Brian Laundrie’s notebook was released for the first time publicly today after the 2021 murder of his girlfriend, Gabby Pepito.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, court documents filed earlier this year against Chris and Roberta Laundrie state that allegations were made in the missing Gabby Petito case that were never disclosed by the FBI.
The lawsuit claims that Brian Laundrie, who was the last person to see Gabby alive, told his parents that he murdered her, but his parents remained silent. The couple then took measures to protect their son, the lawsuit alleges.
The lawsuit also claims that Gabby was found with blunt force trauma to her head and neck, although her cause of death was listed as strangulation. Further, the Laundries are accused of making plans to get their son out of the country while ignoring desperate calls and messages from Gabby’s family.
According to Fox News Digital, lawyers representing the plaintiffs and defendants met up Friday at the FBI’s Tampa Field Office, where Fox News Digital obtained copies of Brian Laundrie’s notes.
Laundrie family lawyer, Steve Bertolino, said he was sharing the contents “as a matter of transparency.”
“Today the Petito family attorney, Patrick Reilly, and myself met with the FBI in Tampa to sort through and take possession of the personal items that belonged to Gabby and Brian,” Bertolino told Fox News Digital.
“As part of this return of property in FBI custody I was given Brian’s notebook and I have turned [the] same over to Chris and Roberta Laundrie.”
Images of the notebook can be seen here
“I ended her life,” writing in the notebook read. “I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made. I panicked. I was in shock.”
“From the moment I decided, took away her pain, I knew I couldn’t go on without her.”
Please do not make life harder for my family. “They lost a son and a daughter and a daughter – the most wonderful girl in the world. Gabby I’m sorry.”
I am sorry to my family. This is a shock to them as well [as] a terrible grief (sic).”
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Investigators found the notebook in January, at the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, along with several other items belonging to Brian Laundrie.
Prior to his death, Brian had embarked on a cross-country trip with Gabby in July 2021. By September 1, Laundrie returned to his parents’ North Port, Florida, home with Gabby’s van, but without Gabby.
On September 19, 2021, authorities found Gabby’s deceased body in a remote area at the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. According to Teton County coroner, Dr. Blue, Gabby died from strangulation; her death has been listed as a homicide.
“They could have made an anonymous phone call and said where the body was located, that would have helped this situation tremendously,” Reilly said in court Wednesday.
“They knew starting on August 28, 2021, that Gabby was dead, they knew where gabby’s body was, they knew that the Petito family was desperately searching for information, but they did things affirmatively, they did not just remain silent.”
In November, the FBI announced that Laundrie’s remains were found in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida. He had a gunshot wound to his head.
Laundrie’s parents told authorities that Laundrie fled to the Carlton Reserve while highly upset on September 13, even though his father begged him to stay at home. Chris Laundrie told his attorney that Brian Laundrie claimed he wanted to get some fresh air and take a hike at the reserve.
Sarasota County Circuit Court Judge Hunter W. Carroll is expected to provide a written ruling on whether the case will go to a jury trial. He said he would provide a written response in a few weeks.
Check back for updates.
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[Featured Photo: Instagram]
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