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Utah cops released officer bodycam footage that shows missing Blue Point woman Gabby Petito crying uncontrollably in front of police after a physical altercation between the 22-year-old and her boyfriend triggered a witness to call 911.
The video released today by Moab City Police of the Aug. 12 encounter also shows Petito’s boyfriend and former fiancé Brian Laundrie, 23, explaining to cops how he sustained scratches on his arms and why he was driving fast and erratic in the moments before pulling over for the police.
View the full body cam video below
The couple had been traveling cross country in a converted Ford Transit van, making their dream to live the “van life” a reality, and recording much of it for their families and the world to see on Instagram and YouTube.
Petito, reported missing on Sept. 11 and not heard from by family since August, and Laundrie, who returned to their home in North Port, Florida, on Sept. 1 without her, acknowledged to police that they had been fighting and that stress had built up from traveling alone for months. Petito was extremely distraught throughout the encounter with police.
“At no point in my investigation did Gabrielle stop crying, breathing heavily, or compose a sentence without needing to wipe away tears, wipe her nose, or rub her knees with her hands,” Moab Police Officer Eric Pratt said in a police report of the incident.
Police did not press charges, instead separating the couple for the night by leaving Petito with the white van (which she owns) and driving Laundrie to a “Safe Haven” hotel. The bodycam footage includes Laundrie’s ride in the police car to the hotel.
View the Aug. 12 police report below
North Port police on Wednesday said Laundrie is “a person of interest” in her disappearance case and that he is hindering the investigation.
Brian Laundrie, 23, who moved to Florida with Petito two years ago and was traveling with her in Utah and Wyoming this summer has not made himself available to be interviewed by authorities, police said. Nor has he provided any information toward finding Petito.
