+

Cookies on the Business Insider India website

Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.

Close
HomeQuizzoneWhatsappShare Flash Reads
 

WATCH: Bodycam footage shows distraught Gabby Petito after police intervened in a fight between her and boyfriend Brian Laundrie

Sep 16, 2021, 21:28 IST
Insider
A still of Gabby Petito outside a police car on August 12. MCPD
  • Police in Moab, Utah, released bodycam footage of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie from August 12.
  • It followed a police report describing officers dealing with the couple after a fight.
  • No arrests were made. It took place about a month before Petito was reported missing.
Advertisement

Police in Utah released body-camera footage from their officers' response to a fight between Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie.

The video, released Thursday, was recorded about four weeks before Petito was reported missing.

The August 12 callout to the Moab City Police Department came during Petito's joint road trip with Laundrie, her boyfriend.

The 22-year-old Petito was reported missing on September 11, 10 days after Laundrie returned from the trip without her. Laundrie has since refrained from assisting police in finding her and has been named a person of interest in the disappearance.

Since Petito's disappearance, her relatives have grown increasingly frustrated with Laundrie, criticizing his inaction and calling on him to come forward.

Advertisement

On Wednesday, MCPD released its report from the August 12 altercation. The officers had concluded that the incident was a mental-health crisis rather than a crime, and no arrests were made.

The video, released Thursday, suggests ongoing tensions between the couple. In the footage, an officer sees their van swerve toward the curb before stopping.

Through the car window, Petito seemed visibly upset, while Laundrie is affable and cooperative.

Moab City Police Department bodycam footage showing Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie on August 12, 2021. The image has been cropped by Insider. MCPD

The audio is in places difficult to make out. Having been asked to get out of the van, Petito told the officer that she had been telling Laundrie she was "sorry I'm so mean," a reference to an earlier fight.

"Some days I have really bad OCD and I was just cleaning the back of the van before, and I was apologizing to him, saying, 'I'm sorry I'm so mean,' because sometimes I have OCD and sometimes I get really frustrated," she told the police officer. "Not like mean towards him, I guess my vibe. I'm just in a bad mood."

Advertisement

Petito described hitting Laundrie, which caused a bystander to call the police. She said she hit him again while they were driving, just before the stop, to alert Laundrie to the police trying to pull them over.

During the stop, Laundrie said that he wasn't hurt, despite what seemed to be scratch marks on his arm, neck, and face.

A screenshot from the Moab City Police Department footage of Petito and Laundrie on August 12 2021. MCPD

Police said in their report that Petito "didn't want to be separated from the male, and began slapping him."

Laundrie had grabbed her face, according to the police report.

Petito said in body-camera footage that they had been fighting all morning and that Laundrie "wouldn't let me in the car before" and "told me I needed to calm down."

Advertisement

Laundrie then told police that a disagreement started when he got dirt from his flip-flops into their van and that Petito was "getting worked up."

He said he suggested they go on their own walks to calm down and get some space and that an altercation started when she tried to grab the keys to their van.

Moab City Police Department bodycam footage showing Gabby Petito on August 12, 2021 MCPD

Police initially said they were going to charge Petito with domestic violence in the incident but opted not to after she told officers that she had no intent to hurt Laundrie.

"I was trying to get him to stop telling me to calm down," she said of hitting Laundrie.

Laundrie also told police he did not want to press charges against Petito.

Advertisement

The police report said that the stop ended with the couple agreeing to separate for the night. Police put Laundrie in a hotel room for the night and allowed Petito to stay in the van.

You are subscribed to notifications!
Looks like you've blocked notifications!
Next Article