he’s sometimes referred to) with some follow up questions. The police report concluded they were all in agreement once everyone sorted out what had happened.

I guess this is where opinions can vary. Was Brian acting self-defensively, or was he the aggressor? The police concluded she was the aggressor. Are they a bunch of misogynists who twisted the story around? it didn’t seem that way to me, but I know that some (not here, necessarily) are saying as much, or that somehow, Gabby was gaslighted, etc.

One thing I haven’t seen mentioned here, was that, apparently, what got Gabby upset was that Brian’s feet were dirty, and she had cleaned the car and didn’t want dirt in the car. That’s what set them off that day, she admittedly became overly emotional and manic about it, and he was asking her to calm down when things escalated to the physical issues between them.

A recent pp has it right. If someone is hitting you (smashing a phone against your face, hitting or scratching you), you do have the right to defend yourself. I think there are some people who would’ve really pounded - if not worse - someone who smacked them in the face with a phone. From what we know, ie what all parties admitted to in the police report, he held back her face and pushed her away from him. Is this what the 911 caller saw? Or was there more? These are the questions I have. I guess eventually, we will find out.

This is what I was trying to say above. The call itself lead to interviews that are much more detailed that what the call would have entailed. If they also interviewed the caller than the police did have the information he saw and still concluded, after that, that she was the aggressor. If she lied to the police about the situation than that is on her. If you don't tell the police the truth they can't help you.

Yes, but that eyewitness saw more of it than the police officers did.

They were able to conclude what they *think* happened. Based on interviews with 2 people with a highly vested interest in the outcome.

If the above poster is correct, and I'm assuming they are, the police interviewed mor than just the two of them and that included the 911 caller. Am I reading Pea-n-Me's post incorrectly?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I think the police in Utah did all they could. They tracked them down after they left the co-op, separated them to interview, had a female officer present to talk to Gabby, took Brian somewhere to cool off for the night (a lot is made of the police leaving Gabby with the van, but she may not have wanted him to have the van if she thought he would drive off with it.) If only they had decided to pack it in and go home. must be difficult with hindsight, since the young lady has apparently turned up dead and the guy turned tail and ran.

From what the audio of the 911 call says, it does sound like he slapped her first.

 

[Sinder]

Absolutely. But I'm far more likely to paint him as an abuser based on his behavior after her death than before. A lot of what we have is conjecture and supposition. But we know she's dead. And we know he 1) didn't talk to her parents and 2) went on the run. Doesn't mean he's guilty, but it's pretty damning.

We definitely agree on that.

 

[Sinder]

https://www.foxnews.com/us/gabby-petito-utah-fight-brian-laundrie-witness-statement
This is a witness statement, it doesn't say anything about him hitting her. He said it looked like he was trying to take her phone and leave her. He said she was punching him in the arm. He also saw them get in the car so he witnessed them the same time the caller did.

 

[mjkacmom]

 

[Pea-n-Me]

This is what I was trying to say above. The call itself lead to interviews that are much more detailed that what the call would have entailed. If they also interviewed the caller than the police did have the information he saw and still concluded, after that, that she was the aggressor. If she lied to the police about the situation than that is on her. If you don't tell the police the truth they can't help you.



If the above poster is correct, and I'm assuming they are, the police interviewed mor than just the two of them and that included the 911 caller. Am I reading Pea-n-Me's post incorrectly?

Yes. I’m sure I’ll never be able to find it again, as articles have changed and been updated over the past several days, but I did see something days ago about all the parties involved discussing “what was seen” and how it could be “re-interpreted” once all the details were understood. There’s that whole thing about interpretation. And, of course, there could be more. So who knows. I give up trying to figure it out. (Not really, but just how I’m feeling at this moment. )

The one person who knows what we all want to know, I would say, is Brian’s lawyer. And he has been advised by the FBI to stop releasing statements. And I’d guess he’s getting death threats. So this is going to get really interesting….