Family tensions have erupted following the release of a new documentary about the Gabby Petito murder case.

According to Fox News, Cassie Laundrie, sister of Brian Laundrie, who killed Gabby Petito in 2021, revealed she hasn't spoken to her parents in nearly two years amid fallout from Netflix's "American Murder: Gabby Petito" docuseries.

The documentary exposed text messages between Cassie and her mother, Roberta Laundrie, that show them joking about police surveillance failures during the investigation. These messages were exchanged after Brian Laundrie had disappeared while under police observation, a period when authorities were desperately searching for him following Petito's disappearance.

Family communications under scrutiny

Cassie Laundrie took to Instagram to address criticism directed at her following the documentary's release. She emphatically stated her estrangement from her parents has been ongoing for a significant period. Her post came as viewers reacted strongly to the revelations in the docuseries.

In her Instagram statement, Cassie wrote a direct message to those newly criticizing her: "If you're new here. And just starting to attack me today. I've been non contact with my parents for almost two years. Have fun." The statement suggests a complex family dynamic that predates the documentary release.

The Netflix documentary features previously unreleased material, including text messages between family members. These communications provide new insight into the family's private reactions during the investigation of Petito's disappearance and murder, particularly illuminating the relationship between Cassie and her mother, Roberta.

Disputed police statements emerge

Cassie Laundrie has publicly disputed statements attributed to her by Suffolk County Police Detective Tracey Barry. This controversy centers around bodycam footage initially obtained by Fox News Digital in September 2021 and featured in the Netflix docuseries.

In the footage, Detective Barry can be heard telling a North Port police officer that Cassie had provided information about Brian and Gabby fighting. According to Barry's phone conversation captured on bodycam, "His sister told me another story that he left her out there and flew home, and yet you're seeing the van in their driveway, and they won't say where she is."

The detective continued in the recording, saying Cassie had told her, "Oh, Brian's home. He told me they got into a fight. He left her at a hotel, and he flew back." However, Cassie has now firmly rejected this characterization, writing on social media: "Det. Barry gravely miscommunicated what I told her in the phone."

Disturbing text exchanges revealed

The Netflix documentary exposed troubling text exchanges between Cassie and her mother, Roberta Laundrie. These messages show them making light of police surveillance failures during the search for Brian Laundrie.

After Brian had managed to slip away from police surveillance, Roberta texted her daughter: "The north port police said Brian and I have a 'similar build' boy, Brian would not be happy about THAT!!" This message indicated that police had mistaken Roberta for Brian, allowing him to escape undetected.

Cassie replied to her mother's message, "Yea everyones laughing at that remark because not even remotely close." The conversation continued with Roberta describing Brian as "short, pudgy and big bottomed!" or "short sassy and shapely! (Pear shaped!)" to which Cassie responded, "Lol must have just been that hat! Put their top notch guys on surveillance."

Domestic violence allegations surface

In addition to the controversy surrounding police statements and text messages, Cassie Laundrie has made claims on social media that her brother was a victim of domestic violence perpetrated by Petito.

These allegations come after previous evidence documented in police bodycam footage from Moab, Utah showed an incident between the couple during their cross-country trip. About two weeks before Petito's murder, police had separated the couple for a night following a domestic dispute, but they later reunited.

Petito's family has categorically rejected Cassie's version of events. Nichole Schmidt, Gabby Petito's mother, told Fox News Digital: "Cassie Laundrie is spewing lies, evidence and actions speak louder than words."

Case background resurfaces with new details

The FBI investigation established that Brian Laundrie killed Gabby Petito near Spread Creek in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest on August 27, 2021. His actions following the murder reveal calculated attempts to cover his tracks.

After killing Petito, Laundrie staged the crime scene, created fake communications between their phones, transferred money from her bank account to himself, and drove her van back to Florida. Upon returning to his parents' home, he even went camping with his family, including Cassie and her husband and children, at Fort De Soto Park during Labor Day weekend.

When police began investigating Petito's disappearance on September 11, 2021, Brian refused to cooperate with authorities. He subsequently disappeared on September 13, though his parents did not immediately report his absence to police. By the time authorities located his remains over a month later, he had died by suicide.

Why This Story Matters

This story sheds light on the deeply personal and societal impacts of high-profile criminal cases. It illustrates the profound strain these events can place on family relationships and prompts public discourse on how such situations are handled by the media and law enforcement. The estrangement of Cassie from her family underscores a broader narrative about the casualties of crime beyond the immediate victims.

In conclusion, this case serves as a potent reminder of the ripple effects of crime on families and communities. It highlights the importance of maintaining integrity and empathy in the face of public scrutiny while managing personal and familial crises.