BLUE POINT, N.Y. — Five years after Gabby Petito’s remains were discovered in Wyoming, her mother is urging people to pause when missing-person alerts appear on social media. Even one thoughtful share, she said, can set off a “ripple effect” that helps bring someone home.
“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 on Friday.
“Don’t just share it quickly.”
Schmidt recommended reviewing the flyer carefully, checking the comments for updates and confirming that the information comes from a credible source.
“If it seems legitimate, maybe give it a share,” she said.
“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 Sept. 19, 2021, at a remote campground north of Jackson, Wyoming.
Authorities believe she was killed about three weeks earlier by Brian Laundrie, her former fiancé.
Laundrie returned to his parents’ home in Florida in Petito’s Ford Transit van. He later died by suicide before heavy rain moved through Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park.
His remains were not located for another month. The nationwide search concluded after floodwaters receded, and Laundrie’s parents guided investigators to one of his favorite clearings in the preserve.
In the years since, Petito’s parents and stepparents have created a foundation in her memory focused on combating domestic violence and drawing attention to other missing-person cases.
They have also pushed for legislative changes in several states, including Florida, Utah and New York, as well as at the federal level.
Their work also centers on amplifying the pleas of families whose missing loved ones have not received the same intense media coverage as their daughter.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-999-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
