Brian Laundrie‘s mother has finally broken her silence — you know, because she was legally forced to, obviously.
In a new affidavit, Roberta Laundrie explains in her own words just what the heck she really meant with that shocking note she wrote to her son.
As you’ve probably heard, the family of Gabby Petito are suing her killer’s parents. As part of their lawsuit, they’re trying to prove the Laundries knew Gabby was dead the whole time and kept it to themselves — causing them extra emotional stress. A letter found on Brian’s body when it was finally discovered in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park seems to imply just what they’re trying to prove — if they get to show it to the jury.
According to a December legal filing by Petito attorney Patrick Reilly, the note is marked “burn after reading.” And inside, Roberta’s words to her son were shocking — as she “offered to bring a shovel to help bury the body.” The attorney told the court last month:
“The language in that letter is damning and that letter has a reference to bringing a shovel and burying a body.”
The Laundries’ legal team is trying to keep a jury from ever seeing that letter by convincing a judge it’s irrelevant. HOW?? Well, they finally got Roberta herself to explain in her own words WTF was up with the missive. Writing in an affidavit, the 56-year-old admitted to writing the letter but said it was written months before Gabby’s murder. She claims it was written during a tough time in her relationship with her son, and all the sentiments expressed are about a mother’s love.
Roberta says the “burn after reading” note is a reference to a book they both loved, and that the rest of the letter also contains references to children’s books they shared — including The Runaway Bunny and Little Bear. Something tells us the “bury the body” thing wasn’t from The Runaway Bunny. She writes in her affidavit that the “quirky” parts of the letter are inside jokes:
“There were some other phrases that I used in the letter, which are not found in the books I shared with Brian as a child. However, these phrases are common enough in our circle of friends and family, to describe who you could turn to in the most troubling times of your life.”
So that’s just a Laundrie family saying? “We’ll bring the shovel and help you bury the body”? She maintains it was just a coincidence that her son actually did kill someone this time:
“While I use the words that seem to have a connection with Brian‘s actions and his taking Gabby‘s life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter.”
She also claims she sent the letter in May 2021, three months before Brian killed Gabby:
“The words in the letter could never have been a comment on that tragic situation, as they were written so many months before. My words to Brian were meant to convey my love and support for my son through a light-hearted and quirky reminder that my love for him was not diminished, and could not be shaken by the miles of separation we would soon be faced with.”
Huh. The Laundries’ lawyers have always contended the letter was unrelated to Brian’s current predicament — and the fact he had a body to bury was pure coincidence. It’s always been a tricky argument. Obviously, there are novelty T-shirts and whatnot that talk about good friends being the ones to help you “bury the body.” But this was a handwritten letter. And the boy really did have a body to bury!
There’s no proof either way, so we’re guessing the judge is just going to have to let the jury make of it what they will. What do YOU think of Roberta’s letter?
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