Gabby Petito’s Mother Encourages Attention to Missing Person Flyers

BLUE POINT, N.Y. — Five years after Gabby Petito’s remains were discovered in Wyoming, her mother is urging the public to take a moment to notice the missing person flyers that pop up on their social media feeds. A simple share, she believes, could create a significant “ripple effect” that might lead to someone being located.

“What I would suggest when you see these missing flyers is to actually stop and take a moment to look at them,” her mother, Nichole Schmidt, told Fox News Digital on Friday. “Try not to just share them without thinking first.”

She went on to recommend checking the comments for any updates and verifying the source before sharing. “If it seems legitimate, think about sharing it. You never know who might see it through you. It could lead to missing people being found, sometimes simply because someone decided to pass along a flyer,” she explained.

In case anyone isn’t familiar, Petito’s remains were found on September 19, 2021, in a secluded campground north of Jackson, Wyoming. It’s believed she was killed three weeks earlier by her former fiancé, Brian Laundrie.

Laundrie drove back to his family home in Florida in her Ford Transit van. He took his own life shortly before heavy rains impacted the area. His remains were found about a month later, after a nationwide search concluded when floodwaters receded. His parents had pointed detectives to one of his preferred spots in a local preserve.

Since the tragedy, Petito’s parents and stepparents have established a foundation in her name aimed at combating domestic violence and raising awareness for other missing person cases. They’ve been advocating for new legislation across multiple states and at the federal level, hoping to shine a light on families of missing individuals who haven’t received the same level of attention that their daughter did.