Netflix subscribers may have already tuned into the recently released documentary series American Murder: Gabby Petito. The doc, which outlines the harrowing true story of one Florida woman’s battle with domestic violence and eventual untimely demise, has shed a light on the state of toxic relationships and law enforcement across the country. American Murder also highlights Senate Bill 1224, known as the “Gabby Petito bill,” which passed in the young woman’s memory back in Spring 2024. Those familiar with the bill know that it was approved by both the House and the Senate, and commands responding police officers to ask a series of 12 pointed questions when responding to a possible domestic violence situation. The questions are one of several steps being taken to create sweeping reform in Petito’s honor, which will hopefully prevent senseless acts of violence like those she experienced in the future.

Since American Murder: Gabby Petito released on Netflix last month, the bill has been back in the news. Given that the case is so fresh in everyone’s mind, now seems like as good a time as any to unpack what happened to the 22-year-old. We’ll cover a few key details outlined in the documentary, before diving into the specific 12 questions posed by SB 1224 and examining how these questions can keep domestic violence from going unnoticed before it becomes too late. As you can imagine, we’ll be dealing with some pretty heavy subject matter ahead, so please continue reading at your own discretion.

What Happened to Gabby Petito?

In case you’re not aware of the details surrounding the tragedy, Gabby Petito was a 22-year-old woman who was violently murdered by her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. The couple were van-life travel vloggers who would frequently plan weeks-long scenic trips together, documenting their experiences online. Though the couple displayed an idyllic and loving lifestyle to their friends and internet followers, their relationship was mired with toxicity under the surface. Petito disappeared on Aug. 27, 2021 while traveling through campgrounds in Wyoming, sparking concern from her family members. Before long, a police investigation identified her remains, which exhibited signs of blunt force trauma consistent with punching and choking. Laundrie, who was instantly named a person of interest in the case, returned to his parents’ Florida residence by himself, and apparently continued to use her cell phone and debit card to deceive people into believing Gabby was still alive.

The Gabby Petito case is harrowing by any metric, but becomes even more unsettling when you factor in some of the early warning signs of domestic violence. Just two weeks before Petito’s disappearance, she and Laundrie were questioned by police in Moab, Utah after witnesses saw the couple fighting in public. Officers noted that Petito had bruising across her arms and face, though the young woman insisted that she was not a victim of domestic abuse. In fact, when officers continued to press her about the markings, Petito claimed that she had struck her partner first, and demanded not to be separated from him. At the time, the incident was labeled as a mental breakdown instead of a domestic violence dispute, though investigators claim that the early warning signs should have been apparent.

Understanding the Bill’s 12 Questions

In many domestic violence cases, victims will advocate for their abusers. This could be the result of psychological manipulation, fear of retaliation or a number of other factors. During the police interaction in Moab, Gabby Petito specifically denied that she was being abused, and refused to speak to police privately, away from Laundrie. As a result, the police had very little recourse to investigate further, and tragedy followed soon thereafter. This is the basis for the 12 questions outlined in the Gabby Petitio bill, which could help officers identify an abusive situation and assess certain risk factors. The 12 questions are as follows:

  • Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon?
  • Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children?
  • Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you?
  • Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you?
  • Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun?
  • Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous, or does the aggressor control most of your daily activities?
  • Did you leave or separate from the aggressor after you were living together or married?
  • Is the aggressor unemployed?
  • To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide?
  • Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child?
  • Has the aggressor ever followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you?
  • Is there anything else that worries you about your safety and, if so, what worries you?

If a person responds in the affirmative to four or more of the above questions, Florida police officers are legally required to connect them to the nearest domestic violence shelter. An affirmative answer will also see officers connecting the victim to legal support, counseling or other forms of social service, depending on the situation. While these questions aren’t a foolproof way to put a full stop to domestic abuse, they can provide a documented framework that can help to prosecute the abuser if things continue to escalate. This would prevent a situation like the one that unfolded between Laundrie and Gabby Petito, as the Moab police essentially had no choice but to take the couple at their word.

How Long Was Gabby Petito Dead Before She Was Found?

As stated, Petito was last seen alive on Aug. 27, 2021. She was headed to the Bridger–Teton National Forest campsite in Wyoming at the time, where she would ultimately meet her untimely end. Brian Laundrie continued to use her phone to contact people (including Petito’s mother) for several days, in hopes that he could distance himself from culpability in her death. He departed the campsite and hitchhiked to Jackson, Wyoming on Aug. 29, before eventually returning to Florida. A missing persons report was eventually filed by Gabby’s mother on Sept. 11, though her remains weren’t located until Sept. 19. During the national manhunt, which saw investigators combing through social media posts to triangulate Petito’s last known whereabouts, Laundrie also went missing.

Investigators eventually discovered Brian Laundrie’s remains in a flooded portion of Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, and quickly deduced that he had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He left behind a notebook admitting to having killed his fiancé, though his detailed account differed slightly from the actual evidence. Laundrie claimed that Petito suffered serious injuries from an accidental fall, and that he had performed a mercy killing in order to put a stop to her suffering. He then wrote that he was killing himself not out of guilt, but from grief. Investigators have labeled this representation patently false, as Petito’s injuries were consistent with punches and strangulation, and there was no sign of injury from a supposed fall. Furthermore, Laundrie’s decision to use Gabby’s phone and debit card, as well as evade police for nearly two months, made it all but impossible for those following the case to show him any sympathy.

How Did Social Media Help the Tragic Case?

As stated, Petito and Laundrie were avid social media users, with a wealth of video and blog posts documenting their journey. This meant that their shocking case rapidly spread across the web like wildfire once it was announced that Petito was missing and presumed dead. Thousands of people from all over the country tuned in to near-hourly updates on the news as police searched for the young woman’s remains, and even more internet sleuths chimed in with potential tips. Various TikTok users who were present in the Wyoming campground before the disappearance even reported seeing the couple in the days leading up to Aug. 27, which was a massive help in pointing the police in the right direction.

Additionally, many people in the Florida area rallied to protest on Gabby’s behalf, demanding justice after her remains were discovered. Candlelight vigils and other public displays of mourning were held for weeks, as Petito’s family petitioned for general reform regarding domestic violence cases. The spotlight for Petito’s missing persons case was so powerful that investigators actually found and identified several other bodies that were unrelated to her case, providing closure for numerous families. Gabby’s father Joseph has since become an advocate for those with missing loved ones, and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness with the aptly titled Gabby Petito Foundation.

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