West
Brian Laundrie-Gabby Petito docuseries highlights payment to lawyer connected to bin Laden
Gabby Petito’s parents cast shade on Brian Laundrie’s family in a new docuseries that reveals additional details about the timing of their daughter’s murder at her fiancé’s hands in the wilderness of Wyoming, especially the allegation that they shelled out $25,000 to a prominent attorney while professing their ignorance of the crime.
“You’re going to throw $25,000 of your hard-earned cash out on a lawyer from f—ing Wyoming, and you’re telling me you didn’t ask where she was?” Joseph Petito says in Netflix’s “American Murder: Gabby Petito.”
The payment came three days after Laundrie called his parents and less than a week after Petito was last seen alive.
“That’s some bulls—,” he added, “I’ll tell you that right now.”
BRIAN LAUNDRIE’S SISTER ESTRANGED FROM FAMILY AMID EXPLOSIVE NEW DOCUSERIES
Joe Petito and Tara Petito in “American Murder: Gabby Petito” (Netflix)
Her stepfather, Jim Schmidt, echoed his concerns.
“I don’t think the amount of money they paid their attorney would be for anything less than to represent somebody for murder,” he told the documentarians.
The lawyer in question is Tom Fleener, an Army veteran and former JAG lawyer whose clients included the Guantánamo Bay detainee Ali al Bahlul, a former bodyguard to the 9/11 terrorist Usama bin Laden, who Navy SEALs killed in 2011.
Fleener has previously declined to discuss the Laundrie case with Fox News Digital. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.
GABBY PETITO TOLD HER EX SHE WAS SCARED TO LEAVE BRIAN LAUNDRIE BUT WANTED TO JUST BEFORE MURDER: NEW DOC
Jim Schmidt and Nichole Schmidt in “American Murder: Gabby Petito” (Netflix)
The Laundrie family attorney, Steve Bertolino, collected $25,000 from his clients and used it to retain Fleener’s law firm. He said he has not collected any payment from the Laundries for his own legal role in the saga, which landed him in the middle of a now-settled lawsuit brought by Petito’s parents.
GABBY PETITO URGED BRIAN LAUNDRIE TO ‘STOP CRYING’ IN LOVE LETTER TO HER KILLER RELEASED BY FBI
- 8/27: Gabby Petito last seen alive in Jackson, Wyoming
- 8/29: Brian Laundrie tells his parents Petito is “gone” in “frantic” phone call
- 8/30: Laundrie sends phony texts from Petito’s phone to himself and to her mother
- 9/1: Laundrie arrives at his parents’ Florida house, driving Petito’s van
- 9/2: Bertolino enters a fee agreement with Wyoming law firm on Laundrie’s behalf
- 9/6-7: Laundrie family goes camping at Fort DeSoto Park
- 9/11: Petito reported missing
- 9/13: Laundrie evades FBI surveillance, leaves his parents’ home and takes his own life
- 9/19: Petito’s remains are discovered near their campsite outside Jackson
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While their social media told one story, there was a dark side to the cross-country road trip of Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie, pictured here in “American Murder: Gabby Petito.” (Netflix)
Bertolino arranged for a local defense attorney after Brian Laundrie made a panicked phone call to his father from Wyoming, repeatedly saying “Gabby’s gone,” according to court documents.
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Christopher Laundrie denied knowledge of Petito’s death at the time, and he said through his lawyer that his son hung up before sharing further details.
“Brian hung up on Chris. I said, ‘When Brian calls you back, give him my number, and you tell him to call me. You do not talk to him,’” Bertolino told Fox News Digital when depositions in the civil suit became public.
Chris and Roberta Laundrie are shown in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on the morning when police found their son’s skeletal remains. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
CASSIE LAUNDRIE UNLEASHES AFTER GABBY PETITO HOMICIDE
Both Christopher and Roberta Laundrie conceded that they had concerns for Petito’s welfare after the call but denied having knowledge of the murder. Brian Laundrie invoked his right to remain silent but ultimately left behind a suicide note and confession.
Brian’s sister, Cassie Laundrie, had also been expected to testify in the case, but her interview was canceled before the sides reached a settlement.
Pat Reilly, an attorney for Petito’s parents, said he called it off “because she had no information related to the issues of the litigation.”
Gabby Petito, 22, vanished in August 2021 and was later found dead near a campsite she shared with fiancé Brian Laundrie. (Steve Petito)
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Cassie Laundrie has denied knowledge of her parents’ conversations with her brother and recently alleged that a police detective, whose voice can be overheard on bodycam video, mischaracterized their conversation.
Since the case grabbed national headlines in 2021, Petito’s parents have become advocates for missing persons and domestic violence victims.
If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic violence, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233 (SAFE).
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San Francisco, CA
6/28 Gamethread: Giants vs. Braves
It’s series finale time, and it’s rubber match time, as the San Francisco Giants host the Atlanta Braves.
It’s a battle of Cy Young southpaws. For the Giants, it’s Robbie Ray, who won the award in 2021 in the American League. Ray, a 34-year old two-time All-Star, is making his 17th appearance of the year, and is 6-6 with a 3.70 ERA, a 4.80 FIP, and 80 strikeouts to 42 walks in 87.2 innings. After a rough patch, he’s been exceptional in his last two games, including allowing just an unearned run in eight innings against the Athletics his last time out.
For the Braves, it’s Chris Sale, who won the prestigious pitching award in 2024. Sale, a 37-year old nine-time All-Star, has made 14 starts, and is 8-5 with a 2.14 ERA, a 2.71 FIP, and 99 strikeouts to 21 walks in 84 innings. He allowed two unearned runs in 5.2 innings against the Milwaukee Brewers in his last start.
Enjoy the game, everyone.
Who: San Francisco Giants (34-48) vs. Atlanta Braves (49-32)
Where: Oracle Park, San Francisco, California
Regional broadcast: NBC Sports Bay Area
Radio: KNBR 680 AM/104.5 FM, KSFN 1510 AM
Denver, CO
Firefighters say car crash caused large fire north of Denver International Airport
Firefighters say a car crash was the cause of a large fire that broke out north of the Denver International Airport on Saturday afternoon.
The Brighton Fire Rescue District says a vehicle was traveling through the area of E. 120th Avenue and N. Watkins Road around 2 p.m. when it crashed. Fortunately, the people inside the vehicle did not suffer serious injuries, but the fire department says the vehicle’s catalytic converter caught the nearby grass on fire.
The 120 Fire quickly grew, and firefighters responded with engines, brush trucks and water tenders to attack it from multiple sides. Multiple agencies responded to assist as the winds continued to push the fire across the grassland.
It covered around 237 acres by the time firefighters brought it under control around 3:30 p.m. BFRD says firefighters continued to put out hotspots and monitor a large cottonwood tree that was smoldering nearly 30 feet up the trunk.
With Independence Day approaching, the fire rescue district shared a reminder that a single spark can ignite a fast-moving grass fire. They added that aerial fireworks are illegal in Brighton and pose a serious fire risk in the current conditions.
Seattle, WA
PHOTOS: Thousands gather in downtown Seattle for city’s iconic Pride Parade
Despite some overcast skies, thousands of Seattleites showed up in rainbow colors and bright smiles to celebrate the Seattle Pride Parade on Sunday.The march kicked off at 11 a.m. along Fourth Avenue in downtown, and wrapped up around 3:00 p.m. near Seattle Center.Seattle Pride traces its roots to 1974 and has grown into one of the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ celebrations, drawing hundreds of thousands of people each year. (KOMO)
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