Revealed
'I COULD FEEL HER'
GABBY Petito's mom, Nichole, has broken her silence following the addition of former Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino to the lawsuit she and Joe Petito filed.
The motion was granted during a hearing in Florida on Tuesday.
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Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt are suing Laundrie's parents Chris and Roberta Laundrie, alleging that they knew their son had murdered Petito.
After the motion to add Bertolino was granted, Schmidt spoke out.
“Gabby was there with us," she told local NBC affiliate WFLA.
"I could feel her.”
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'COLD-HEARTED' STATEMENT
Judge Danielle Brewer ruled to grant the motion, ruling in favor of Petito and Schmidt and their attorneys.
In September 2021, five days before Petito's body was found in Grand Teton National Park, Bertolino issued a statement on behalf of Laundrie's parents that expressed hope that the vlogger would be found alive and reunited with her parents.
“It is believed that at the time the September 14, 2021 statement was issued, the Laundries and Steven Bertolino knew that Gabby Petito was deceased and that under those circumstances, the statement was insensitive, cold-hearted, and outrageous,” Pat Reilly, the attorney for Petito and Schmidt, told local NBC affiliate WFLA.
Now that Bertolino has been added to the suit, Gabby's parents "are happy," Reilly said.
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“They’ve been through a lot. They’ve had to listen to a lot of statements made by Mr Bertolino on behalf of the family, statements that were sometimes hurtful to them.
“And so, they believe by bringing Mr Bertolino in, they ultimately will get justice for what has occurred.”
Bertolino himself responded to the approval of the motion, telling WFLA: "The decision was not unexpected. This incident, like all others, will work out in the end. One way or the other."
“Once I am [served] I will engage counsel and proceed accordingly.”
Attorney Matt Luka told WFLA that Bertolino will likely file a motion to dismiss the suit.
“We’re hopeful that the judge grants Mr Bertolino’s motion to dismiss if he does file one, and that this won’t be an issue once we get to trial,” he said.
WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT
Gabby's family has already been awarded $3million from Brian Laundrie's estate for a wrongful death lawsuit.
However, Laundrie's parents are still facing legal trouble as the mourning family claims the pair refused to release crucial information that would have implicated their son.
Petito and Schmidt have filed a civil lawsuit against the Laundries, which is set to go to a jury trial in August.
Meanwhile, the Laundries filed a motion earlier this month requesting evidence from Petito and Schmidt.
The request seeks communication that Gabby’s parents had with state and federal agencies, and any contact they had with Gabby, Brian, or the Laundrie family.
The Laundries are also seeking all phone records from Gabby and her parents between July 2, 2021, to September 30, 2021.
Documents and communication relating to compensation or contracts for publishing rights, movie rights, or television rights are also requested.
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A total of 21 requests have been filed by the Laundrie family, giving Petito and Schmidt 30 days to produce the evidence, according to the document.