Gabby Petito’s Mom Reveals Why She'll Never Forgive Brian Laundrie's Mother

The audience at CrimeCon 2024 in Nashville was left shocked when they heard a mother publicly forgive her daughter's alleged killer. In an emotional speech, Gabby Petito’s mother Nicole Schmidt shared how she has forgiven Brian Laundrie, as she doesn't want his act to define her life, reported PEOPLE.

Gabby's body was found in Wyoming at a popular but remote campsite, Daily Mail reported. Her boyfriend Brian immediately became a person of interest in the case after his parents reported him missing. He returned to Florida on September 1, 2021, and stayed with his parents for 10 days, before going missing.

After one month, the partial human remains of Brian were found in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. In November 2021, an attorney for the Laundrie family announced that Brian had died by suicide.

In January 2022, the FBI revealed that Brian had confessed to killing Gabby in a letter found in his diary, Herald Tribune reported. Excerpts from the letter were revealed to the public where Brian stated that he killed Gabby because he thought she got injured from a fall in the water, and believed that was the only way to end her pain.

"I ended her life," read the note, which the FBI recovered from the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park where Brian's body was found, on October 20, 2021, Fox News reported. "I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock."

He asked people not to harass his family, as they had already lost a son and a daughter. 

Gabby's parents, filed a civil lawsuit against Roberta and Christopher, claiming that the pair knew about Gabby's murder and the location of her deceased body, but hid it from the officials, CNN reported. They also sought damages for the mental anguish the Laundries caused by their actions. Before the case went to trial, both the families settled out of court.

On May 30, Nicole Schmidt appeared in CrimeCon, to talk about her daughter. Schmidt confessed that she had forgiven Brian, People reported. "I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness," she said. "And I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life," Schmidt said.

The mother did not extend this courtesy to Brian's parents. 

Schmidt claimed that Laundries were complicit in Brian's "cowardly flight from justice" and added that it added salt to her wounds. She alleged their actions robbed them of the chance to confront Brian, in court.

Schmidt focused her anger on Roberta, calling out her actions during the ordeal. “As for you, Roberta — and I call you out individually because you are the mastermind that shattered your family and mind with your evil ways — I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart, and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions,” Schmidt said.

She went on to call Roberta a "sociopath" who preys on "innocent and kind" with evil in her soul. “You do not deserve forgiveness. You deserve to be forgotten and dehumanized. You epitomize pure evil,” Schmidt added.

Schmidt ended the speech with a tribute to her daughter. For her, Gabby is still a "bright light" in the world, who continues to spread love and compassion. “We will continue to honor her memory, to cherish the moments we shared, and to fight tirelessly for justice and change in her name,” she said. “May Gabby's legacy serve as a beacon of hope in the world desperately in need of light, hope for a future where such senseless violence and injustice are eradicated from our society.”

Schmidt asked everyone to live by her daughter's motto, "Just be a nicer person."