Backlash and Lawsuits: Moab Police Under Fire after Netflix’s American Murder: Gabby Petito

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1) The Moab Police Department is again encountering criticism, this time following the airing of the documentary “American Murder: Gabby Petito,” prompting Google to temporarily halt user comments and reviews on their listing.

14 days prior to Brian Laundrie’s fatal act against his fiancée during their road trip, authorities pulled over the couple in Moab, Utah, due to an emergency call about a potential domestic argument.

After questioning each one individually, the law enforcement officials identified Gabby as the main instigator in the altercation, even though both parties had suffered injuries. They arranged for Brian to stay in a motel room usually reserved for victims of domestic violence, while Gabby ended up spending the night in the vehicle instead.

Following Gabby’s disappearance, the police body camera recording of the event gained widespread attention, and now, with the release of the newest installment in Netflix’s true crime documentary series, “American Murder,” it has once again become a topic of discussion.

Moab Police face backlash again after American Murder

This week on February 17th, the harrowing story of Gabby Petito unfolds on Netflix, starting from the day she mysteriously vanished. A brief clip from the Moab, Utah police bodycam had previously surfaced, capturing a distressed Gabby with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Now, it’s time to uncover the chilling details of what really happened.

— Netflix Tudum (@NetflixTudum) February 13, 2025

Since the airing of the documentary series, the Moab Police Department’s social media platforms have been flooded with upset posts from viewers who believe that the officers involved in the case handled it improperly.

In a parallel scenario following the incident known as “American Nightmare”, the Vallejo Police Department encountered a situation similar to theirs, except this time, Google has disabled the option for feedback submission. If you navigate to the department’s Google review section, you will see a message that reads, “Posting is temporarily unavailable.

Certain locations tend to have content, such as reviews, that break Google’s rules. To avoid such incidents, Google has disabled the ability to post in those places.

On the Facebook page of the Moab City Police Department, the most recent post has garnered a single comment, saying, “I just watched the Gabby Petito documentary. I’m assuming your team feels proud of that decision.

Could it be that she’s a victim of domestic violence instead? It might be best to locate her partner and provide him with temporary lodging at a hotel.

Related

One of Netflix’s best true crime docs is returning soon to cover Gabby Petito case

It’s shocking to see the video involving @moabpolice and their accusations against Gabby, portraying her as an abuser. It’s disheartening how often the police fail to perform their duties effectively.

— MorenitaBillsMafia (@Morenitapetite2) February 17, 2025

A third individual posed a question, “Wow, that’s interesting, but are any of you still siding with the obvious abuser and blaming the victim?

Responding to your holiday greeting, they stated, “If Officer Eric Pratt had been competent, Gabby would not have missed this holiday season.

On social media platforms like Twitter, people often express similar thoughts such as user X posting, “I’m shocked by the videos showing the @moabpolice blaming Gabby for abuse. It’s appalling how they frequently fail to properly perform their duties.

Gabby Petito’s family sued Moab PD

In November 2022, Gabby Petito’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nicole Schmidt, initiated a lawsuit claiming wrongful death against the Moab City Police Department, asking for compensation amounting to $50 million. Unfortunately, this case was eventually dropped.

As a gamer putting myself in the shoes of those involved, I’d rephrase it like this: If the responding officers had adhered to the Utah law concerning domestic violence, Gabby would have been here with us today.

According to ABC’s report, during a press conference, Nichole expressed her belief that justice should be served because, on that particular day, someone could have prevented what happened to her.

The rules exist to safeguard the vulnerable, but they were disregarded here. We aim to ensure no one else experiences such an infringement.

In March 2023, and again in February 2024, the Petito family updated their initial lawsuit alleging wrongful death, this time targeting the Moab City Police Department.

In response to the second revised lawsuit, Nichole, speaking on behalf of the family, expressed their unwavering commitment: “We’ll continue our pursuit of justice for Gabby and strive to safeguard others from the harm of domestic violence.

In November 2024, the judge decided to drop the case, citing the Utah Government Immunity Act as a shield, preventing the police officers from being held accountable for any potential wrongdoing.

Gabby’s parents did, however, successfully sue Brian’s parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie. 

In March 2022, the initial court case was initiated with claims that they deliberately caused severe emotional anguish. This was based on the assertion that they were aware Gabby had already passed away when they disseminated messages expressing hope for her safe return.

In May 2022, a lawsuit over a wrongful death was initiated and aimed at the Laundrie estate. This case sought compensation. The settlement was reached in November of the same year, with a Florida court granting Gabby’s family $3 million as part of the agreement.

The emotional distress legal dispute came to a close in February 2024, but the specifics and terms of the agreement have been kept private.

Moab office Eric Pratt expressed regrets

The internal review concerning the Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie case found that Officer Eric Pratt of the Moab Police Department expressed remorse for his handling of the incident.

According to the extensive report, Pratt stated, “We’re aware of the events as they transpired, knowing subsequent developments.

To put it simply, given the circumstances, it’s challenging for me to express it any differently than my initial thoughts. At the time, if there was a major warning sign that he was a potential murderer and I overlooked it, then indeed, I may have missed it.

If I had been aware that he intended to kill her, I would have used my vacation time to trail them, as I deeply care for people. In fact, if I had known about the impending crime, I would have stepped in to prevent it, and with the help of fellow citizens, we could have apprehended him in Wyoming!

I would have preferred to spend more time with my loved ones before doing that; I deeply regret having missed them. I’m heartbroken that she was killed, and truly am. If I had known this was going to happen, I would have done anything to prevent it.

Streaming Now on Netflix: The American Tragedy – Gabby Petito’s Story: Delve into the controversy surrounding the use of AI in the latest documentary about Gabby Petito, discover other must-watch docuseries following her case, uncover what Brian wrote in his notebook, and get ready for new documentaries hitting streaming platforms this month.

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2025-02-19 14:23