Roberta Laundrie hearing LIVE — Brian’s mom spoke of ‘disposing of body’ in letter as Gabby Petito’s parents win ruling
THE "BURN after reading" letter written by Roberta Laundrie has been released.
On Wednesday, attorneys debated whether or not to allow the jury to see a letter that Laundrie's mother Roberta addressed to him that included the term "burn after reading" as well as references to a shovel and burying a body.
The ruling that they were allowed the letter was made just before 5pm ET. The letter was made public just before 9pm ET.
In the letter, Roberta wrote: "If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I’ll get new guts. Remember that love is a verb not a noun."
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Roberta Laundrie speaks out
NewsNation's Brian Entin has shared a statement written by Roberta Laundrie following the release of her letter to her son.
The statement read: "The letter to Brian was written prior to Gabby and Brian leaving my home for their trip. Previously, I submitted an affidavit to the court for very limited purposes but that is not the whole story.
"Now that the letter has been shared, I ask that you read it in its entirety, and understand that the letter contains other phrases besides those highlighted by Pat Reilly for sensationalism and to bolster his case.
"I truly loved my son, and simply wanted to convey to him how much he meant to me and how much I loved him. I am sure people use phrases all the time to express to their loved ones the depth of their love."
"Although I chose words that I thought would be impactful with Brian given our relationship, the letter was in now way related to Gabby. Please read the entire letter before you believe the hype put out by Pat Reilly."
The letter, continued
Roberta Laundrie's letter continued: "Therefore I am certain that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor the ruling spirits, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers from above, nor powers from below, nothing in the entire created world can separate our love.
"Neither hostile powers nor messengers or heaven nor monarchs of earth. Nothing has the power to separate us.' - Romans 8:38."
She continued: "(nothing can separate us hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not threats, not backstabbing, not even sin, not the unthinkable, or thinkable can get between us) ~not time not miles and miles and miles."
The Petito family's legal team claims the letter was written after Gabby was killed while the Laundries' lawyer has argued it was written before their trip in March.
The letter made public
Roberta Laundrie promised her son Brian she would show up with "garbage bags" in a "burn after reading" letter.
The letter has been made public after the hearing.
It begins: "I just want you to remember I will always love you and I know you will always love me. You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing can or ever will divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say - we will always love each other. If you're in jail I will bake a cake and put a file in it.
"If you need to dispose of a body. I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I'll get new guts. Remember that love is a verb not a noun.
"It's not a thing it's not words. It is actions. Watch people's actions to know if they love you - not their words."
Gabby’s cause of death, continued
Back on September 23, 2021, the FBI issued a warrant for Brian's arrest accusing him of using "unauthorized debit cards after Gabby Petito’s death."
At the time, Brian was only a "person of interest" in the case as authorities continue their investigation.
It wasn't until October 21, 2021, that Brian became a "person of interest" in her murder.
Gabby's cause of death
Gabby Petito died of homicide and as announced on October 12, 2021, by Teton County Coroner Dr Brent Blue, her autopsy report revealed her cause of death to be strangulation.
After the results of her autopsy were announced, Brian's family attorney, released a statement saying: "Gabby Petito’s death at such a young age is a tragedy."
Bertolino stated: "While Brian Laundrie is currently charged with the unauthorized use of a debit card belonging to Gabby, Brian is only considered a person of interest in relation to Gabby Petito’s demise."
Lawsuit says Laundries went on vacation after Brian's confession
According to the lawsuit filed by Gabby's parents, Joe Petito and Nicole Schmidt, Brian Laundrie confessed to his parents shortly after killing her.
After Brian returned home to Florida from Grand Teton National Park in Gabby's van, but without Gabby, the entire Laundrie family went camping, the lawsuit says.
The overnight trip to Fort DeSoto National Park came about a week after Brian came home.
Meet the Laundrie family attorney, Steve Bertolino
Steven Bertolino is known as an Attorney at Law, who has been practicing since 1994.
Bertolino is a Hofstra Law graduate and is known for providing legal advice in many areas of the law including real estate law, business law, civil and commercial litigation, personal injury, and criminal law, according to his website.
His law office is located in East Islip, New York.
Accessing domestic violence help resources
If you are being abused in a relationship, anonymous and confidential help is available.
For help, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).
However, if you are actively in danger, call 911.
Judge rules to grant letter
Judge Brewer has just ruled to grant the Petito family Roberta's letter.
Reilly slams confidentiality agreement
Pat Reilly is speaking out against moving forward with a confidentiality agreement.
The defense agreed with the prosecution.
Pat Reilly takes the stand
The prosecuting attorney is now arguing that the letter would prove that Roberta Laundrie knew Gabby had passed away.
"The basis of their argument is relevancy," Reilly said of the defense.
He is now going over cases he cited that challenge the defense's argument.
'They don't dispute that they've never seen the letter'
Matthew Luka is continuing to argue his case to the judge.
Judge Brewer is now arguing that while the letter may not have inflicted the emotional distress itself, it can serve as crucial evidence to prove the Laundrie's alleged knowledge at the time it was written.
'What would be the reason that this would not be relevant?'
The judge is grilling the defense on why the letter is not relevant.
"I am not frankly sure what to say," the defense attorney responded. "She said she wrote it before Brian and Gabby went on the trip."
The judge then said this sounds like an argument made at trial.
Prosecutor interrupts defense
"How can I respond to this if I haven't seen the letter?" Pat Reilly said during the defense's argument regarding Roberta Laundrie's letter to Brian.
Judge Brewer agreed with Reilly.
"This letter is not a key piece of evidence," the defense continued to argue.
Motion to compel denied
Judge Brewer has denied the motion to compel for withdrawals of $10,000 or more.
She did so after reviewing the Laundrie's financial records.
Judge will not rule on motions to dismiss
Judge Brewer will not be ruling on the motions to dismiss today.
She said she is reserving her ruling, and will issue her decision at a later date.
Judge reserves ruling
The judge said she will reserve a ruling in the motions to dismiss.
One of the defendant lawyers stepped up for a rebuttal.
Laundries slammed for 'expressing false hope'
"To express false hope that she may be alive is outrageous," Pat Reilly argued.
The attorney then asked that the motions to dismiss by the defendants get denied.
Prosecutor slams Stephen Bertolino
"If he wanted to protect his client he should have disclosed where Gabby was," Pat Reilly said of Steve Bertolino.
Reilly has slammed the lawyer for offering hope that Gabby would be "reunited with her family" in his statement before she was found dead.
'The defendants knew that Gabby was deceased'
Pat Reilly continued to argue: "The defendants knew that Gabby was deceased, they knew where her body was... they knew that the Petito family was desperate and upset."
"I think the defendants should be embarrassed of raising such a ludicrous interpretation of their own words," he said.
'A breath of fresh air'
Petito supporters have taken to Twitter to call him "a breath of fresh air" during the hearing today.
After over two hours of dismissal arguments from the Laundries' legal team, one person said: "Patrick Reilly is a breath of fresh air today. Much needed. He will set the record straight."
What constitutes intentional infliction of emotional distress
Cornell Law says that intentional infliction of emotional distress happens when:
- The defendant acts
- The defendant's conduct is outrageous
- The defendant acts purposely or recklessly, causing the victim emotional distress so severe that it could be expected to adversely affect mental health
- The defendant's conduct causes such distress
Pat Reilly makes arguments
The Petitos' attorney Pat Reilly is arguing that the intentional infliction of emotional distress allegation is justified.
"When taken in context and looking at all of the allegations in the complaint," Reilly said, "it suggests that they knew when that statement was made that Gabby was deceased."
Back in session
The court has returned from its recess.
"I promise I won't take two hours," said Pat Reilly as he began to speak for the Petitos.
Brief recess
The court is now taking a brief recess.