Gabby Petito's dad shares her pic with emotional message as he spends second Christmas without her
MOAB, UTAH: Gabby Petito's father posted a new photo along with a heartbreaking message, as he prepares to spend another Christmas without his daughter. On Christmas morning, Joseph Petito posted a picture of Gabby on social media. "MerryChristmas from our family to yours. #TogetherWeCan #JustBeANicerPerson," he captioned the picture.
In the meantime, Gabby's parents have submitted a move to include the Laundrie family attorney in their ongoing case after criticizing a "cold-hearted" remark he made last year. Patrick Reilly, an attorney for Gabby's parents, provided an explanation of the reasons Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt want to add lawyer Steven Bertolino as a defendant before the emotional distress lawsuit that is set to go to trial in August 2023, as per The US Sun.
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Speaking on behalf of the parents, Reilly said that they are claiming Brian's parents were aware of the whereabouts of Gabby's body and steadfastly withheld any details following her disappearance. "When they did choose to speak, it was through statements issued by Steven Bertolino, including a statement on September 14, 2021, that it was the 'hope of the Laundrie family 'that the search for Miss Petito is successful and that Miss Petito is reunited with her family," Reilly said.
According to the lawyer, the Laundries were "insensitive, cold-hearted, and outrageous" because they were aware that Gabby was dead at this point. "Thus, after much consideration, the parents of Gabby Petito filed a Motion for Leave of Court this afternoon asking the court for permission to file a Second Amended Complaint to add Steven Bertolino as a defendant in the action. Motions of this type are liberally granted by the court." He added, "Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt are seeking justice and accountability for the loss of their daughter and the attendant harm caused them."
MEAWW previously reported that after bringing a wrongful death lawsuit against Brian Laundrie's parents, who they claim killed their son's 22-year-old fiancée during a cross-country road trip in August 2021, Gabby Petito's family was awarded $3 million by a Florida judge. The agreement was made public on Thursday, November 18, months after Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, who live in the same Florida county as Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, launched a civil lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, the Laundries reportedly hampered the search for Petito and knew she "had been murdered by their son," who later died by suicide. "The Petito family lost their daughter, and they were also denied the opportunity to confront her killer. No amount of money is sufficient to compensate the Petito family for the loss of their daughter, Gabby, at the hands of Brian Laundrie," said Patrick Reilly.