In a tragic case that captured global attention, a judge in Utah dismissed a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of Gabby Petito against the Moab Police Department. The lawsuit alleged that police failed to protect Petito during a traffic stop involving her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, who would later confess to killing her. Despite the judge’s ruling, the attorney representing Petito’s parents, Judson Burton, confirmed plans to appeal the decision, arguing that the state law shielding government agencies from lawsuits is unconstitutional.
Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old woman, was traveling cross-country with Laundrie in a camper van when police in Moab stopped them following a report of a domestic dispute. The officers concluded that Petito was the aggressor and instructed the couple to spend the night apart. Petito’s parents last heard from her in late August, and she was reported missing in September after Laundrie returned to Florida without her. The subsequent search for Petito and the discovery of her body near Grand Teton National Park sparked intense public interest and criticism of how missing persons cases are covered based on race.
Laundrie was named a person of interest in Petito’s disappearance but went missing before her body was found. Authorities later determined that she had been strangled. Laundrie’s remains were discovered in Florida a month later, and he was found to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A notebook found with his remains contained a confession to killing Petito. An independent investigation into the Moab Police Department’s handling of the incident found several unintentional mistakes that may have contributed to Petito’s tragic fate.
The lawsuit against the Moab Police Department filed by Petito’s parents sought $50 million in damages, alleging that the officers’ handling of the situation was grossly negligent and possibly emboldened Laundrie. The family’s attorney revealed that Petito had called them during the interaction with the police, assuring them that the officers would handle the situation. However, the investigation into the incident was criticized for failing to address the risks of domestic violence adequately and failing to act appropriately given the circumstances. The Moab Police Department’s attorney sought to dismiss the lawsuit, citing governmental immunity and arguing that the department was not liable for Petito’s death.
Despite the dismissal of the lawsuit by the judge, plans to appeal the decision are underway, with the attorney for Petito’s parents reiterating the belief that the law protecting government agencies from lawsuits is unconstitutional. The case of Gabby Petito serves as a tragic reminder of the prevalence of domestic violence and the need for law enforcement agencies to handle such incidents with care and vigilance. The public scrutiny and criticism surrounding the case also highlight broader issues related to missing persons cases, media coverage, and the disparities in how they are perceived based on race.
