***WARNING - what you are about to read may be distressing to some readers***. American vlogger Gabby Petito embarked on a cross-country road trip with her fiance, Brian Laundrie, in 2021, anticipating an unforgettable adventure. However, the journey quickly descended into tragedy. Brian is accused of murdering Gabby before he went missing himself; later, his body was discovered alongside a confession written in a notebook.
Gabby's relatives have now spoken out about the time leading up to her devastating demise in a fresh Netflix documentary titled American Murder: Gabby Petito. In the second episode of the three-part series, Gabby's former boyfriend, Jackson, claims she contacted him during the fateful trip. He divulged that Gabby texted him on August 22, saying, "Hi, I'm sure I'm the last person on the planet you want to hear from. I would really love to talk to you. I'm only alone until tomorrow." Surrey Live reports.
The two engaged in a late-night phone call, catching up on their lives and things they had missed. Jackson sensed that Gabby might still need someone to confide in after the call, remarking: "I got the vibe that she may still need somebody to talk to after we hung up, so I was like, 'Hey, if you do need to talk again, let me know, it's okay, I'm okay with that'.". He shared that Gabby hinted at a recent argument and seemed determined to leave Brian, stating: "She kind of hinted the fact that they had got into an argument a little bit, she said, 'I have a plan, I think I want to leave him. I'm gonna do it, I have to figure out when I'm going to do it'.
"From the sound of her voice and the way she was saying it, I think that she wasn't sure of what he would do or what he could do. I think she was wanting to get away but just didn't know how to do it.". Jackson revealed that later that day, his ex tried to call him again, but he couldn't pick up due to work commitments. Gabby vanished without a trace on August 27, just five days after reaching out to Jackson with that concerning message.
In a turn that escalated concerns, Brian arrived at his family's Florida home in the white van owned by Gabby, sparking alarm over her wellbeing. On September 19, the search came to a tragic end as Gabby's body was discovered in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest. An autopsy concluded she suffered blunt-force trauma and was strangled to death. Brian ended his life, with authorities finding his remains along with his written confession to Gabby's murder.
