Netflix has released a new true-crime documentary series, American Murder: Gabby Petito, which explores the life and tragic death of 22-year-old Gabby Petito, who was murdered in 2021. Gabby and her fiance, Brian Laundrie, had embarked on a cross-country van trip across the US, but the trip took a devastating turn when Brian allegedly killed her and disposed of her body. In the three-part documentary, Gabby's loved ones reveal that she had begun to see her relationship with Brian in a different light before the ill-fated trip. Her best friend, Rose Davis, shared: "I think there was a moment before her van life where she started to open her eyes.".
Rose recalled how Gabby often visited her and expressed her growing frustration with Brian. She said: "Gabby was constantly over at my house and kinda getting more frustrated. I think it was all clicking for her the more it went on.". As Gabby spent more time with Rose, she began feeling more independent, seemingly threatening Brian. Rose continued, "The more she and I were together and talking and having a good time, she actually felt more independent, and that's when he was like, 'I've gotta do something to change this, let me isolate her, if I get her away from her job if I get her away from her friend, she only has me' and then next thing you know, they were gone.", reports Surrey Live.
The documentary also shows text messages between Gabby and Brian, revealing they had been having issues for some time. Gabby wrote to Brian in one message: "Don't try to control me because it only makes me mad. I love you so much, but it's the way you speak to me that hurts me the most.". The couple embarked on their journey on July 2, but Gabby mysteriously disappeared on August 27. Brian returned alone to his parents' home in Florida from Wyoming in the van they had been travelling in.
He and his parents remained tight-lipped about her whereabouts, raising suspicions further when it was discovered he had been withdrawing money from her debit card. On September 13, Brian left his home and was reported missing by his parents four days later. Gabby's remains were discovered on September 19, with a post-mortem examination revealing she died from blunt-force injuries to her head and neck and manual strangulation.
