The Gabby Petito case—a cross-country road trip turned tragic, a social media-documented journey ending in a high-profile search and a national conversation about domestic violence—gets a fresh look on ABC’s 20/20. This time, the focus shifts squarely to the voices often unheard amidst the media frenzy: Gabby’s parents.
In their first network television interview, Gabby’s mother, Nicole Schmidt, her husband, Jim Schmidt, and Gabby’s father, Joe Petito, and his wife, Tara Petito, sit down with 20/20 co-anchor Eva Pilgrim. They’re here to tell their story, not as figures in a tabloid saga, but as parents grappling with an unimaginable loss.
This isn’t about rehashing the well-trodden details of the investigation or Brian Laundrie’s eventual confession and death. The 20/20 special aims to offer a space for Gabby’s family to share their memories, their grief, and their perspective on the events that unfolded.
Beyond the parents’ account, the episode features interviews with other individuals close to Gabby and involved in the case, aiming to create a fuller picture of who she was and the impact of her loss.
20/20 airs Friday, February 21, 2025 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EST) on ABC and will be available to stream the next day on Hulu.
