True crime lovers pay attention: this docuseries should be at the top of your watchlist
As a true crime lover, I keep the Netflix schedule under a magnifying glass every month in hopes of spotting a new documentary. And through this extensive research, I can say: another gem is coming. After the Watts family and Laci Peterson, the creators of ‘American Murder’ are diving into the murder of Gabby Petito this time. This bizarre case shows that social media can be quite misleading.
Yet not such a perfect picture
In July 2021, 22-year-old Gabby Petito and her 23-year-old fiancé Brian Laundrie begin their road trip through the US. They had converted a van into a camper and posted videos about their journey on YouTube. On social media, the couple seemed to be living a dream life, but in reality, it was very different. A month and a half after the start of their trip, Gabby and Brian are stopped by the police. They had received reports of a physical altercation between the couple. Both showed visible marks of (possible) previous confrontations, but after taking their statements and an order to spend the night apart, the two were allowed to go again. Everything seemed okay again, but about two weeks later, it suddenly goes very quiet on Gabby's social media. Her family still receives messages, although they doubt whether they are really from her. After a complete radio silence of two weeks, the family reports her missing on September 11. Meanwhile, Brian has returned to his parents alone. He refuses to talk to the police and hires a lawyer. A week later, he is also reported missing. The disappearances attract a lot of attention on social media; people try to analyze all the messages in the hope of discovering more about the case. On September 19, Gabby's body is found. Brian remains the prime suspect and the manhunt continues. A month later, he is also found dead, with a note in which he confesses to the murder murder of his fiancée.
Beyond the media frenzy
The three-part docuseries ‘American Murder: Gabby Petito’ takes us step by step through the last days of the couple. But it goes further than the messages that circulated on social media. With interviews, text messages, and diary excerpts from Gabby, directors Julia Willoughby Nason and Michael Gasparro show how things went so wrong. Not only that, they also wanted to give Gabby's family and friends a chance to tell their story. They show how the relationship with Brian really was and how much they managed to keep hidden from social media. The real truth behind that Insta-perfect photos.
‘American Murder: Gabby Petito’ will be available on Netflix from February 17.
Image: Netflix
