The Real Horror: Til Death Do Us Part

On September 11th of this year, 22-year-old Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family after they were unable to contact their daughter or her long-term boyfriend Brian Laundrie, after he arrived home alone in Florida on September 1, with Petito’s van after a cross-country road trip. The couple had been prevalent social media influencers, popular in the category of “Van Life” which usually entails a couple living out of a van and traveling the country together. After getting widespread attention on TikTok, Gabby Petito became a household name. While search party crowds grew larger, the pressure for Laundrie to speak on the situation, which he still today has yet to do, increased as well. Nine days later on September 19, Gabby’s body was discovered in Wyoming and her death was ruled a homicide. Recently, it was declared by coroners that she died from strangulation three to four weeks before her body was discovered leading many to believe that Brain Laundrie, the only individual cited to be seen with Gabby within their entire road trip, is the most likely suspect.

This has sparked a debate within the feminist community towards the importance of seeing ‘red flags’ in relationships. Laundrie has been sighted as having intense anger issues, while Petitio had diagnosed OCD and anxiety. Bodycam footage documented on August 12 after the two were pulled over in reference to a domestic incident contained several signs of mental abuse, such as Petito being seen sobbing while Laundrie was at peace, as well as Laundrie asking, “What did she say about me?” after the officers separated the couple.

It is vital that we begin teaching the young men of this country about how to react in relationships in order to prevent more incidents such as this from occurring. The latest UN figure states that about 140 women are murdered each day across the globe by a domestic partner. In order to prevent the losses of girls such as Petito and countless others, there must be an in-depth conversation about this far too often occurrence and how to spot warning signs to potentially save a life. It is vital to speak about relationship abuse in the classroom, as well as the warning signs which accompany abusive relationships outside of the blatant violence which often occurs strictly behind walls. DASACC has visited Hackettstown High School to discuss relationship abuse, however, it is vital to include these lessons in the mandated curriculum in order to emphasize the importance of these warning signs to save lives. The case of Gabby Petito's murder will go down as a key case for today’s youth and, if handled correctly, will change the way we as teenagers think about romantic relationships and who we choose to keep close to us. The case of this couple forces those who process the situation to take into consideration those they hold dear and the reason they are with them. Love is not a guilty or fearful emotion, and those who are exhibiting violent behavior towards their partner must be confronted by those who witness the acts. The lesson taught is to hold those close to you accountable for their actions, and to protect those you know to be suffering. We can create a safer, and more truly loving society by educating on these actions and confronting those who are partaking in abuse. It is up to each one of us to keep love healthy, for not only ourselves but for the good of humanity.