If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
BLUE POINT, N.Y. — Five years after Gabby Petito’s remains were discovered in Wyoming, her mother is urging people to give missing-person flyers on social media more than a passing glance. A single thoughtful share, Nichole Schmidt says, can set off a “ripple effect” that helps bring someone home.
“What I would say with missing cases is, if you see missing flyers pass by your feed, stop and take a look,” Schmidt told News Media on Friday. “Don’t just share it quickly.”
Gabby Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, stands in front of a mural depicting her daughter in their hometown of Blue Point, New York, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. After it was painted, the building sold, but the new owner framed the work of art and installed a light on top so it can be seen at night. (Michael Ruiz/News Media)
Schmidt encouraged users to review a post before sharing it, check the comments for possible updates and confirm that the information comes from a reliable source.
“If it seems legitimate, maybe give it a share,” she said. “Because you never know who might see that with your share, and it causes a ripple effect — and missing people have been found by regular people just sharing flyers.”
Petito’s remains were found Sept. 19, 2021, at a remote campground north of Jackson, Wyoming. Authorities believe she was killed three weeks earlier by her former fiancé, Brian Laundrie.
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Laundrie returned to his parents’ Florida home in Petito’s Ford Transit van, then took his own life before heavy rains swept through the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. His remains were located a month later, after floodwaters receded and his parents directed detectives to one of his preferred clearings in the preserve, ending a nationwide search.
In the years since, Petito’s parents and stepparents have established a foundation in her name, focusing on domestic violence prevention and awareness of other missing-person cases.
This undated portrait of Gabby Petito served as the inspiration for a mural painted of her in her hometown of Blue Point, New York. (Family of Gabby Petito)
They’ve lobbied for new laws in multiple states, including Florida, Utah and New York, and even at the federal level.
But another focus of theirs is getting attention for the families of missing people who haven’t gotten the same news coverage their daughter did.
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.