Gabby Petito's family blasts Moab Police for their "infuriating" response to their wrongful death lawsuit, accusing the department of minimizing its failures and prioritizing money over accountability. The lawsuit alleges that officers failed to follow protocol during an August 2021 traffic stop, leading to Petito's murder by her fiancé.
The escalating feud between Gabby Petito's family and the Moab Police Department reached a boiling point this week as lawyers for Petito's parents condemned the department's response to their wrongful death lawsuit as "tone-deaf" and self-serving.
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
In a court filing, the Petito family's attorneys refuted the Moab Police's argument that the lawsuit was merely a "GoFundMe campaign," stating that their pursuit of accountability and change was not motivated by financial gain but rather by the urgent need to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
"Moab's response is infuriating," said Joseph Petito, Gabby's father. "They refuse to take responsibility for their failures, which led to Gabby's death. Their inability to learn from their mistakes puts us all at risk."
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
Lawyers for the Petito family argued that Moab Police officers had a clear understanding of the potential risks to Gabby when they encountered her and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, in August 2021. Despite being required by law to arrest or cite one of the parties, the officers deemed the incident a "mental health break" and allowed the couple to leave separately.
"The officers themselves googled the law and acknowledged that failing to follow the statute could cause victims to get killed," said Brian Stewart, an attorney for the Petito family. "They chose to ignore it, and Gabby was killed."
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
Moab Police had adopted a lethality assessment protocol (LAP) in 2018, but it was allegedly not followed during the Petito-Laundrie incident. The protocol involves asking victims specific questions to identify red flags and risks of violence. Similar protocols are now required under a 2023 law in Utah.
The Petito family has successfully lobbied for LAP to become mandatory in Utah and Florida, and are working to create similar laws in other states through the Gabby Petito Foundation.
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
"The Petito family's civil claims are not about money," Stewart emphasized. "Damages awards are the only remedy available in our civil justice system to motivate institutions like the Moab Police Department to change."
The Petito family's legal team has been bolstered by the addition of former Utah Supreme Court Chief Justice Christine Durham, who is regarded as one of the country's most prominent legal minds.
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
Moab Police have argued that they are protected by government immunity laws and that their actions were reasonable given the circumstances. However, the Petito family's attorneys contend that wrongful death claims against the government are protected under the Utah Constitution and that the officers' actions were a clear violation of state law.
Gabby Petito was found murdered in Wyoming in September 2021, just weeks after the Moab Police encounter. Brian Laundrie killed himself after confessing to the crime in a notebook found in his backpack.
Petito Family Slams Moab Police Over "Tone-Deaf" Response to Lawsuit, Seeks Change
The Petito family's lawsuit seeks change in law enforcement policies and training to prevent future domestic violence tragedies. They hope that by holding the Moab Police accountable, they can save lives and honor Gabby's memory.
