The Gabby Petito Story sparks major shift for future of true crime after web sleuths huge involvement in case, PI says
A NEW movie that documents Gabby Petito's relationship with Brian Laundrie sets a new precedent for true crime, a private investigator has claimed.
Lifetime’s The Gabby Petito Story will be released tomorrow – October 1 – the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
The film, which explores the relationship and complications between Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie on their ill-fated 2021 road trip, is the subject of intense criticism.
Furious social media users have accused filmmakers of using the vlogger’s murder for “fame and money.”
Private investigator Jason Jensen, who investigated the link between Laundrie and another murdered couple, believes the film will set a “new precedent” for true crime productions.
He told The U.S. Sun: “Shows such as Netflix’s Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes and the Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story talk about the villain.
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“We spend way too much time paying so much attention to the bad guys and the killers.
“I hope that this is the moment that this is the beginning of a new trend where we can recognize and appreciate the victims.”
He hopes that there will be a public service announcement (PSA) at the end of the movie where victims of domestic violence can call a toll-free number for help.
Jensen said content creators and web sleuths were "instrumental" in helping cops solve the case.
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Petito’s family did not give approval to the producers for the making of the movie.
Gabby's mom Nichole Schmidt confirmed to The U.S. Sun that the family had no involvement.
Jensen warned: “If they (producers) didn’t get permission, there will be some who think that it’s shameful or that they’re trying to capitalize on this poor story.
“But, they are going to have a big audience that’s going to watch it.”
A trailer, which previewed the film earlier this month, was slammed as “atrocious” and “gross” by viewers.
In the clip, actress Skyler Samuels, who plays Gabby, tells her friends how Brian becomes "like a total stranger".
Laundrie - played by Evan Hall - is then seen arguing with Gabby in a restaurant, knocking items off the dining table.
It sparked a furious backlash online:
One Twitter user commented: "It’s just hasn’t been even a year since Gabby Petito died and lifetime is already making a movie about her.”
Another added: "As someone who’s super into true crime I’m uneasy about The Gabby Petito Story. Did her family agree to the movie?
'CASH GRAB'
"Also, the story they’re portraying is complete speculation. Not to mention how recently this happened?
"Just seems like they’re using Gabby’s murder as a cash grab."
And one said: "Them making Gabby Petito’s story into a movie this fast is really gross."
"The fact that Gabby Petito's story has already been made into a lifetime movie is atrocious," another added.
One viewer simply wrote: "Geez way too soon."
And, another said: “Lifetime has made a movie about Gabby Petito and I hate that this is what real-life tragedies are being reduced to.
“These are random people, not random characters.”
Jensen believes the interest in the Petito case stemmed from when she and Laundrie were pulled over during a traffic stop in Moab, Utah on August 12 last year.
He had worked on the case surrounding the deaths of Utah couple Crystal Turner and Kylen Schulte in the same town that year.
Sleuths had attempted to link the case to Gabby's as the couple was in the town over the same weekend but authorities found no connection.
He said: “Victims of domestic violence will have watched the video and saw the signs of a victim protecting her abuser and police missed it entirely.
“Domestic violence survivors were taken aback in shock. It escalated from there. The interest spiraled until it was fever pitch.”
Sleuths claimed that Petito appeared to gesture for help using the domestic violence hand symbol during the stop.
The gesture involves putting your thumb down and then placing your thumb on top, which a visibly distressed Gabby appeared to do as she spoke with cops.
Penelope House Executive Director Toni Ann Torrans told KSAZ in October that she believed Gabby was desperately trying to signal for help.
Jensen investigated the potential connection between Laundrie and the murders of Schulte and Turner.
Schulte and Turner were last seen alive on August 13 – a day after the traffic stop.
Petito and Laundrie were said to have had a huge argument at a Moonflower Co-op where Schulte worked.
The women had told their friends about a man who had allegedly been “creeping them out.”
Jensen told NewsNation now: “Given the fact that when they described this guy as a creep guy, they're not saying his name, so it's somebody that they're completely unfamiliar with.
"Obviously somebody like a Brian Laundrie that's from out of town.”
Petito was last seen on August 24 in Salt Lake City, Utah and her body was found on September 19 in Grand Teton National Park.
Coroners revealed that she died from strangulation.
Laundrie’s partial skeletal remains were found in a Florida nature reserve in October before medical examiners confirmed that he died from a gunshot wound to the head.
One of his journals, which the FBI investigated as part of their probe, contained a chilling note that said: "I ended her life.
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"I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made.”
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The U.S. Sun has approached A&E Networks for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or chat at thehotline.org.