Nicole Schmidt
👤 PersonPodcast Appearances
I won't watch it. I read the transcript. I won't watch it.
I won't watch it. I read the transcript. I won't watch it.
Whatever you can do to make sure my daughter comes home, I'm asking for that help.
Whatever you can do to make sure my daughter comes home, I'm asking for that help.
She called me during the traffic stop.
She called me during the traffic stop.
We really had hope. We really did. Because there's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Hurt in the wilderness, bad reception, you know, all that stuff.
We really had hope. We really did. Because there's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Hurt in the wilderness, bad reception, you know, all that stuff.
She talked to the officer and says, he's going to let me go. It's, you know, it's fine. It was just a big misunderstanding, and that was that. And I didn't have the video, and I didn't talk to the police or anything, and I had to take her word for it. And I'm like, all right, you know, listen, I understand misunderstandings happen, you know, especially when you're in a small, confined space.
She talked to the officer and says, he's going to let me go. It's, you know, it's fine. It was just a big misunderstanding, and that was that. And I didn't have the video, and I didn't talk to the police or anything, and I had to take her word for it. And I'm like, all right, you know, listen, I understand misunderstandings happen, you know, especially when you're in a small, confined space.
I get it how a disagreement can come about.
I get it how a disagreement can come about.
but she showed us the video, like it was an awesome video. I enjoyed it, we all enjoyed it. I couldn't believe she made something like that.
but she showed us the video, like it was an awesome video. I enjoyed it, we all enjoyed it. I couldn't believe she made something like that.
Surfing the sand dunes in Colorado, like that's cool, man, you know?
Surfing the sand dunes in Colorado, like that's cool, man, you know?
Just her body movements and not being close together, stuff like that, you can see the differences. It screams confrontation.
Just her body movements and not being close together, stuff like that, you can see the differences. It screams confrontation.
Gabby was a really good person. She really tried to get the best or see the best in people.
Gabby was a really good person. She really tried to get the best or see the best in people.
Oh, yeah. We did it anyway. I just started calling every hospital and national park I could to see if I could find out where they are. Maybe it's just bad signal.
Oh, yeah. We did it anyway. I just started calling every hospital and national park I could to see if I could find out where they are. Maybe it's just bad signal.
Were you talking to Brian at this point? Did you reach out to him?
Were you talking to Brian at this point? Did you reach out to him?
We share it to help others. We do it because the more we do it, the more people send us emails. And it's Gabby's story that touched us. Thank you for doing what you do.
We share it to help others. We do it because the more we do it, the more people send us emails. And it's Gabby's story that touched us. Thank you for doing what you do.
none of them will talk to us i sent a text to roberta and brian and i got no response from either one same i mean i even went as far as i'm going to call the cops and usually when you hear you know someone's going to call the cops you would be like what are you let's see what what's going on here and no the potatoes have no way of knowing that while they are trying to find gabby gabby's van is on the move
none of them will talk to us i sent a text to roberta and brian and i got no response from either one same i mean i even went as far as i'm going to call the cops and usually when you hear you know someone's going to call the cops you would be like what are you let's see what what's going on here and no the potatoes have no way of knowing that while they are trying to find gabby gabby's van is on the move
It was a letter. It said, burn after reading.
It was a letter. It said, burn after reading.
What didn't make sense is when we couldn't get in touch with her.
What didn't make sense is when we couldn't get in touch with her.
It was always about her first, and we'll figure out the rest.
It was always about her first, and we'll figure out the rest.
Brian's home. The van's home. Gabby's nowhere to be found.
Brian's home. The van's home. Gabby's nowhere to be found.
And he's got an attorney. And he's got an attorney.
And he's got an attorney. And he's got an attorney.
I've never had to contact an attorney when my daughter broke up with somebody.
I've never had to contact an attorney when my daughter broke up with somebody.
If I'm down, Jim will call me up. Tara will sit by my side. Nikki, you know, she'll call us up, and we pick each other up.
If I'm down, Jim will call me up. Tara will sit by my side. Nikki, you know, she'll call us up, and we pick each other up.
It was hard not to because we would do interviews and they would tell us.
It was hard not to because we would do interviews and they would tell us.
What I need from everybody here is help.
What I need from everybody here is help.
She was easy in terms of just going with the flow. She was always up for whatever we were going to do. So in that respect, it was easy. Sometimes she'd get in trouble. It didn't happen.
She was easy in terms of just going with the flow. She was always up for whatever we were going to do. So in that respect, it was easy. Sometimes she'd get in trouble. It didn't happen.
You said Brian's home, the van's home. Gabby's nowhere to be found.
You said Brian's home, the van's home. Gabby's nowhere to be found.
We've all said it, you know, we're not naive to the fact that we thought. We really had hope because there's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Hurt in the wilderness, bad reception, you know, all that stuff. Maybe they split up and she's just done with him and doesn't want to tell us yet because she's really upset. You really try to rationalize any scenario.
We've all said it, you know, we're not naive to the fact that we thought. We really had hope because there's a million different scenarios that could play out just the same. Hurt in the wilderness, bad reception, you know, all that stuff. Maybe they split up and she's just done with him and doesn't want to tell us yet because she's really upset. You really try to rationalize any scenario.
It's on all of you, everyone that's in this room, to do that. And if you don't do that for other people that are missing, that's a shame.
It's on all of you, everyone that's in this room, to do that. And if you don't do that for other people that are missing, that's a shame.
it is our belief and we want others to be inspired to share people um and try to be cognitive cognizant of those of those who do not look like you 600 000 people go missing a year half of them are people of color so you know what we have to share everybody meanwhile brian has now been missing for weeks the search going on
it is our belief and we want others to be inspired to share people um and try to be cognitive cognizant of those of those who do not look like you 600 000 people go missing a year half of them are people of color so you know what we have to share everybody meanwhile brian has now been missing for weeks the search going on
What would you say to them?
What would you say to them?
I don't know how he did that.
I don't know how he did that.
We were told by the FBI they wanted us to stay in Florida. Jim was like, I'm going to Wyoming. Nikki was in New York at the time, you know, so we were just really in all the locations where we needed to be.
We were told by the FBI they wanted us to stay in Florida. Jim was like, I'm going to Wyoming. Nikki was in New York at the time, you know, so we were just really in all the locations where we needed to be.
Jim had to make probably the, I mean, it's safe to say the worst phone call you've ever had to make. I don't even know how he made it.
Jim had to make probably the, I mean, it's safe to say the worst phone call you've ever had to make. I don't even know how he made it.
Well, I never liked anyone that wanted to date my daughter. Because no one was really good enough for her, in my opinion.
Well, I never liked anyone that wanted to date my daughter. Because no one was really good enough for her, in my opinion.
Through all of it, we still say it could have been worse.
Through all of it, we still say it could have been worse.
Could have never found her.
Could have never found her.
And it said, burn after reading.
And it said, burn after reading.
He was a liar. Nothing he said in those stories were true. He was a coward to the day that he died.
He was a liar. Nothing he said in those stories were true. He was a coward to the day that he died.
Yes, there were. But we didn't notice them at the time.
Yes, there were. But we didn't notice them at the time.
So Gabby didn't come up to us and say, he's doing this. It's things that we would notice, again, after the fact. We can see that that pattern was part of that progression that she was in.
So Gabby didn't come up to us and say, he's doing this. It's things that we would notice, again, after the fact. We can see that that pattern was part of that progression that she was in.
She was over 18. You can't stop them from doing something like that, right?
She was over 18. You can't stop them from doing something like that, right?
There's so many versions of it. And a lot of people don't even know where to go when they're in it. Knowing what we know now, we see that progression that happened. Alienation of friends and family. Isolation. But it's hard to pick up. But when you get a high-level view, you can see the path that that was leading to. And that's part that is hard for us.
There's so many versions of it. And a lot of people don't even know where to go when they're in it. Knowing what we know now, we see that progression that happened. Alienation of friends and family. Isolation. But it's hard to pick up. But when you get a high-level view, you can see the path that that was leading to. And that's part that is hard for us.
Once everything was done, the FBI asked us what we wanted to do with it, and we contemplated a few things. At the end, we were like, we just don't want the vibe to it. We had the van crushed. No one really knows that, but we did.
Once everything was done, the FBI asked us what we wanted to do with it, and we contemplated a few things. At the end, we were like, we just don't want the vibe to it. We had the van crushed. No one really knows that, but we did.
Since Brian will never be prosecuted for killing Gabby, the Petitos want someone held responsible.
Since Brian will never be prosecuted for killing Gabby, the Petitos want someone held responsible.
The one thing we need more than anything else is don't make it just another cautionary tale. Use her situation and her story as a lesson of what can and should not happen. We've been a part of four law changes since this all happened. Two in Florida, one in Utah, and one nationally. And it's her voice doing it, not us.
The one thing we need more than anything else is don't make it just another cautionary tale. Use her situation and her story as a lesson of what can and should not happen. We've been a part of four law changes since this all happened. Two in Florida, one in Utah, and one nationally. And it's her voice doing it, not us.
Because of her name. She did it, not us. And she's going to continue doing it. She's doing more in her death than she did in her life.
Because of her name. She did it, not us. And she's going to continue doing it. She's doing more in her death than she did in her life.
And this is why photos are so important. Annoy the kids, annoy the friends, annoy the family. Take the photos, because you never know then when that's all you're going to have.
And this is why photos are so important. Annoy the kids, annoy the friends, annoy the family. Take the photos, because you never know then when that's all you're going to have.
Did she say anything about that relationship?
Did she say anything about that relationship?
I'm an old school person. And as an old school person, the one thing you do is you go up to the father of the person you want to marry and you ask them for their hand in marriage, or parent, ask them for their hand in marriage. That didn't happen. We found out on Facebook. All of us, we did.
I'm an old school person. And as an old school person, the one thing you do is you go up to the father of the person you want to marry and you ask them for their hand in marriage, or parent, ask them for their hand in marriage. That didn't happen. We found out on Facebook. All of us, we did.
That van was her pride and joy. She was really, really proud of that van. And we saw it was done really, really well.
That van was her pride and joy. She was really, really proud of that van. And we saw it was done really, really well.
I mean, we kept sending her money, too, though. Let's just be real in this situation.
I mean, we kept sending her money, too, though. Let's just be real in this situation.
I would Apple Pay her money, and then you would see, like, what's this Apple charge? And I'd be like, oh, I guess I got hacked. I'll order a new bank card. So, like, I think it was, like, four times in a year I got to get a new bank card just to play it off, you know?
I would Apple Pay her money, and then you would see, like, what's this Apple charge? And I'd be like, oh, I guess I got hacked. I'll order a new bank card. So, like, I think it was, like, four times in a year I got to get a new bank card just to play it off, you know?
We believe if a proper lethality assessment was done, Gabby would be here today.
We believe if a proper lethality assessment was done, Gabby would be here today.
Yeah, I think it's something she wanted to do. I think she was looking at it more as a hobby at the moment and see where it can go from there.
Yeah, I think it's something she wanted to do. I think she was looking at it more as a hobby at the moment and see where it can go from there.