Gabby Petito's Mother Urges Public to Engage With Missing Person Flyers Online

Five years after Gabby Petito’s remains were discovered in Wyoming, her mother is urging the public to pay closer attention to missing person flyers shared on social media, highlighting how a single share can initiate a "ripple effect" that leads to a missing individual being found.

"What I would say with missing cases is, if you see missing flyers pass by your feed, stop and take a look," Nichole Schmidt told Fox News Digital. "Don’t just share it quickly."

Schmidt suggested that people take a moment to examine the flyer, check comments for any new developments, and verify the source before sharing. "If it seems legitimate, maybe give it a share," she advised. "Because you never know who might see that with your share, and it causes a ripple effect — and missing people have been found by regular people just sharing flyers."

Petito's remains were found on September 19, 2021, in a remote campground north of Jackson, Wyoming. Authorities believe she was killed three weeks earlier by her former fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Laundrie later died by suicide. His remains were found about a month later in a Florida park.

Since their daughter’s death, Petito’s parents and stepparents have established a foundation in her name. The foundation aims to combat domestic violence and raise awareness for other missing person cases that have not received the same level of media attention as their daughter's.

Schmidt's comments come as the family continues their advocacy for legislation to support missing persons cases. They have lobbied for new laws in Florida, Utah, and New York, as well as at the federal level.

For those affected by domestic violence, resources are available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 800-999-SAFE (7233), or by texting START to 88788.