User reviews

Gabby Petito and her boyfriend Brian set off in their van for a road trip, a chance to spend quality time together, and show the world, through social media how much in love they are. Sadly Petito is dating a monster.

I have seen this particular story featured in other documentaries, but this one did introduce some further details and more interviews, so even if you know what happened, I'd suggest it's still worth seeing.

The story still manages to shock, and even now I'm still unsure as to who the real monsters are, Brian or his parents. The videos are sad to watch, the encounter with The Police in particular is truly sickening, she was failed badly by the authorities.

It could perhaps have been condensed down a bit, although I think the third episode was done as a mark of hope, with Gabby's friends and families doing their best to move on and look to the future.

Definitely worth seeing.

8/10.

I have been following Gabby's case since I first heard about it. I was intrigued to watch this documentary to put all the pieces together and watch the clips. This documentary is as fascinating as it is sad. To see such a beautiful vibrant young lady like Gabby have her life snatched away by an insecure cretin is heartbreaking. The fact that the Laundries who knew what was going on were not prosecuted in any way is shocking too. There are so many if only in this story. If you like watching true crime documentaries then this one is definitely worth the watch. It helps build awareness and makes you want to keep your children a little closer.

As soon as the police went to Brian's parents' home, the Petito family must have known that something really bad had happened to Gabby. Brian has the van, but claims he flew back to Florida after fighting with Gabby. I wanted to reach into the television and do harm to those two parents. Can they be charged with aiding and abetting Brian? What about Brian having the van? It was registered to Gabby, right?

Brian was a coward right til the end. His behind his parents, wrote a note saying that Gabby was dying, so "he put her out of her misery", then cowardly killed himself.

The video of the Moab police is upsetting to say the least. They seemed to be biased towards Gabby, although she did say that in this altercation, she hit him first. After watching this doc, I read that there was an investigation regarding the handling of the police stop, and that the police should have questioned the 911 caller, and that it could have been a charge of domestic assault (of Brian!) against Gabby. Perhaps if they did arrest her, everything would be different now and she would still be alive? Maybe not. She was so far into this relationship I'm not sure she saw things rationally. I do agree that US laws should include police asking the 11 lethality questions, which is what Gabby's parents are now lobbying. But even this, I'm not sure if Brian would have met the criteria to have police call a domestic violence hotline. Don't know.

Very very sad.

Innocence meets twisted and selfish. An absolute tragedy she did not get away nor reach someone who could help her realize the need to do so urgently. But told with such compassion by those who lived it. A beautiful testament to her life and a showcase of what a sick family can so appallingly do for their sick son. Just like OJ, folks had no sympathy when Brian's fate was known.

It also openly and impressively confronts the fact raised at the time that a vast number of similar missing person scenarios get zero media interest nor a tiny fraction of the immense resources put into this case. Esp. Those re. People of color it seems. A claim even Gabby's dad began to later take seriously.

Watch it, share the lessons, be moved and grateful.

As Episode 1 of "American Murder: Gabby Petito" (2025 release; 3 episodes ranging 39 to 48 min) opens, it is "August 12, 2021, Moab, Utah", and based on an anonymous tip, Utah police pulls over a van to question a couple. Turns out to be Brian and Gabby, a young couple on a cross-country road trip. When Gabby is questioned outside the van and away from Brian, she crumbles. We then go back to "March 19,1999, Long Island, NY", when Gabby is born, and we get to know her background an upbringing. At this point we are 10 minutes into Episode 1.

Couple of comments: I was vaguely familiar with these events, but to now see it laid out as clearly and as detailed as this documentary mini-series does, only brought a sense of immense sadness and a disgust of the cruelty with which one person murders another, and for what? The mini-series is helped immensely by the fact that so much footage was filmed by Gabby in particular (she was prepping to start a vlog about their cross-country travels). This mini-series also focuses on the role of Brian's parents in all of this. How these people sleep at night, I have no clue.

"American Murder: Gabby Petito" has just started streaming on Netflix. Not sure why this is presented in 3 short episodes, as opposed to a feature-length documentary. I watched this in a single setting, and I suspect I will not be the only one. If you are interested in true crime documentaries, I readily recommend you check this out and draw your own conclusion.

Most of the true crime shows are cases that are from decades ago. This one is from 2021, so it's pretty fresh for this kind of documentary. This is a case I never heard about, so I found it quite interesting.

The production quality is good and there is a lot of original footage shot by the couple that this is about. The producers do throw in some short reenactments, but they work well with the overall flow of the narrative.

If you like true crime, this is definitely worth watching, because it's not an old story where DNA testing hadn't been invented, or some cold case. This is modern times, with a young, attractive couple.

If you're interested in true crime and are following this particular case since it happened this documentary you will appreciate. It's the only one with never heard before details, family photos and interviews, facts about Brians parents, police camera from their front door when Brian came back without Gabby and also the only documentary not showing unnecessary hours of youtubers content but rather focusing on new content and unique flow of the whole story from beginning to end.

I highly recommend you watch it and I applaud the creators of this documentary. Bravo! You guys did a fantastic job!

8.0 stars.

I started the first episode and didn't get out of my seat until it was all over. This is a riveting and engrossing documentary. I have to say this story resonates, because there is so much evidence: documentation, pictures, video, texts, and phone calls. We are living in an information age that is on steroids.

This is the type of crime he could not get away with, and this young man floundered so badly that there was no way out. My opinion is that he missed her so dearly, that he took his own life. He went home for several days to say goodbye to his parents, but I'm sure his parents did not have any hint of his motivations, which were to return to the woods and end his life.

After the crime, he drove the van back home and his parents had called the lawyer immediately after he told them some thing that happened. There was absolutely no way he was getting away with this crime, but again, I don't think that's the primary reason why he took his life. He was codependent on this woman and his identity was wrapped up in her. We can see that he loved her too much. This is what happens when a person becomes too dependent on another person, and he likely already had a certain level of pre existing psychological issues. She had issues too, and she likely had broken up with him right before the act.

But my point is that this documentary is very captivating.

I knew this was never going to be an easy watch, it filled me with such sadness. I heard and followed the case all the way from New Zealand, that's how far reaching the case became. There were so many new items I learnt about the specific events that led up to Gabby's disappearance and then being found. Absolutely heartbreaking.

It evident the Laundries perverted the course of justice, acted in an inhumane manner and provided no closure to protect the waste of oxygen of a son. A son that lied about everything he did till the end and then took the cowards way out. I was amazed Brian was able to escape for a 'hike' under the police's noses because they mistook him for his mother, bizarre. Despite the huge amount of attention shed on this case, this happens far too often and if anything, it highlights the issues of domestic violence and brings it to light. R. I. P Gabby, gone too soon.

Review: The Murder of Gabby Petito: Truth, Lies and Social Media

This Netflix documentary offers a harrowing look at how Gabby Petito's disappearance and murder became a global spectacle. While it highlights the pain of her family, it also exposes the disturbing role of social media, where amateur detectives prioritized views over justice.

One of the most shocking aspects is how crucial evidence-such as footage of Gabby's van-was shared on YouTube before being reported to the police. In today's digital age, solving crimes seems to compete with gaining clicks, blurring the line between investigation and entertainment.

The case turned into a true-crime obsession, where the tragedy almost became secondary to the thrill of unraveling a mystery. While social media helped spread awareness, it also raised ethical concerns: when does seeking justice turn into exploitation? And how do we ensure that real pain isn't overshadowed by the demand for content?

A gripping yet unsettling documentary that forces us to reflect on the dark side of our digital world.

I find it interesting to see this summed up experience. I was glued to cable news starting on the day (I believe it was September 11) because I saw a push notification that said something like a man had returned to Florida in his girlfriend's van and she was not with him and she was missing. I found out her mother had called 9-1-1 about it and from right then I took an interest in finding out what had happened. It feels like just yesterday in a way I was watching all the people outside the Laundrie's house and, then the reporters all booking it down to the nature preserve and having to get a portable cell phone tower brought in to accommodate the area being in a dead zone. I followed this entire thing at the time but I had been unsure about how Brian had managed to get out of his house to get to the nature preserve so at least that was cleared up by this show. I like how this documentary made all the bits and pieces of a story I knew of and had followed fit into a timeline with visual aid. I feel bad that this happened to her and her loved ones. Glad to know it is helping domestic violence victims get away from it.

American Murder: Gabby Petito is a three-part true-crime miniseries that premiered on Netflix in February 2025. The series meticulously chronicles the life and tragic death of Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old aspiring influencer who disappeared in August 2021 during a cross-country van trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. The miniseries delves into the events leading up to her disappearance, the subsequent investigation, and the broader implications of the case.

Positive Aspects:

• Comprehensive Storytelling: The series offers an in-depth look into Gabby Petito's life, utilizing a wealth of personal footage, photographs, and social media posts. This approach provides viewers with a nuanced understanding of her personality, aspirations, and relationships.

• Innovative Use of Technology: To enhance the narrative, the miniseries employs voice cloning technology to recreate Gabby's voice, bringing her writings and messages to life. This technique adds a poignant and immersive layer to the storytelling.

• Critical Examination of Social Media: The series thoughtfully explores the role of social media in shaping public perception and its impact on the investigation, prompting viewers to reflect on the influence of digital platforms in modern society.

Negative Aspects:

• Emotional Intensity: The raw portrayal of domestic violence and the tragic outcome may be distressing for some viewers, making it a challenging watch for those sensitive to such content.

• Family Disputes: The Laundrie family's criticism of the series, citing inaccuracies and misrepresentations, has sparked controversy and may influence viewers' perceptions of the documentary's objectivity.

• Limited New Insights: Some critics argue that the series offers little beyond what was already public knowledge, potentially leaving viewers seeking deeper investigative revelations unsatisfied.

In conclusion, American Murder: Gabby Petito provides a poignant and comprehensive examination of a tragic case that captivated the nation. While it excels in humanizing Gabby and highlighting the complexities of modern relationships and media, it also raises questions about narrative framing and the ethical responsibilities of true-crime storytelling. Viewers are invited to reflect on the broader societal issues illuminated by this heartbreaking story.

This 3 part documentary will bring tears to your eyes.

And make you hate not just another coward killer, but hate that cowards parents as well. You will witness the sorrow and anguish as these well filmed documentaries elicit way too well. What makes it sadder is as you watch it, you begin to wonder why the coward killers despicable mother and father where never charged for their part in this murder case. You will wish those maggots a painful experience. But also makes you wonder about the fragility of life of all ethnicities of the many thousands of missing people who never got the same coverage. The overall feeling will leave you hating so many people but also make you wonder about people around you.

It would've been very interesting to watch and see what drives people to take such extreme actions but that commentary by Rose made it so stupid.

Family member interviews make sense to be included but everyone in the circle does not make sense. Other people are biased one way or the other and have grudges and jealousy. Though the same could be true for family members as well but they share alot of close proximity and minor details could be missed.

Its extremely cheesy journalism to include such biased individuals. Next time please for god sake exclude such people not matter how close friends they are from victims.

I can't believe this crime was real. It is plenty of incoherence from beginning till the end.

First, the documentary is pretty well done technically speaking, but I think there is a lot of missing information. I could not understand how this could happen. I don't want to spoil anything but it doesn't make sense from one side or the other.

Second, it is crazy how social media Influence can make people d*mb. I mean, how many real TikTok detectives were involved in this case?... It does not make sense at all.

Last, overall the case is predictable and horrible, so not the most interesting/terrifying to watch, even it's cruel and raw.

This documentary was good, it was fine, it just was not outstanding. Perhaps the subject has been covered too much and in this age of so much instantaneous media it is hard to stand out. I certainly was very familiar with the story before I saw this show. There was really nothing wrong with the show. It just didn't move me in the way that would rate a seven or better.

ABOUT MY REVIEWS:

I do not include a synopsis of the film/show -- you can get that anywhere and that does not constitute a meaningful review -- but rather my thoughts and feelings on the film that hopefully will be informative to you in deciding whether to invest 90-180 minutes of your life on it.

My scale: 1-5 decreasing degrees of "terrible", with 5 being "mediocre" 6- OK. Generally held my interest OR had reasonable cast and/or cinematography, might watch it again 7 - Good. My default rating for a movie I liked enough to watch again, but didn't rise to the upper echelons 8- Very good. Would watch again and recommend to others 9- Outstanding. Would watch over and over; top 10% of my ratings 10 - A classic. (Less than 2% receive this rating). For Lifetime Movies for Chicks (LMFC), drop the above scale by 3 notches. A 6 is excellent and 7 almost unattainable.