Petito family announces foundation in her name
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Police are still searching for Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito’s missing boyfriend Brian Laundrie, who is described as a "person of interest" in her murder.
Petito’s family spoke out Tuesday, thanking all those who helped find her and announcing a new foundation in her honor.
For the first time, both the biological and stepparents of the 22-year-old spoke out publicly, donning new tattoos in honor of their late daughter.
They said they are praying for justice and announced the creation of the Gabby Petito Foundation in an effort to provide resources and guidance to families of missing people.
"We’re just hoping that through our tragedy with losing Gabby that in the future that some good can come out of it," Jim Schmidt said.
![](https://kstp.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/kstp_1280GabrielleGabbyPetitoComboFBIDenverAP.jpg)
This combo of photos provided by FBI Denver via @FBIDenver shows Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito.[Courtesy of FBI Denver]
Petito’s death was ruled a homicide by the coroner and the search for Laundrie continues.
FBI agents returning to the Laundrie family home in Florida, requesting some of Laundrie’s belongings to assist them with DNA matching.
Collective rewards for information leading to Laundrie’s capture now top $30,000. His parents say he was last seen two weeks ago, just three days after Petito was reported missing.
"We ask that Brian turn himself in," Richard Stafford, family attorney, said.
Utah police releasing the phone call from a 911 dispatcher, explaining what witnesses saw on Aug. 12 in Moab when Petito and Laundrie got into a heated argument. Officers were called to the scene.
Officers said Laundrie was driving erratically before they pulled the couple over.
Police separated them for the night. Aug. 25 was the last time Petito’s parents spoke with her.
Over the weekend, hundreds gathered in Petito’s Long Island hometown for her funeral. Authorities are still conducting an autopsy to determine her exact cause of death.