BELOW SUPERNAV drop zone ⇩

Petito, Laundrie lawsuit faces test in court Wednesday

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

MAIN AREA TOP drop zone ⇩

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241114185800

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241115200405

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118165728

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241118184948

(NewsNation) — The lawsuit from the family of Gabby Petito against her boyfriend’s family has a trial date set for next summer, but if it doesn’t survive a Wednesday challenge, a jury may never hear it.

Petito was killed in August 2021 while she was on a cross-country van trip with Brian Laundrie. Petito’s missing person case became a national story, which only became more complicated when Laundrie disappeared just as police named him a person of interest.

A month later, Laundrie’s remains were found alongside a notebook in which he took responsibility for Petito’s death.

During the nearly two months between the last time Petito was heard from and the discovery of that notebook, Brian Laundrie’s parents, Chris and Roberta Laundrie, did not make any statements to the media. The Petitos’ lawsuit accused the Laundries of withholding information from investigators, and lying through their attorney.

That attorney, Steven Bertolino, has said his clients have the right to remain silent and is asking the judge to toss the lawsuit on those grounds.

Sarasota, Florida Circuit Court Judge Hunter Carroll will hear the case Wednesday. Carroll has already asked the Petitos to amend the lawsuit once.

If the case is allowed to proceed, the jury trial would be held in August 2023.

A jury trial would also allow more details to come to light, as investigators may be called on to testify. The Laundries could also head to the witness stand, though they would likely invoke the Fifth Amendment.

Gabby Petito Case

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed

Site Settings Survey

 

MAIN AREA MIDDLE drop zone ⇩

Trending on NewsNation

AUTO TEST CUSTOM HTML 20241119133138

MAIN AREA BOTTOM drop zone ⇩

tt

KC Chiefs parade shooting: 1 dead, 21 shot including 9 kids | Morning in America

Witness of Chiefs parade shooting describes suspect | Banfield

Kansas City Chiefs parade shooting: Mom of 2 dead, over 20 shot | Banfield

WWE star Ashley Massaro 'threatened' by board to keep quiet about alleged rape: Friend | Banfield

Friend of WWE star: Ashley Massaro 'spent hours' sobbing after alleged rape | Banfield

Cloudy

la

58°F Cloudy Feels like 58°
Wind
0 mph ESE
Humidity
87%
Sunrise
Sunset

Tonight

Cloudy. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
52°F Cloudy. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
Wind
3 mph WSW
Precip
24%
Sunset
Moon Phase
Waning Crescent