Gabby Petito's parents sue Brian Laundrie's parents

FBI: Brian Laundrie claimed responsibility for the death of Gabby Petito 0:38

(CNN) --

Gabby Petito's family has filed a civil lawsuit against Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, claiming they knew their son Brian Laundrie killed Gabby Petito and were working to help him flee the country.

In the lawsuit, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt allege that Brian Laundrie told his parents about Gabby Petito's murder around August 28.

• Brian Laundrie: From a cross-country trip with Gabby Petito to the confirmation of her death.

  case timeline

"While Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt desperately searched for information about their daughter, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie kept Brian Laundrie's whereabouts secret, and are believed to have been arranging for him to leave the country," the lawsuit alleges.

Although a coroner previously ruled that Gabby Petito's cause of death was manual strangulation, the lawsuit also lists blunt force injuries to the head and neck as well as manual strangulation as the cause of death.

Schmidt's last communication with his daughter was on August 27, the suit says.

Her parents believe that was the day she was killed, citing a text message that was sent from Gabby Petito's phone that same day referring to her grandfather as "Stan", something their daughter Gabby would never have said. done.

The lawsuit alleges that Brian Laundrie sent that text message.

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The lawsuit also alleges that on August 30, Brian, posing as Gabby, sent a text message to Schmidt telling him there was no service at Yosemite Park.

The family believes this was done to make him believe that Gabby Petito was still alive.

Joe Petito speaks at a news conference in Bohemia, New York on Tuesday, September 28, 2021.

In the lawsuit, Joe Petito and Schmidt say the Laundries refused to answer them or police when they asked if Gabby Petito was alive and, if not, where her remains were.

"Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie were aware of the mental suffering and anguish of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, and knew that they could alleviate, at least in part, such mental suffering and anguish by disclosing what they knew about the well-being and location of the remains of Gabrielle Petitio, but repeatedly refused to do so," the suit says.

"In doing so, Christopher Laundrie and Roberta Laundrie acted with malice or gross disregard for the rights of Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt," it continues.

The Laundrie family version

In a statement to multiple media outlets a week after Gabby Petito's body was found, Laundrie's family attorney Steven Bertolino said: "Chris and Roberta Laundrie don't know where Brian is. They are worried about Brian and They hope the FBI can track him down."

"Speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents helped Brian leave the family home or avoid arrest by a warrant issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is simply incorrect," the statement continued.

In October, weeks after searching for Laundrie on Florida's Carlton Reservation, investigators found human remains and personal items, including a backpack and notebook belonging to Laundrie.

Brian Laundrie's autopsy indicates he committed suicide, lawyer tells CNN 2:19

The Florida Twelfth District Medical Examiner's office later said its investigation into Laundrie's death determined that he committed suicide.

In January, after the FBI reviewed the contents of the notebook found near Laundrie's remains, the agency said it found "written statements from Mr. Laundrie claiming responsibility for the death of Ms. Petito."

Gabby Petito's parents are seeking compensation for "pain and suffering, mental anguish, inconvenience, and loss of ability to enjoy life experienced in the past and in the future."

There is no set amount of money in the lawsuit.

Reached by text message, Bertolino told CNN he had no comment on the lawsuit.

CNN's Randi Kaye and Rob Frehse contributed to this report.