Above is Gabby Petito on one of her many journeys before her death.
The new Netflix series American Murder: Gabby Petito goes over the tragic events that led to the murder of the American traveler and vlogger. On Netflix this documentary is currently ranked 6th in TV shows today. This documentary highlights who she was, her aspirations to travel the world and her relationship with Brian Laundrie.
Gabby Petito’s case has gained national attention for several reasons. Foremost, Gabby was an active social media user, and her content was centered around her van life with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. When Gabby went missing in August of 2021 she became a viral topic on many platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and Twitter. Her case became a major topic for true crime communities as they came up with many theories and speculations as to what had truly happened.
One of the most notable things that people take away from this case is the suspicious behavior of the main suspect and fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Gabby was last seen alive on August 27, 2021 on their cross-country travels. Brian returned home to Florida alone in Gabby’s van. He refused to cooperate with authorities regarding her missing case, and then disappeared. His remains were later found, adding to the public’s intriguement.
The documentary is compiled of Gabby’s social media posts, text messages, and diary entries. It also includes interviews with people that were close to Gabby such as her family members, friends and her ex-boyfriend. The documentary also includes bodycam footage, 911 recordings, and news clips that follow Gabby’s disappearance. All of these storytelling techniques include an intimate glimpse into her personal life and her dynamics within her relationships.
In a review, an IMBd user remarks that this documentary was, “A shocking story, good series…definitely worth seeing.” They rated this show an 8/10.
The Gabby Petito documentary is more than just a retelling of a tragic case. In an era of misogyny and domestic violence it helps put light on the issues. Gabby’s story is one like many other women’s and it is great to spread awareness about a topic that isn’t typically talked about. It is a powerful reflection on domestic violence, and has already influenced the media tremendously to call for justice in other cases of a similar nature.