A recently published notebook by Brian Laundrie reveals his admission and the events leading up to her demise.
The attorney for the Laundrie family, Lawyer Steven Bertolino, gave WINK News a copy of the notebook.
Without her, I couldn’t have known the pain I caused when I decided to take her away, but from that moment on, I was in shock. I panicked and now I can see all the mistakes I made. I wanted to know what she desired, and I thought it was merciful. In the end, I ended her life, as confessed in the notebook I read.
DOCUMENT: Please peruse the notebook.
On September 12, 2021, the family of Gabby reported that Ms. Petito was nowhere to be found, prompting the opening of an investigation by the FBI into Gabby’s disappearance. The FBI initiated the investigation.
The FBI collaborated with federal, state, and local authorities to coordinate a search in a secluded region encompassing the Grand Teton National Park and the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
On September 19, 2021, the search team located the remains of Gabby near Dispersed Creek Spread, where Brian Laundrie and she had been seen together at the Area Camping.
As per the FBI, Gabby was discovered around three weeks following her most recent known communication.
ADDITIONAL: Extensive coverage of Gabby Petito.
The Teton County Coroner’s Office concluded that her death was a result of “physical force to the head and neck, as well as manual choking.”
While law enforcement followed up on leads, the investigation quickly focused on Brian Laundrie, who was believed to be the final individual to have encountered her before she disappeared.
In a statement on Friday, Bertolino stated:
These are Brian’s words. I have chosen to release this letter as a matter of transparency, although I will not further comment as there are still pending court proceedings. In January 2022, when the FBI alluded to the note that claimed Brian’s responsibility for Gabby Petito’s death, I mentioned that I would like to share the contents of Brian’s notebook. As part of the FBI’s custody property return, I was given this notebook. Previously, both the Laundries and the Petitos had agreed to exchange items that belonged to their respective children. Today, I met with the Petito family’s attorney, Patrick Reilly, in Tampa to sort through and take possession of Gabby’s personal items along with the FBI.
DOCUMENT: Please peruse the notebook.

Here is a chronological sequence of the investigation: