The Laundries Now: 5 Shocking New Updates On Brian Laundrie's Parents After The Gabby Petito Case

The parents of Brian Laundrie, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, remain at the center of intense public scrutiny more than four years after the tragic death of Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito. As of December 2025, the most significant legal development is the settlement of the high-profile civil lawsuit filed against them by Gabby Petito’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, which sought damages for the intentional infliction of emotional distress. This article details the latest updates on the Laundrie family, their current legal status, and the public backlash they continue to face. The Laundries, who have consistently maintained a low public profile since their son's death, have recently been forced back into the spotlight due to new media coverage, including a Netflix docuseries. They continue to reside in their North Port, Florida, home, living a private life that is often interrupted by the persistent public interest in the case and their perceived lack of cooperation during the initial search for Gabby Petito.

Christopher and Roberta Laundrie: A Complete Profile

Christopher and Roberta Laundrie are the parents of Brian Laundrie and his older sister, Cassie Laundrie. Their lives were fundamentally altered in 2021 when their son returned home from a cross-country road trip without his fiancée, Gabby Petito, leading to a massive national investigation.

Christopher Laundrie (Father)

• Full Name: Christopher John "Chris" Laundrie
• Age: Early 60s (Approx.)
• Occupation: Described as an American businessman. His professional background is largely private, though he has been involved in the North Port community.
• Residence: North Port, Florida (Moved from Long Island/Hanaha, South Carolina, around 2017).

Roberta Laundrie (Mother)

• Full Name: Roberta Laundrie
• Age: Late 50s (Approx.)
• Occupation: Former Senior Office Assistant for Suffolk County, New York, where she was listed as working from 2011 to 2020.
• Residence: North Port, Florida.

The family lived together in their North Port residence, which became the focal point of the FBI investigation and a site of continuous protests by the public and media following Gabby Petito’s disappearance and the subsequent search for Brian Laundrie in the nearby Carlton Reserve.

The Confidential Settlement of the Emotional Distress Lawsuit

The most consequential and recent update regarding Chris and Roberta Laundrie is the resolution of the civil lawsuit brought against them by Gabby Petito’s parents. This lawsuit was the primary ongoing legal battle the Laundries faced, and its settlement marks the end of a long, painful chapter for all families involved.

Case Background: Intentional Infliction of Emotional Distress

The lawsuit, filed by Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, alleged that Chris and Roberta Laundrie were aware that their son had murdered Gabby Petito and intentionally inflicted emotional distress by withholding that information and issuing a misleading statement through their lawyer, Steven Bertolino, expressing hope that Gabby would be found. The Petito family argued that the Laundries’ silence and actions caused them immense suffering during the frantic search for their daughter in Wyoming.

The Settlement Agreement

In a major development in late 2024, the families reached a settlement to resolve the civil lawsuit and avoid a public trial. The settlement was described by the Petito family’s legal team as a "reluctant" agreement, emphasizing that their primary goal was to prevent the Laundries from profiting from the case and to hold them accountable.

Crucially, the details of the settlement—including any financial terms or specific non-monetary conditions—have remained undisclosed to the public. While the $3 million wrongful death judgment against Brian Laundrie's estate was separate and largely symbolic due to the lack of assets, the emotional distress settlement directly involved Chris and Roberta Laundrie and their personal liability. The settlement brings an end to the legal proceedings that kept the Laundries actively engaged in court filings and depositions.

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Public Backlash and Recent Statements in 2025

Despite the civil case being settled, Chris and Roberta Laundrie have not escaped the public eye, and the intense scrutiny surrounding their actions in 2021 continues to define their existence.

Response to the Netflix Documentary

In early 2025, the Laundries were thrust back into the media spotlight following the release of a new Netflix docuseries, "American Murder: Gabby Petito," which revisited the tragic events and, in the view of many, intensified the public backlash against them. In a rare recent statement, the Laundrie parents responded to the documentary, stating that the film was "what we expected." This statement, issued through their legal representation, reiterated their desire for privacy while acknowledging the ongoing public interest.

The "Burn After Reading" Controversy

A core element of the public's perception of the Laundries centers on a notebook found near Brian Laundrie’s remains in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. The notebook contained a confession to Gabby Petito’s murder and a note from Roberta Laundrie, which included the phrase "Burn After Reading." This note, which Roberta Laundrie claimed was written before Brian returned home from the trip, remains a source of controversy and fuels the public's belief that the parents had prior knowledge of their son's actions or intended to help him evade justice.

Current Status and Future Outlook

Chris and Roberta Laundrie continue to live a secluded life at their North Port residence. They have never faced criminal charges in connection with Gabby Petito’s death, as the FBI determined there was insufficient evidence to charge them with aiding and abetting or obstruction of justice. The settlement of the emotional distress lawsuit means they are now legally free from all major civil litigation related to the case.

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Their daughter, Cassie Laundrie, Brian's sister, has also attempted to distance herself from the family's actions, stating she is estranged, but she remains a peripheral entity in the ongoing public narrative. The Laundrie parents are now focused entirely on maintaining their privacy, a difficult task given the enduring nature of the true crime fascination with the Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie case.