The newly released bodycam video of the Laundrie family’s first encounter with police after Gabby Petito’s disappearance in 2021 shows some red flags, according to body language expert Susan Constantine. She noted that the parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, were smart for following the instructions of their lawyer. Constantine compared their initial protective instincts to those of Casey Anthony and George Anthony. The Laundries declined to speak with North Port police who were assisting in the search for Petito. While some of their responses may invite questions and be suspicious, Constantine emphasized that without a “cluster of behavior” indicating deception, she wouldn’t call them out on their interaction with police.
Constantine, who is well-versed in identifying liars, cons, scammers, predators, and criminals, acknowledged that it is fair to question whether the Laundries knew more than they let on. She also acknowledged that it was proper for them to heed the advice of their attorney who told them not to speak with investigators without him present. The bodycam video was recorded on September 11, 2021, the day Petito’s mother reported her missing in New York. Police left after towing Petito’s van from the Laundries’ driveway. Brian Laundrie later drove it home from Wyoming, where the FBI alleges he killed Petito and left her at a campsite in the Bridger-Teton National Forest north of Jackson.
The slaying of Gabby Petito inspired her parents to found a nonprofit foundation in her honor. The foundation assists other families of missing persons and advocates against domestic violence. They have lobbied for federal legislation and lethality assessment laws in Florida, Utah, and New York to give police grounds and authority to separate victims from their abusers. The foundation donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline last year. Petito’s case has garnered widespread attention and sparked conversations about domestic violence and missing persons.
The Laundries’ decision not to speak with police and their calculated responses on the bodycam video have raised suspicions among experts like Constantine. While she acknowledges that there may be reasons to question their behavior, she also emphasizes the need to consider the situation from a parent’s perspective. The Laundries’ actions following Petito’s disappearance have been scrutinized, with many wondering if they were involved in any way. The case has highlighted the complexities of missing persons investigations and the role that family members play in such situations.
The bodycam video of the Laundrie’s initial encounter with police sheds light on their responses and the dynamics of their interaction with law enforcement. While some behaviors may be interpreted as red flags, Constantine urges caution in drawing conclusions without concrete evidence of deception. The Petito case has had far-reaching implications, leading to changes in legislation and advocacy efforts to support victims of domestic violence. The foundation founded in Petito’s honor continues to work towards providing assistance to families of missing persons and raising awareness about the prevalence of domestic violence in society.
