Gabby Petito

[NotUrsula]

No agency has released any detailed information about the conditions in which she was found, other than to say that decomposition was advanced, so rumours of a shallow grave are just that, rumours.

The presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is one of the bedrock foundations of our system of justice. Sure, we all can speculate on what MIGHT have happened, but it really is not right to broadcast a rumour/guess as if it were a statement of fact.

 

[supernova]

No agency has released any detailed information about the conditions in which she was found, other than to say that decomposition was advanced, so rumours of a shallow grave are just that, rumours.

The presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is one of the bedrock foundations of our system of justice. Sure, we all can speculate on what MIGHT have happened, but it really is not right to broadcast a rumour/guess as if it were a statement of fact.

Yes, but then there's also common sense. Autopsy confirmed homicide. I doubt she was killed in the woods by a pack of wild bunnies.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

[


Gotta disagree here. No, we don’t know if it was an accident (although the coroner is saying homicide, which is NOT consistent with an accidental death) and we don’t know precisely what role he played in her death. However, to suggest that it’s all a big question mark? No. We have pretty good evidence that he tried to cover it up and get away with it. He returned home with HER VAN. If it was an accident, he didn’t try to get help. If she ran off, he didn’t try to get help/tell authorities his fiancee was lost in the park. If she hurt herself, he didn’t try to get help/tell authorities so that her parents and hundreds of other people wouldn’t have had to search for her. Virtually everything he did screams “suspicious”. Now was he in his right mind? No clue, and no excuse. He’s not so crazy that he didn’t know to retreat to his home and then plan another escape...

As for his parents and whether or not they should have suspected something or asked more questions, I would again point to the fact that HE HAD HER VAN. Did they not wonder how she got home? Did they not call her parents to ask after her? Really?? I mean granted, my kids are only 12, but if they came home with something I know I didn’t buy them, then I ASK where they got it, and if the story isn’t a good one, I’d contact the school/other parents to make sure everything’s on the up and up. If they were mid-twenties and came home with a CAR? Yeah, I’d have more than a few questions, and I’d be seeking proof, not just their word for it.

I'm unsure what you're actually disagreeing with my comment about other than to just disagree with me

Seems like we agree we don't know what happened. Interesting you read that there's a big question mark, not sure what in my post made you think that's what was being said. When the poster said "Gabby did not have a horrible accident" what of the evidence we know so far has given us evidence that this has not happened? If there is something concrete known and I missed it please let me know. Otherwise it's unknown. I will admit I haven't fact checked the shallow grave part but I do remember seeing posts about that. If she was found buried in a shallow grave then I would more agree with the poster's comment of "bury herself in a shallow grave." We don't have concrete evidence that "Laundrie played a part in her death and tried to get away with it." Unless I have missed it. So my comment was to say we have unknowns here. Do you somehow disagree with that? Do you have some concrete information you know that I'm unaware of? If so please share.

As for homicide you might want to look back at some of the prior posts on the subject of what homicide can mean especially from Jim (here's a quick one: "Keep in mind that homicide does NOT mean murder -- it just means one human killed another human. So it could be accidental, could be manslaughter, could be murder of some degree.") I do believe there was a subsequent discussion about the human to human part, can't find that quick enough here but you can look back and see what was said.

The pointing out of unknowns by some posters throughout this thread to other some posters here somehow gets twisted up into an assumption that one is defending someone (whether it's Gabby, Brian, his parents or her parents), all it merely is is pointing out we don't know.

You've brought up points that either have already been discussed but was not pertinent to the comment you quoted of mine.

ETA: I think the only ruling out so far was natural causes and suicide

 

[Marrila]

Gotta disagree here. No, we don’t know if it was an accident (although the coroner is saying homicide, which is NOT consistent with an accidental death) and we don’t know precisely what role he played in her death. However, to suggest that it’s all a big question mark? No. We have pretty good evidence that he tried to cover it up and get away with it. He returned home with HER VAN. If it was an accident, he didn’t try to get help. If she ran off, he didn’t try to get help/tell authorities his fiancee was lost in the park. If she hurt herself, he didn’t try to get help/tell authorities so that her parents and hundreds of other people wouldn’t have had to search for her. Virtually everything he did screams “suspicious”. Now was he in his right mind? No clue, and no excuse. He’s not so crazy that he didn’t know to retreat to his home and then plan another escape...

As for his parents and whether or not they should have suspected something or asked more questions, I would again point to the fact that HE HAD HER VAN. Did they not wonder how she got home? Did they not call her parents to ask after her? Really?? I mean granted, my kids are only 12, but if they came home with something I know I didn’t buy them, then I’d ASK where they got it, and if the story wasn’t a good one, I’d contact the school/other parents to make sure everything was on the up and up. If they were mid-twenties and came home with a CAR? Yeah, I’d have more than a few questions, and I’d be seeking proof, not just their word for it.

She lived with BL and his parents. He drives home in her vehicle, and mom and dad say absolutely nothing? No q's about his fiance who lived with them? They want us to believe it's all bike rides, lawn mowing and boring normal life?
Well, until their son disappears.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Yes, but then there's also common sense. Autopsy confirmed homicide. I doubt she was killed in the woods by a pack of wild bunnies.

Homicide doesn't mean murder. Also an animals can bury their prey in a shallow grave.

We do not know what happened...only rampant speculation.

 

[Kms943]

Yes, but then there's also common sense. Autopsy confirmed homicide. I doubt she was killed in the woods by a pack of wild bunnies.

I believe this has been mentioned before in this thread: Legally speaking, Suicide is a homicide, but in most cases there is no one to prosecute if the suicide is successful. And as I mentioned in a previous post, the area where Gabby was recovered is home to many large predators that often bury/partially bury their prey. So it is very possible that she committed suicide and animals are responsible for the”shallow grave” aspect. I’m not saying that this is what happened, only that is something that COULD have happened. Because the public does not have all of the facts, I believe we need to keep all possibilities in mind. also, I haven’t watched any news today, so I may be behind, but as far as I know, Brian is still just a person of interest and not a suspect that they’ve issued an arrest warrant for.

 

[JimMIA]

The pointing out of unknowns by some posters throughout this thread to other some posters here somehow gets twisted up into an assumption that one is defending someone (whether it's Gabby, Brian, his parents or her parents), all it merely is is pointing out we don't know.

This is a good point for all of us to remember. This is an emotional case, and just because someone takes a point of view different from mine doesn't mean they are wrong, don't care, are defending someone, are blaming someone. It just means they are looking at it differently.

(If it's me they are disagreeing with, just keep in mind that they are wrong!)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

IMO, if he were a gaslighting, abusive socciopath, he would have reported her missing & pretended to help find her etc. Putting on a good show.

Excellent point.

I can’t classify him as a monster just yet.

That's a legit picture from a wildlife camera in a rural area of Okaloosa County the Florida panhandle, near the Alabama border. Whether it's Brian Laundrie or not is anyone's guess. The sheriff's department searched the area and found nothing.

I was surprised to see where it (the deer cam location) is, on this map. I know you know this, as a FL resident yourself, but some of the rest of us probably don’t.

 

[AndreaA]

I'm unsure what you're actually disagreeing with my comment about other than to just disagree with me

Seems like we agree we don't know what happened. Interesting you read that there's a big question mark, not sure what in my post made you think that's what was being said. When the poster said "Gabby did not have a horrible accident" what of the evidence we know so far has given us evidence that this has not happened? If there is something concrete known and I missed it please let me know. Otherwise it's unknown. I will admit I haven't fact checked the shallow grave part but I do remember seeing posts about that. If she was found buried in a shallow grave then I would more agree with the poster's comment of "bury herself in a shallow grave." We don't have concrete evidence that "Laundrie played a part in her death and tried to get away with it." Unless I have missed it. So my comment was to say we have unknowns here. Do you somehow disagree with that? Do you have some concrete information you know that I'm unaware of? If so please share.

As for homicide you might want to look back at some of the prior posts on the subject of what homicide can mean especially from Jim (here's a quick one: "Keep in mind that homicide does NOT mean murder -- it just means one human killed another human. So it could be accidental, could be manslaughter, could be murder of some degree.") I do believe there was a subsequent discussion about the human to human part, can't find that quick enough here but you can look back and see what was said.

The pointing out of unknowns by some posters throughout this thread to other some posters here somehow gets twisted up into an assumption that one is defending someone (whether it's Gabby, Brian, his parents or her parents), all it merely is is pointing out we don't know.

You've brought up points that either have already been discussed but was not pertinent to the comment you quoted of mine.

ETA: I think the only ruling out so far was natural causes and suicide

I think you give yourself too much credit when you think I’m just out to disagree with you. Yours is the latest, but I vehemently disagree with ALL the posters who are trying to spin this as some huge unknowable scenario. I’m not sure why you’re bothering to recap both my post and your own while twisting my words. It seems pretty clear that you want to stick with the “it’s all a mystery” talking points, while it’s also pretty clear that I am saying HE WAS INVOLVED.

I was actually EXTREMELY careful with my use of the word homicide precisely because it does mean that it’s the act of one human killing another. That doesn’t qualify as a “horrible accident” to me. Him killing her could have been ACCIDENTAL, but there is ample proof that he tried to cover it up AND tried to get away with it.

Are there some unknowns? Of course. However, the biggest questions really aren’t unknown at all:
Gabby is dead
Brian knows how it happened
Brian has tried to evade the police for over 20 days.

Why some people want to cling to this “we just don’t know what happened” idea is, quite frankly, bizarre. We’ll never know specifics because Brian is extremely unlikely to be forthcoming with the truth, but we do know the basics. I get the feeling that some people who question that are the same people who would call out “it might be zebras!” if they hear hoof beats in Texas.

 

[Skywalker]

He came home without her in her van, didn't inform anyone if it was an accident she got hurt (but now it's a homicide sooo), refuses to speak with the police - what does he have to hide if he's guilty?... he clearly knows something about her whereabouts even if it's just "she decided to stay out West and I came home." Pretty awful to not share any info you have about your missing fiancé. Even if he knew nothing ("she ran away and didn't tell him"), why not share that? Why disappear? It's vile.

Why? Well off the top of my head, one reason might be knowing that he wouldn't stand a chance against the assumptions that would be made against him. Lots of examples of "judge, jury and executioner" types even in this thread. I am not saying its right, but, I can see a certain kind of innocent or confused or panicked person fleeing with an outlook of "I am not going down for this, no way".

I could also see parents, who truly believe their son is innocent, trying to help and protect him from the mob calling for his blood.

At this point, no one knows what happened out there.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I think you give yourself too much credit when you think I’m just out to disagree with you. Yours is the latest, but I vehemently disagree with ALL the posters who are trying to spin this as some huge unknowable scenario. I’m not sure why you’re bothering to recap both my post and your own while twisting my words. It seems pretty clear that you want to stick with the “it’s all a mystery” talking points, while it’s also pretty clear that I am saying HE WAS INVOLVED.

I was actually EXTREMELY careful with my use of the word homicide precisely because it does mean that it’s the act of one human killing another. That doesn’t qualify as a “horrible accident” to me. Him killing her could have been ACCIDENTAL, but there is ample proof that he tried to cover it up AND tried to get away with it.

Are there some unknowns? Of course. However, the biggest questions really aren’t unknown at all:
Gabby is dead
Brian knows how it happened
Brian has tried to evade the police for over 20 days.

Why some people want to cling to this “we just don’t know what happened” idea is, quite frankly, bizarre. We’ll never know specifics because Brian is extremely unlikely to be forthcoming with the truth, but we do know the basics. I get the feeling that some people who question that are the same people who would call out “it might be zebras!” if they hear hoof beats in Texas.

It would appear this conversation is going nowhere so we'll agree to disagree and move on. If your beef is with other things take it up with the posters who brought them up. If your beef is the conversation about unknowns then take it up with other posters don't just go after me otherwise I'm going to have the only assumption that you disagree with me to just disagree with me. I know less about homicide than several posters here and am just mentioning what was said. If you have questions on that please discuss that with them.

 

[Skywalker]

I think you give yourself too much credit when you think I’m just out to disagree with you. Yours is the latest, but I vehemently disagree with ALL the posters who are trying to spin this as some huge unknowable scenario. I’m not sure why you’re bothering to recap both my post and your own while twisting my words. It seems pretty clear that you want to stick with the “it’s all a mystery” talking points, while it’s also pretty clear that I am saying HE WAS INVOLVED.

I was actually EXTREMELY careful with my use of the word homicide precisely because it does mean that it’s the act of one human killing another. That doesn’t qualify as a “horrible accident” to me. Him killing her could have been ACCIDENTAL, but there is ample proof that he tried to cover it up AND tried to get away with it.

Are there some unknowns? Of course. However, the biggest questions really aren’t unknown at all:
Gabby is dead
Brian knows how it happened
Brian has tried to evade the police for over 20 days.

Why some people want to cling to this “we just don’t know what happened” idea is, quite frankly, bizarre. We’ll never know specifics because Brian is extremely unlikely to be forthcoming with the truth, but we do know the basics. I get the feeling that some people who question that are the same people who would call out “it might be zebras!” if they hear hoof beats in Texas.

The only thing I take issue with is the bolded. We do not KNOW that Brian knows how it happened. Brian could have been long gone by the time she met up with her killer out there. That cannot be known for sure at this point.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I was actually EXTREMELY careful with my use of the word homicide precisely because it does mean that it’s the act of one human killing another. That doesn’t qualify as a “horrible accident” to me. Him killing her could have been ACCIDENTAL, but there is ample proof that he tried to cover it up AND tried to get away with it.

These are issues that will have to be determined during a trial, if there is one, or by forensic experts, if Brian is no longer alive.

Brian knows how it happened

We really don’t know this for sure, at this point.
I mean, there is a strong likelihood he does, but who’s to say there weren’t extenuating circumstances.
Stranger things have happened (as a pp gave a good example of yesterday).

I wish Brian would turn himself in. I think he probably stands a better chance than most of defending himself based on events that were recorded between the two of them (smiles on pics and video, family living situation, police reports, etc.) and having a good defense attorney already involved. At least that way, her family could get answers and justice would be served if he were to be convicted. Killing himself would probably be an immediate relief for him, but in the long term, he‘d lose the possibility of trying to clear his name if it did happen to be an accident or self-defense or physical escalation between the two of them, etc.

 

[AndreaA]

The only thing I take issue with is the bolded. We do not KNOW that Brian knows how it happened. Brian could have been long gone by the time she met up with her killer out there. That cannot be known for sure at this point.

I’d say the odds are astronomically against a random killer being responsible. If Brian left her alive in a town, then why did she let him take her van AND not immediately call her mom? If she ran off alone in the wild then why didn’t he tell authorities his fiancée was lost? He knows that their last interaction with police placed HIM as the victim, so he would have been able to point to that if they suspected him.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

Why? Well off the top of my head, one reason might be knowing that he wouldn't stand a chance against the assumptions that would be made against him. Lots of examples of "judge, jury and executioner" types even in this thread. I am not saying its right, but, I can see a certain kind of innocent or confused or panicked person fleeing with an outlook of "I am not going down for this, no way".

I could also see parents, who truly believe their son is innocent, trying to help and protect him from the mob calling for his blood.

At this point, no one knows what happened out there.

And also, it is highly likely that any lawyer worth his salt initially advised the young man to say nothing, refuse to answer any questions, keep his head down and lie low.

 

[mjkacmom]

She lived with BL and his parents. He drives home in her vehicle, and mom and dad say absolutely nothing? No q's about his fiance who lived with them? They want us to believe it's all bike rides, lawn mowing and boring normal life?
Well, until their son disappears.

What makes you think they didn’t ask questions and he didn’t answer questions? Were you there? I wasn’t, but I strongly suspect they asked, and his answer wasn‘t exactly the truth.

 

[NotUrsula]

Yes, but then there's also common sense. Autopsy confirmed homicide. I doubt she was killed in the woods by a pack of wild bunnies.

Which has absolutely no bearing on anonymous posters stating unequivocably that she was buried in a shallow grave (and strongly implying that a particular person buried her) when that is not something that anyone other than law enforcement actually knows.

It needs to be reiterated that the finding of homicide is at this date a preliminary finding in this case; the autopsy has actually not *confirmed* that it was a homicide. Basically, they have said that they *think* it is a homicide based on what experts could see during the physical examination, but that they are still awaiting forensic test results to confirm that. There are times when what first appears to be the result of a deliberate action turns out not to be (and times when the opposite turns out to be true; which gives us the concept of "making it look like an accident").

Emotions are running high right now, and that's natural, but mob justice is never a good idea. Whatever Brian Laundrie did or did not do, and whether or not he is of sound mind, he is still entitled to Due Process of Law, just like anyone else.

 

[Sinder]

No agency has released any detailed information about the conditions in which she was found, other than to say that decomposition was advanced, so rumours of a shallow grave are just that, rumours.

The presumption of innocence until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is one of the bedrock foundations of our system of justice. Sure, we all can speculate on what MIGHT have happened, but it really is not right to broadcast a rumour/guess as if it were a statement of fact.

Not sure if the "we" you are referring to is us here but if it is, we are not part of the justice system in this case. We are allowed to speculate and discuss what we think here on a public message board, whether it's comes from facts from the case, or whether it comes from what we think is factual in our own heads.
This is the court of public opinion, it isn't a court of law.

 

[Marrila]

What makes you think they didn’t ask questions and he didn’t answer questions? Were you there? I wasn’t, but I strongly suspect they asked, and his answer wasn‘t exactly the truth.

Or, possibly, his answers were mostly truthful. And he was (unrealistically) hoping for help and an easy fix from the parents.

 

[AndreaA]

Not sure if the "we" you are referring to is us here but if it is, we are not part of the justice system in this case. We are allowed to speculate and discuss what we think here on a public message board, whether it's comes from facts from the case, or whether it comes from what we think is factual in our own heads.
This is the court of public opinion, it isn't a court of law.

Yes, this. I guess I’m a little stymied as to why some people are so invested in making clear that law enforcement hasn’t made any determinations yet/no trial has taken place/no arrests have been made. I’m pretty sure that everyone here is aware of the fact that we’re all just people typing on the internet and not in charge of making any legal determinations about this guy’s fate. We don’t need referees to remind us of that. Sheesh.