'Carry Her Light Forward': Slain Long Islander, Gabby Petito, Remembered On 5th Anniversary Of Her Death

LONG ISLAND, NY — Gabby Petito, the Long Islander who was reported missing, sparking a massive interstate search and drawing the eyes of the world, before later being found slain in a park in Wyoming, is being remembered on Thursday, the 5th anniversary of when she is believed to have been killed.

"Five years ago, we lost Gabby, the world lost Gabby," the Gabby Petito Foundation wrote on its Facebook page. "A daughter, a sister, a friend, but the light she brought into this world has never stopped shining. We remember her adventurous spirit, her creativity, her kindness, her beautiful smile, and the way she believed there was so much good in the world."

The foundation asked that followers honor her "by carrying that light forward."

It urged that followers check on loved ones and friends, learn the signs of abuse, speak up when something doesn’t feel right, believe survivors, and help a family searching for someone they love.

It also urged choosing kindness, "even when no one is watching."

"One small act may feel insignificant, but it could change someone’s life," the post continued. "Gabby’s story began with her, but the change it inspires belongs to all of us. Let her light remind us that we each have the power to make this world safer, kinder, and more compassionate."

"Five years without you. Forever loving you. Forever saying your name. Forever turning our love for you into purpose," the post concluded.

The post included emojis of butterflies, a smiley face with an angel's halo, a peace dove carrying an olive branch, and a purple heart. It included the hashtags of "Gabby Petito," "the light remains," "together we can," "change the world," and "never forget."

Her parents also remembered her in posts to Facebook.

Her father, Joseph Petito, noted that it has been five years since he has heard her voice and seen her smile. "Your light is still shining bright," he wrote. "Miss you so much, Gabby. Love you."

Her stepfather, Jim Schmidt, posted Eric Clapton's "Tears in Heaven." The post was captioned that five years "feels like yesterday."

"I could never imagine a world without any of my children in it, and yet here we are still grieving, trying to pick up the pieces, and find meaning through it all," he wrote. "You were a bright light in this world and had so much life left to live. Losing you has left a tremendous void in our hearts, but we try, and fill it each day by continuing to honor your life."

"You have helped so many lives from beyond this earth," he wrote. "I just hope you are proud of us and the work we do in your honor, because we sure were proud of you."

"Miss you every day, sweetpea," he concluded.

The post was signed off by himself, her mother, Nichole, and her younger siblings.

Her mother, Nichole Schmidt, posted Rod Stewart's "Forever Young."

She wrote that it "still feels impossible to put into words what it means to live in a world without her."

"I miss Gabby every single day," he said. "I miss her laugh, her smile, her hugs, her free spirit, and all the little things that made her her. I miss the moments we had, and I grieve all the moments we should still be having."

"But one thing I’ve learned is that love doesn’t end when someone leaves this earth," she wrote. "My love for Gabby continues to give me purpose. I will keep saying her name, telling her story, helping others, fighting for change, and doing everything I can to make sure something meaningful continues to grow from the beautiful life she lived."

"I never want Gabby to be remembered only for what happened to her," she continued. "I want her remembered for who she was. A daughter, a sister, a friend, an artist, a dreamer, an adventurer, and a beautiful soul who wanted to see the world and leave it better than she found it."

"Gabby, I hope you know how deeply you are loved, how much you are missed, and how many lives you continue to touch," she wrote. "Five years without you.Forever my reason to keep going."

She signed off with a butterfly and purple heart.

On her Facebook page, Petito's stepmother, Tara, wrote that "one of the last things we did with 'Gabs' as a family was search for shark’s teeth at the beach."

"Hold on to your loved ones a little bit tighter today and cherish the memories because you never know what this life may bring you," she said. "I would give my last breath to bring her back to live the life she deserved. Gabby, please keep shining your light. Love you always and forever baby girl."

Petito was involved in a highly publicized traffic stop after a domestic violence incident in Utah with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, whom she was on a road trip with, before her death.

Her case has highlighted the issue of domestic violence, and her parents later took up the cause in the wake of her death, now traveling all over the country to draw attention to the issue.

Petito, 23, is believed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to have been strangled to death by Laundrie on Aug. 27.

When the Blue Point native did not respond to her mother, Nichole Schmidt, she filed a missing persons report with Suffolk County police on Sept. 10, setting off a massive search.

Laundrie, who by then had returned in her van to his parents' house in Florida, refused to cooperate with investigators and ended up going into a nearby swamp and killing himself.

In a notebook later found near his remains, Laundrie claims to have carried out a mercy killing, by strangling Petito because she was in so much pain after falling into a ravine.

Petito's remains were found near Grand Teton National Park on Sept. 19, 2021.

Attorneys for her family in the Utah lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department, accused of failing to prevent her slaying at the hands of Laundrie, expect that oral arguments will be scheduled soon.

Brian Stewart told Patch recently that he expects a date in the coming weeks.

SEE ALSO:

• Gabby Petito: $50M Civil Lawsuit Could Spark Change Across U.S.
• Gabby Petito's Family Appeals Utah Court Ruling In Wrongful Death Case
• Gabby Petito: Judge Tosses Family's Wrongful Death Lawsuit
• ‘Not Just Gabby Petito’ Case Deserves Media Attention: Dad
• LI Mom To Missing Daughter: ‘We Just Need To See You Again’