West
Gabby Petito urged Brian Laundrie to 'stop crying' in love letter to her killer released by FBI
FIRST ON FOX: Gabby Petito attempted to soothe Brian Laundrie in a previously unseen letter released this week by the FBI, telling him to “stop crying” in an apparent attempt to make amends over an unknown issue.
The pages appeared to have been written before the couple left on their ill-fated road trip and referenced coming “back from NY.”
“Brian, you know how much I love you, so (and I’m writing this with love) Just please stop crying and stop calling me names, because we’re a team,” Petito wrote in an undated letter. “And I’m here with you. I’m always going to have your back”
The two handwritten pages from Petito, 22, to Laundrie, 23, were included in a 366-page release of law enforcement documents regarding the case. She apologized for getting upset over “a dumb piece of paper,” and tried to comfort the man who would eventually kill her.
GABBY PETITO’S MOM FORGIVES KILLER BRIAN LAUNDRIE, CALLS OUT ‘EVIL’ ROBERTA: ‘YOU DESERVE TO BE FORGOTTEN’
The 22-year-old Gabby Petito from New York’s Long Island was reported missing on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021 by her family after her fiancé returned home alone from a cross-country road trip the two had embarked on in early July. An FBI-led search later uncovered her remains at a Wyoming campsite near where she had last been seen. (Steve Petito )
“I love you so much it hurts,” Petito wrote. “So you in pain is killing me. I’m not trying to be negative, but I’m frustrated there’s not more I can do.”
Petito appeared hopeful and ambitious in the letter, vowing to achieve the couple’s shared dreams, reiterating her love – but also apologizing for unstated transgressions.
“I hope you understand when I’m upset it’s cause you make me love you too much,” she wrote on a second page. “Now…stop crying! And come home and say you love me with a big hug.”
Despite her words, the files reveal that the FBI was quick to launch a kidnapping and murder investigation, just days after Petito was reported missing in September 2021.
BRIAN LAUNDRIE’S PARENTS ADMIT BEING WORRIED ABOUT GABBY PETITO’S WELL-BEING WHEN HE CALLED DAYS AFTER MURDER
Read Gabby Petito’s note to Brian Laundrie
Other items in the file include pictures of personal effects belonging to both Petito and Laundrie as well as internal FBI notes, warrant returns and police reports from local agencies around the country.
According to a North Port, Florida, search warrant, tensions within the couple were increasingly visible to an unnamed person who communicated with Petito on a near daily basis.
Investigators also collected photographs of sketches created by Laundrie and his journals. In one entry, he mused about suicide and wrote that he kept a revolver under his mattress.
Brian Laundrie as seen in bodycam footage released by the Moab Police Department in Utah. (Moab PD)
Petito’s last known public sighting came on Aug. 27 leaving Jackson, Wyoming. Laundrie remained in the area for about three days before he drove her van back to his parents’ house in North Port, Florida, and the mystery of her disappearance soon made headlines around the world.
Before an FBI-led search discovered her remains in the Bridger-Teton National Forest at a campsite where she had stayed with Laundrie, agents already suspected he was responsible for her death, according to the unclassified documents.
“At time of case opening, Laundrie would not speak to investigators in reference to the location of Petito,” an agent wrote on Sept. 15. “Writer requests a case opening for kidnapping and murder of Petito on federal lands.”
The Petito, Schmidt and Laundrie families said they had not been given a heads up by the FBI prior to the release of the documents.
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Gabby Petito memorial in Florida. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
Steve Bertolino, the attorney for Laundrie and his parents, said some of the photographs and writings he had seen when the FBI returned Laundrie’s personal effects to the family. But other items, including the FBI’s internal documents, were new to him.
BRIAN LAUNDRIE HIRED WYOMING LAWYER WHO DEFENDED BIN LADEN BODYGUARD IN GUANTANAMO
Gabby Petito poses in front of a mural. (Steve Petito)
Last week, Petito’s mom Nichole Schmidt told an assembly in Nashville that she had forgiven Laundrie.
“I speak for myself here when I say Brian, I forgive you,” she told a packed auditorium at CrimeCon 2024. “I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness, and I refuse to let your despicable act define the rest of my life.”
Following Petito’s death, her parents and stepparents created a foundation in her honor to combat domestic violence and raise awareness for missing persons.
Gabby Petito poses for an Instagram photo in Bryce Canyon National Park. (Family of Gabby Petito)
They have lobbied for federal legislation, some of which became law last year with bipartisan support, as well as lethality assessment laws in Florida, Utah and New York.
The foundation donated $100,000 to the National Domestic Violence Hotline last year.
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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
No tolerance for hate or crime at SF Pride this weekend, officials say
Staying safe at San Francisco’s Pride festivities
The SFPD has announced that officers from all districts, stations and specialized agencies will be positioned along the route for the Pride Parade to ensure the event is safe for attendees. The annual parade will be held this Sunday and is expected to attract hundreds of thousands of people from around the world.
San Francisco – San Francisco city and police officials said Wednesday that they want people to enjoy Pride festivities this weekend — including the popular parade on Sunday — and that they will be on the lookout for criminal activity.
“All of the leaders up here know how important this weekend is, and we are ready,” Mayor Daniel Lurie said while flanked by a host of officials at a news conference at San Francisco police headquarters.
Lurie said his message is simple: “Look out for one another. Report anything concerning and know that every first responder, city worker and volunteer has one goal: to help everyone celebrate safely.”
Hundreds of thousands expected at SF Pride Parade
What we know:
The annual Pride festivities and parade on Sunday are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people from around the world to San Francisco. Police say they’re working with state and federal partners to monitor any potential threats while making sure people enjoy themselves.
“You’ll see many of our officers – including me – wearing Pride patches,” said Police Chief Derrick Lew, gesturing to a multicolored patch on his shoulder. “As always, we’re excited to showcase San Francisco, and our longstanding status as a safe haven for members of the LGBTQ+ community.”
No tolerance for hate, DA says
What they’re saying:
District Attorney Brooke Jenkins says she and other city leaders will have no tolerance for hate.
Just last week, she charged a man with a hate crime for allegedly spray-painting a homophobic message outside a Castro District flower shop and punching a witness.
“There will be accountability if anything like that happens here, and so as much as we want to be joyous, we also have to take this occasion very seriously,” Jenkins said.
Suzanne Ford, executive director of SF Pride agreed, saying, “I think we all have the responsibility of demonstrating that we can work together to make sure that the LGBTQ community is centered for this weekend.”
Sheriff Paul Miyamoto said those who don’t behave will go straight to jail.
“The one mode of transportation we want to make sure all of you avoid this weekend is the party buses that the sheriff’s department will have out there,” Miyamoto said.
City officials are urging everyone to celebrate responsibly, don’t drink and drive or accept drinks from strangers and to report any suspicious activity.
Henry Lee is a KTVU crime reporter. E-mail Henry at Henry.Lee@fox.com and follow him on X @henrykleeKTVU and www.facebook.com/henrykleefan
The Source: KTVU reporting, San Francisco police and sheriff, district attorney’s office
Denver, CO
Denver Nuggets draft Trevon Brazile in the second round of the NBA Draft – Denver Stiffs
After making fans wait all through the first round only to trade back, the Denver Nuggets finally get their man as they select with the 35th pick in the draft: Trevon Brazile, the 6’9 combo forward from Arkansas.
So who is Brazile?
Trevon is a freak athlete at 6’9.5 barefoot with a wingspan of almost 7’4 and a 41″ vertical jump. He can fly, with transition dunks that amaze and helpside blocks that astound. He can also hit from behind the arc if you leave him open, and he has soft hands around the rims for lobs and finishes. He can also be a good perimeter defender using that wingspan and his quick feet to get in position and make life tough. As I said about him before the draft: “When he is playing hard and engaged, he looks like a first round talent who can spot up for 3 or kill you at the rim while hounding ball-handlers on the perimeter.”
He is 23 years old already, however, and he still hasn’t found the necessary motor to bring that explosion and game-changing play for the whole time he’s on the court. He only shoots 66% from the charity stripe and doesn’t have much of an in-between game, so if he’s not driving the hoop or taking open threes his creation bag is a little thin. He spent his freshman year at Missouri, the alma mater of both Michael Porter Jr. and Josh Kroenke, so Josh would obviously have some insight into him from early in his college career.
But Denver has been in dire need of some size and athleticism and they just got both in the same package. Brazile at his best absolutely looks the part of an NBA player who can make an impact at both ends of the floor. Whether he can grow his game in shorter bench stints early in his career is certainly going to be intriguing to watch – and the Nuggets finally have a drafted player to pour some interest and effort into themselves.
Welcome to the Nuggets, Trevon Brazile!
Seattle, WA
Council eyes street barricades in fight against violence, sex trafficking in north Seattle
SEATTLE — The Seattle City Council is expected to vote next week on a plan that would give the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) the authority to close off street access for public safety reasons.
The proposal comes after months of outcry from residents in north Seattle who say sex traffickers and sex buyers are looping through the streets surrounding Aurora Avenue North.
The street-closure proposal passed the council’s Public Safety Committee on Tuesday and is expected to be voted on by the full council next week.
“I don’t think it’s hyperbole to say the crime has gotten much worse, much more violent, and much more predator,” said District 5 councilmember Debora Juarez. “I think that we do have the authority to shut down a street for bullets flying and endangering the lives of those who live there.”
Frustrated neighbors have installed their own homemade barricades after a spate of gun violence between sex traffickers in May.
RELATED | SDOT removes street barricades near Aurora Ave; neighbors doubtful of temporary measures
Councilmember Bob Kettle says street closures will help tamp down sex buying in certain areas, but he emphasizes it must be accompanied by an increase in outreach and enforcement.
“We have to have a sustained effort,” Kettle told KOMO News. “My concern is for every action, there’s a reaction. We need to take this flex and then really attack it … because if we do just a bit and our attention wanders, we could have this conversation three months from now and we’re talking about the same thing.”
A 15-year-old boy was shot near 95th Street and Aurora Avenue North around 10:45 p.m. last night. The teen initially claimed he had been shot while walking down the street, but investigators now say he was shot by a passenger in his car.
RELATED | Seattle police say ‘drive-by’ on Aurora Ave. was actually passenger shooting teen driver
Kettle credited the city’s Real Time Crime Center cameras with helping investigators quickly piece together the events of the shooting.
“Just as important to finding out what happened, the cameras help police determine what did not happen,” Kettle said.
According to Seattle police data, reports of shootings and shots fired in the north precinct area are at their lowest levels since 2021.
Through the end of May, there were 48 total reports of shootings or shots fired, with one fatal shooting and seven nonfatal injury shootings.
That’s down from 63 total reports of shootings and shots fired – one fatal and seven injuries – in 2025; and 64 shootings or shots fired reports – one fatal and 17 injuries – in 2024.
At Tuesday’s committee meeting, councilmembers pointed out residents are calling for a new police precinct to be built on Aurora Avenue.
Ten years ago, a new North Precinct building was slated to be built at 130th Avenue and Aurora Avenue North to replace the existing precinct building, which was decades old and did not have enough space for the department’s needs.
Led by former councilmember Kshama Sawant, the “Block the Bunker” movement successfully got the North Precinct replacement project killed in city council.
Kettle said the city’s current financial issues make it essentially impossible to bring back a project similar to the one the previous council defeated.
“We have to connect the dots back,” Kettle said. “If we want to know why we are where we are today, we have to look at decisions made over the last two councils.”
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