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Gabby Petito's mother urges public 'ripple effect' to help find the missing 5 years after daughter's murder
By Michael Ruiz
Published September 19, 2026
If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
BLUE POINT, N.Y. — Five years after Gabby Petito’s remains were found in Wyoming, her mother is asking the public to pay closer attention to the missing-person flyers that cross their social-media feeds because a single share can create a "ripple effect" that leads to someone being found.
"What I would say with missing cases is, if you see missing flyers pass by your feed, stop and take a look," her mother, Nichole Schmidt, told Fox News Digital Friday. "Don't just share it quickly."
Gabby Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, stands in front of a mural depicting her daughter in their hometown of Blue Point, New York, on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026. After it was painted, the building sold, but the new owner framed the work of art and installed a light on top so it can be seen at night. (Michael Ruiz/Fox News Digital)
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Look at it first, check the comments in case there are new developments, and verify the source, she suggested.
"If it seems legitimate, maybe give it a share," she said. "Because you never know who might see that with your share, and it causes a ripple effect — and missing people have been found by regular people just sharing flyers."
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Petito's remains were found on Sept. 19, 2021, in a remote campground north of Jackson, Wyoming. She is believed to have been killed three weeks earlier by Brian Laundrie, her former fiance.
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Laundrie drove home to his parents' house in Florida in her Ford Transit van before taking his own life before heavy rains in the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park. His remains weren't found for a month, after a nationwide search that ended when floodwater receded and his own parents led detectives to one of his favorite clearings in the preserve.
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Since then, Petito's parents and stepparents have launched a foundation in her name, combatting domestic violence and raising awareness for other missing person cases.
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This undated portrait of Gabby Petito served as the inspiration for a mural painted of her in her hometown of Blue Point, New York. (Family of Gabby Petito)
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They've lobbied for new laws in multiple states, including Florida, Utah and New York, and even at the federal level.
But another focus of theirs is getting attention for the families of missing people who haven't gotten the same news coverage their daughter did.
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If you or someone you know is the victim of domestic abuse, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/gabby-petito-mother-urges-public-ripple-effect-help-find-missing-5-years-after-daughters-murder