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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Ryan Fahey

Gabby Petito's parents awarded $3million from murderer Brian Laundrie's family

The parents of Gabby Petito who was murdered by her boyfriend while travelling across the US have been awarded $3million (£2.5million) in damages from the estate of her killer lover.

Brian Laundrie, who was engaged to marry the 22-year-old, killed her while they were holidaying on a cross country road trip, visiting all of America's National Parks in their campervan and sharing their journey on Instagram.

The damages were awarded by a court after they found his parents acted improperly when their daughter-in-law vanished before being found dead in August last year.

After strangling the woman he planned to marry, Laundrie drove back to his family home in Florida.

He spent weeks at his parents' home before fleeing as suspicions reached breaking point.

Gabby Petito, 22, vanished while on a cross-country trip in a converted camper van with her boyfriend (FBI Denver/ZUMA Press Wire Service/REX/Shutterstock)

Though the couple posted uplifted and endearing posts on their Instagram, behind the scenes they were constantly rowing.

Cops said the couple was so violent that they had to be separated on one night of their trip.

After the murder, Laundrie drove the van thousands of miles cross country to return to his family home in Florida.

Both he and his parents ignored pleas for information for days, even those from Gabby's distraught family.

Cops had to get involved during one of the couple's arguments (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

The Laundrie family was sued for malice and wrongful death in the civil courts. They had planned to appear at trial in December but this will no longer take place after am agreement was reached.

Their lawsuit claimed that Brian's parents, Christoper and Roberta, knew that he had killed the woman.

They also planned to help him escape justice and tried to get him out of the country, prosecutors argued.

Gabby Petito's mother Nichole Schmidt (Rick Bowmer/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

In a statement, Gabby's parents' attorney Patrick Reilly told DailyMail.com: "No amount of money is sufficient to compensate the Petito family for the loss of their daughter, Gabby, at the hands of Brian Laundrie.

"Brian did not have $3 million; it’s an arbitrary number.

"Whatever monies they do receive will help Gabby’s family in their endeavors with the Gabby Petito Foundation."

Just last month, footage emerged showing Gabby's last moments walking with her boyfriend caught on a supermarket CCTV video.

Gabby's remains were found in a swamp (Uncredited/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Gabby's remains were found in a nearby swamp hours later.

Laundrie disappeared within days and a warrant for his arrest was issued on September 23, four days after Gabby's strangled body was found. His remains were discovered in October.

In the footage, released by Fox News and filmed on August 27 2021, Gabby's distinct white Ford Transit can be seen pulling into the parking lot of a Wyoming Whole Foods.

The couple in one of their Instagram posts (findgabbypetito/Instagram)

This happened shortly after the couple had left a nearby restaurant following an argument between Laundrie and staff there.

The pair remain in the car for a minute before Laundrie gets out slamming the door as he goes followed a few moments behind by Gabby.

The two approach the Whole Foods, Gabby with her arms crossed and Laundrie with his face hidden by a hat and glasses.

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