Brian Laundrie's mom said she would help him "dispose of a body" in a letter marked "burn after reading"
Share and Follow

Judge allows letter by Brian Laundrie’s mom into civil suit


Judge allows letter by Brian Laundrie’s mom into civil suit

02:02

“48 Hours” explores Gabby Petito’s final days and the missed warning signs that might have saved her in “Gabby Petito: The Untold Story” airing Saturday, May 27 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

The parents of Gabby Petito have obtained a letter written by Brian Laundrie’s mother, in which she says she would “show up with a shovel and garbage bags” if he needed to dispose of a body. On Wednesday, a judge approved the release of the letter, which was in the possession of the FBI, after the Petitos’ lawyer requested it be used as evidence in their civil lawsuit against the Laundries.

Petito died at age 22 in 2021 while on a cross country trip with Laundrie, her fiancé. Petito’s body was found in Wyoming, and after a lengthy search, authorities discovered Laundrie’s body in Florida weeks later. He claimed responsibility for Petito’s death in a notebook, the FBI said in its final investigation report. 

screen-shot-2023-05-26-at-9-39-51-am.png
A judge ruled the parents of Gabby Petito could obtain the letter written by Roberta Laundrie to her son, Brian Laundrie. It had been in the posession of the FBI.

Courtesy: Snyder & Reilly, Trial Lawyers


The letter from Laundrie’s mother, Roberta, was also found with his body. On it, she wrote “burn after reading.”

“I just want you to remember I will always love you, and I know you will always love me,” his mother wrote in the letter, obtained by CBS News. “You are my boy. Nothing can make me stop loving you, nothing will or could ever divide us no matter what we do, or where we go or what we say – we will always love each other.”

roberta-laundrie-letter.jpg
The letter from Laundrie’s mother, Roberta, was also found with his body. On it, she wrote “burn after reading.”

Courtesy: Snyder & Reilly, Trial Lawyers


“If you’re in jail, I will bake a cake with a file in it. If you need to dispose of a body, I will show up with a shovel and garbage bags. If you fly to the moon, I will be watching the skies for your re-entry. If you say you hate my guts, I’ll get new guts,” she continues.

Laundrie was missing for weeks after Petito was reported missing and ultimately found dead, and many speculated his parents knew of his whereabouts.

In a civil lawsuit filed in March 2022, the Petitos claim Laundrie told his parents on Aug. 28, 2021 that he had killed Petito. Her body was not found until Sept. 19, near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

The Petitos claim in the suit that Laundrie’s mother and father, Christopher, concealed their son’s murder confession while the investigation was ongoing. They are seeking damages of at least $30,000. 

CBS News has reached out to lawyers for the Petitos, who provided the letter to CBS News, as well as lawyers for the Laundries for further comment.

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Chicago Files Lawsuit Against Glock Over Accessible and Affordable Devices for Converting Guns to Full-Auto

CHICAGO (WLS) — Chicago city officials are hoping legal firepower against a…

Illinois Supreme Court to Consider Appeal from Ex-‘Empire’ Star Jussie Smollett: Where is He Now?

CHICAGO (WLS) — The Illinois Supreme Court has agreed to hear an…

Lawsuit Claims Arizona Strip Clubs Duped Customers Out of $1 Million in Complex Scam

Nearly 20 people are suing a chain of Arizona strip clubs after…

Dave Portnoy Gathers Nearly $240,000 in Support of Deceased NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller’s Family

Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has raised “about $240,000” for the family…

Camilla expresses gratitude towards those who sent kind messages to Kate.

Camilla today said the Princess of Wales was ‘thrilled by all the…

Could AI Assist in Managing 911 Call Systems More Efficiently?

AUSTIN (KXAN) Following a special report into the Austin Police Department’s 911…

Opioid Addiction Treatment Programs SMART and THRIVE Offer Medication-Assisted Support for Inmates at Cook County Jail

CHICAGO (WLS) — Opioids are currently the cause of more deaths in…

Oklahoma Dad Assisted Sons in Escaping the US Following Fatal Shooting, Documents Reveal

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) Police have hit a major roadblock in the search…