Gabby Petito’s Parents File Lawsuit, Say Moab PD Could Have Saved Her

MOAB, UT — The parents of Gabby Petito filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department Thursday, claiming that officers could have saved their daughter's life had they not acted negligently during a traffic stop with Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie two weeks before her death, according to CNN.

The incident in question occurred on August 12, 2021, when police body cameras were recording as Moab Police responded to a call from a person who claimed to witness a domestic violence dispute between Petito and Laundrie, who were passing through Moab during their countrywide road trip.

According to the footage, Laundrie was determined to be the victim and Petito the primary aggressor after Petito admitted to "slapping" him. However, officers—who claim to have shown Petito "kindness, respect and empathy"—decided to use a loophole in the code so as not to arrest her.

The lawsuit claimed that it was a decision that resulted in the department's failure to protect Petito, as they improperly applied Utah’s laws related to domestic abuse, CNN reported.

“The purpose of this lawsuit is to honor Gabby’s legacy by demanding accountability and working toward systemic changes to protect victims of domestic abuse and violence and prevent such tragedies in the future,” attorney James W. McConkie said in a statement, according to the outlet.

In a statement shared with Patch, the City of Moab wrote, in part:

"The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured. At the same time, it is clear that Moab City Police Department officers are not responsible for Gabrielle Petito’s eventual murder ... The attorneys for the Petito family seem to suggest that somehow our officers could see into the future based on this single interaction. In truth, on Aug. 12, no one could have predicted the tragedy that would occur weeks later and hundreds of miles away, and the City of Moab will ardently defend against this lawsuit."