Netflix launches trailer for new documentary about Gabby Petito murder

It was the murder investigation that gripped the world, now — a new documentary about the death of Gabby Petito intends to blow it all open.

It was the disappearance and subsequent murder investigation that gripped the world.

An apparent loved-up couple, Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito, road-tripping across the US documenting their van life adventure on social media.

Ms Petito, 22, filmed snippets from the whole trip — set to be four months on the road — on her YouTube channel, hoping she would become a travel influencer through her videos about #vanlife.

Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito went on a road trip in 2021.

Gabby Petito died at the hands of her then-boyfriend, Brian Laundrie.

But her boyfriend, Laundrie, 23, cut that dream short — when he strangled Ms Petito to death in August 2021.

Prior to the discovery of her body, a frantic search spread through Wyoming before her remains were found in the state’s Bridger – Teton National Forest weeks after her murder.

During the search for missing Ms Petito, a subsequent search was unfolding on the other side of the country in Florida where Laundrie had been named a person of interest. But before he could be arrested and charged, he went missing, as well.

In October 2021, Laundrie’s remains were found from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Carlton Reserve in North Port, Florida, along with a written confession in which he admitted to strangling Ms Petito.

The case has now been transformed into a Netflix documentary, to air next month, but questions have been raised over the streaming service “cashing in” on Ms Petito’s tragic death.

Titled American Murder: Gabby Petito, the three-part documentary will land on the streaming service on February 17 and explores the events leading up to Ms Petito’s murder — including interview with friends and family members.

The new documentary explores the events leading up to Gabby Petito’s tragic murder. Picture: Instagram

The trailer, which has now been officially released, starts with footage of the couple as they sat in the back of their Ford Transit Connect van and welcomed viewers to their new vlog.

After a few snap shots of their travels, and a voiceover describing them as appearing to be the “perfect couple” on social media — the trailer takes a turn when the voiceover turns to scenes of the pair in altercations. From the bodycam vision of Gabby sitting in the back of a police car crying after a 911 call alleging domestic violence, to CCTV of Brian and Gabby walking across a carpark looking tense — the docu-series digs up parts of the pair’s life never before seen.

But viewers of the 90-second trailer have been quick to slam the streaming service, with some describing the decision to dig into the murder as “gross” and simply “monetising” on a “heartbreaking” situation.

In this image taken from police body camera video provided by the Moab Police Department, Gabby Petito talks to a police officer. Picture: AP

Police bodycam released by the Moab City Police Department in Utah, showed Brian Laundrie speaking with police as they responded to an altercation between Laundrie and his girlfriend Gabrielle Petito. Picture: AFP

“Hope the family is receiving some compensation for Netflix monetising this tragedy,” one person commented.

“Man, these tragedies are so quickly turned into a cash grab. Kinda sad, but I’m sure the family agreed and hopefully got some money out of it.”

“This is gross,” another added.

“A heartbreaking case. The documentary will likely stir up a lot of emotions,” another suggested.

“Why does there have to be a documentary on this. Kind of feel it’s exploiting the sad situation that happened to her,” another added.

Last year, speaking at a true crime convention in Nashville, Ms Petito’s mother surprisingly said she forgave Laundrie.

“I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you,” Nichole Schmidt said at CrimeCon, according to CNN.

Gabby Petito’s body was found in Wyoming in August 2021.

Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito during their cross-country trip of the US.

“I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, that I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.

“Your atrocious decision to take a life, my daughter’s life, has ignited a fire within me, a fierce determination to protect the innocent from falling victim to monsters like you.”

However, Ms Schmidt said his mother, Roberta Laundrie, did not deserve forgiveness.

“I see no empathy in your eyes, no remorse in your heart and no willingness to take responsibility for your actions,” she said.

She said Laundrie’s parents were “complicit in his cowardly flight from justice” and the loss of her daughter was compounded by “the sickening injustice of her murder remaining unpunished”.

Ms Petito’s parents, Nichole Schmidt and Joseph Petito, had sued Laundrie’s parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, accusing them of knowing he had killed their daughter and planning to help him flee the country.

The two families settled the case in February to avoid a civil trial that would have begun in May. The terms of the resolution were confidential.