Blogger's mum 'forgives' killer boyfriend but brands his mum 'evil mastermind'

01 June 2024 , 15:27

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Gabby Petito's mother has said she forgives her daughter's killer boyfriend (Image: ITV)

The mother of a young woman who killed by her boyfriend while they travelled the country has said she doesn't blame him, but instead blames his "evil" mother.

Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt hit out at Brian Laundrie's mother, Roberta, while taking the stage at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee, on Friday afternoon. Addressing her daughter's boyfriend, Mrs Schmidt said: "I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you. I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.”

However, her speech at the Opryland Hotel went on to slam Laundrie's mother as the "mastermind" behind the killing and accused her of having "no remorse" in her heart. She continued: “As for you, Roberta, and I call you out individually because you are evidently the mastermind that shattered your family and mine with your evil ways, I see no empathy in your eyes. No remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions.”

READ MORE: Eerie final moments of student who vanished after going to bar with friends

Gabby pictured with her mum Nichole Schmidt (@Nikischmidt927/Twitter)

Roberta Laundrie is suspected of helping her son sneak away while law enforcement zoned in on him as a key suspect in Gabby Petito’s murder in 2021. She is also accused of failing to cooperate with police while they were in the early stages of their investigation.

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Mrs Schmidt said Roberta doesn't deserve any sort of forgiveness for her actions and she "deserves to be forgotten". The grief-stricken mother was never able to meet her daughter's killer face to face after he fled into a swamp area and took his own life after an investigation into Gabby's death was launched, the NY Post reports.

Gabby Petito was travelling with her boyfriend Brian Laundrie when she went missing (findgabbypetito/Instagram)

Gabby's stepmother, Tara Petito, also criticised Laundrie's behaviour after the murder. She said: “Only someone with true evil in their heart would do such a thing." While Mrs Schmidt added: "I implore you all, live by these simple words directly from Gabby: ‘Just be a nicer person."

In March 2022, Petito's parents filed a civil lawsuit against the Laundries as they believed Brian's parents were aware their son murdered Gabby and tried to hide the sinister act while helping him evade justice after he returned from the trip alone. Both of his parents acknowledged during depositions they had concerns about the young woman and that their son was behaving erratically in phone calls. Roberta Laundrie also drove to her deposition in a civil lawsuit in the same car her son snuck away in the night he shot himself.

Gabby Petito's parents Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt in 2022 (Mike Lang/POOL / SplashNews.com)

Gabby's remains were left abandoned at Laundrie's Flordia home - where he had driven from Wyoming - before he later went camping with his parents, sister and her children. He was the only suspect in Petito’s murder, and the FBI recovered a handwritten confession preserved in a waterproof bag after finding his remains in a park near their home in October 2021.

It's believed Laundrie had called his parents up to 20 times in two days after Gabby's death and told them she was "gone" and that he would need a lawyer. His parents deny all knowledge of the crime.

Brian Laundrie's mum, Roberta, promised she would show up with a shovel in a chilling letter (Sarasota County Circuit Court)

Last May, Schmidt again targeted Roberta Laundrie for releasing a "burn after reading" letter to her son, where she promised to bring him a shovel and garbage bags to get rid of the body. In the letter, she told Brian: “If you’re in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags.”

Both settled their lawsuit following a mediation session in February. The Petito's family lawyer Pat Reily explained: "After a long day of mediation, a confidential agreement has been reached … to which all parties reluctantly agreed in order to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict."

Sean McPolin