Gabby's Parent
Appearances
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
It's an indescribable feeling in your body. And you don't sleep, you don't eat. From that moment on, it's nonstop.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I was texting her a lot more, like, things like, are you and Brian okay? Because I was worried about that dynamic, being stuck in the van together 24 hours a day.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
In those videos where he rolls his eyes, I never noticed that before. And seeing that really hit me. I was like, wow, that's who he really is. He showed his true colors.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
The August 12 incident, when they got pulled over, That day was a pivotal moment in that relationship.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Again, I believe that was the pivotal moment. I think that was the moment when she even realized, I need to get the hell out of this. How can I do it on my own? She didn't want to ask us for help. But she asked for her mom, like, in that.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
You see that in the video. There's a spot in the documentary, and... She says, can I have my phone so I can call my mom?
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Then I didn't get that phone call. Because maybe at that moment, maybe she would have told me what was going on.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
If I had had that opportunity at that moment to speak to her, I think because she was in the back of the police car, she would have said more to me than after thinking about it too long, later on calling me and telling me it was just a bad day. I just had a rough day. I was stressed out. Brian and I are fine. Now that video is the truth. We have the truth.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We're not the same people we were before this happened. There was life before and life after.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
She seemed a little stressed, but other than that, she was loving every moment, visiting all the national parks and doing things that I've never done.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Her parents didn't see it till much later. I was watching the body language in that video and it just didn't look right. He slams the door to the van, they walk in, she's got her arms crossed.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I questioned it, but then I thought there was fires out that way. Maybe they had to reroute. Maybe Brian did send the text. Maybe she's driving the van. Like, I had all these reasons as to why maybe it was from her. But that was the last text I received, and every day I'm like, Gabby, Gabby, Gabby, and I'm getting nothing. Then I'm like, let me check social media. There's got to be something.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Nothing. So I called Joe. I said, I'm worried. He said he hadn't heard from her. So you guys are texting each other, calling each other.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
and said, don't talk to strangers. Little did I know, it doesn't have to be a stranger that's the evil person.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Protesters started gathering outside the laundry house. The truth always comes out. Where's Brian? Where's Gabby? I said, he did something to her, and I know it.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I was texting her, are you and Brian okay? Because I was worried about that dynamic, being stuck in the van together 24 hours a day, but never in a million years did we think that he would harm her. That didn't cross your mind?
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Oh, yeah. She wouldn't have given that van up. Did you immediately just think something is not right? Oh, my God. I think I said he did something to her. I know it.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We worked together as a team, and now we're even closer than ever.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
You were feeling pretty desperate then. Nobody actually laid eyes on Brian. But his parents came to the door and said he was home. It was just chaos.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
It's an indescribable feeling in your body. And you don't sleep. You don't eat. From that moment on, it's nonstop.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
In the very beginning of this investigation at Brian's parents' house, media was lining the street up and down.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Numerous law enforcement agencies are involved in the search inside the Carleton Reserve. They're using drones, UTVs, ATVs, and they're searching a heavily wooded area. 75% of it is underwater.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Two people went on this vacation. You can't keep chocolate in Utah. And only one returned.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Do you remember the moment she first started talking about Brian? They had known each other in high school as friends.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
The crazy part about that video from the Bethunes is that for some reason the camera was rolling and it wasn't supposed to be.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
It was assembly when we saw it. It gives you, like, the heebie-jeebies, but at the same time, you're like, there's a clue. Like, that's where the van was. That's probably the last location.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
On September 19th, the FBI announced that they had located remains just outside Grand Teton National Park in Bridger-Teton National Forest.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We're not the same people we were before this happened. There was life before and life after.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I liked Brian. I thought he was interesting. He was very soft-spoken. He would sit and do art with Gabby's younger sisters. He got along with TJ, her brother, and he just seemed like a nice person.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I was texting every day. I wasn't getting a response. And then finally, on August 30th, I get a text that says, we have no signal. We're in Yosemite. Like, I had all these reasons as to why maybe it was from her. But that was the last text I received.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I remember the first time I read that letter, I had to read it like three times because I was so confused. I didn't understand anything.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
It made me feel like very uncomfortable and I felt sick to my stomach. I was like, how is this even possible?
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I said to her, do it if you think you feel like you want to, but you can always come home. At that point, she was almost 20. So I couldn't tell her no, but she was looking for my advice. I think she asked all of us.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
It's very therapeutic for us. Almost like when you go to one of those rage rooms and you get to smash things.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Yeah, we wanted her to be independent. You know, make sure you get yourself a job, that you can pay for things.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I really think when it came to her and Brian, she saw the best in him. She looked at the good. That's who she was.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
When they were in New York still, I would see him and talk to him quite often. But once they got down to Florida, that relationship was very limited. I was talking to Gabby almost every day, but not Brian. Same for us. But soon Gabby and Brian take a big step. I thought it was weird that she didn't want to tell us right away.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Remember that Halloween she painted her face? She painted her own makeup.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Yeah, I took that in the Outer Banks. Isn't that the best picture? She was a ham for the camera, that's for sure. Oh, she never took a bad picture.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
There were a few incidents. Never anything with Brian. It was always like she always felt weird around the parents. I thought about that a lot. I was like, I wonder what's going on with the parents. Like, what's the relationship like? But she would always assure me that it was fine.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I looked at Brian, and I said, you better keep her safe. And he was like, I will. Were there any red flags that this was coming?
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Were you surprised? I thought it was weird. Now looking back, I thought it was weird that she didn't want to tell us right away. Like, that's something you get excited about.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
She was excited about the planning. I feel like she was like, yay, I can plan this wedding, pick out dresses. She started a Pinterest page.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Gabby loves that van. Oh, yeah. She wouldn't have given that van up.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Then I didn't get that phone call. I think she even realized, I need to get the hell out of this.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
And said that, you know, they had plenty of money saved up for it. You know, she had been working up until right before they left.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I was not. I didn't send her any money. Joe. Joe might have sent her money.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
She took him camping as a graduation gift and a birthday graduation gift, because it was also his birthday. But her, Brian, and TJ went on a camping trip. I think it was in Pennsylvania.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
And they came back. And not too long after that, they left, beginning of July.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I was absolutely the luckiest one. I got to give her a hug goodbye. And it was the most amazing, squeezy hug. And she was crying. And I said, why are you crying? And she was like, I don't know. And I just was like, maybe she's just so excited. And then I looked at Brian and I said, you better take good care of her, keep her safe. And he was like, I will. This is very soft spoken, I will.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
And I cherish that moment. That was the last time I had her in my arms. Did you trust that they would be OK together? I did. I did. Didn't want to worry. I knew she'd be okay. And... I mean, as a mom, I was worried a little bit. I said, you're going to be out on the road, the two of you alone. Just be careful. Be safe. Don't talk to strangers, all that stuff.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
She had asked if we could get her a drone. So her grandpa, Stan, and I kind of split that. We bought her the drone. And that made that video so much better. And she was like a natural at that stuff. Brian's stretching, doing some morning yoga.