Brian Laundrie’s mom’s ‘burn after reading’ letter sparks fresh tension in legal battle with Gabby Petito’s parents
TENSIONS have grown in the Petito family’s lawsuit against Brain Laundrie’s parents as they continue to push for a letter sent by the fugitive’s mother before his death.
During a Tuesday hearing in Sarasota County Circuit in Florida, Petito’s parents’ attorney Patrick Reilly called the letter “damning,” as it references getting a shovel and burying a body.
The letter in question was sent to Laundrie by his mother and was found in the Laundrie family home after it was taken out of their son’s van.
While it is undated, Petito’s legal team has previously claimed it was “written after Gabby was killed and before Brian took his life.”
Petito’s remains were discovered in Grand Teton National park in Wyoming on September 21, 2021, after going on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend.
Laundrie later took his own life in Florida after evading law enforcement for weeks. His remains were discovered on October 20, 2021.
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At the time, officials discovered a journal in which Laundrie admitted to killing his girlfriend because she had an injury and refused to let him get help.
The admission has been repeatedly questioned, particularly in light of the undated letter sent by Laundrie’s mother.
Reilly recently reviewed the letter at an FBI regional office, according to CNN.
The words "burn after reading" were written on the envelope containing the letter, he claimed.
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The attorney revealed that it includes messages about helping Laundrie “get out of prison, getting a shovel, and some other things.”
“The language in that letter is damning and that letter has a reference to bringing a shovel and burying a body,” Reilly said Tuesday.
The Petito family is suing Laundrie’s parents, claiming they knew Brian murdered their daughter and chose not to act.
Now, Reilly is looking to ask Laundrie’s mother, Roberta, about the letter in the deposition.
The Laundrie's defense attorney insisted Tuesday that the letter is irrelevant in the current suit, according to CNN.
“This document pre-dates Brian and Gabby’s trip so its creation really doesn’t have any relation necessarily to the unfortunate events that unfolded thereafter,” attorney P. Matthew Luke said.
“I know that some of the wording that was used in the letter is unfortunate and might suggest that it has some connection, but it doesn’t.”
Judge Danielle Brewer appeared to lean in the Petito family’s favor on Tuesday, saying that she didn’t see how questioning about the letter “wouldn't be relevant to the action.”
The Petito family will move forward with asking for the letter again as part of the discovery process, CNN reported.
In his previous attempts to obtain the letter, Reilly has claimed he received letters from the Laundrie’s legal team threatening to sue for defamation, according to the outlet.
Amid the growing tensions, exclusive photos obtained by The U.S. Sun show Laundrie's dad, Chris, for the first time since a selfie taken by Petito with a bloodied and scratched face was released.
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He was seen in North Port, Florida - where he and Roberta live - wearing a green T-shirt and blue shorts with a tan baseball cap.
Laundrie's father showed little expression as he was seen collecting the mail outside his house before running errands and stopping at Tire Choice & Total Car Care in North Port.
