Five years ago, the entire world was glued to a white Ford Transit van and a frantic search through the Wyoming wilderness. Then came the swamp. Today, the headlines have mostly dried up, but the questions hasn't. You’ve probably wondered what happened to the people left in the wake of the tragedy that claimed Gabby Petito. Honestly, the answer isn't a simple "they moved away." It’s much more complicated than that.
Where is the Laundrie family now in 2026?
Christopher and Roberta Laundrie are still living in North Port, Florida. For a long time, there were rumors they had fled or sold their home to escape the protesters who once turned their front lawn into a media circus. They didn't. They stayed.
Life for them looks very different now. You don’t see them on the news every night anymore. They’ve become something like ghosts in their own neighborhood. Neighbors occasionally catch glimpses of them doing yard work or picking up groceries, but the days of 24/7 surveillance by TikTok sleuths are over. They aren't exactly "welcome" in the community, but the vitriol has shifted from active shouting to a cold, uncomfortable silence.
The Legal Fallout That Changed Everything
If you’re looking for a "guilty" verdict, you won’t find one. That’s the part that still makes people's blood boil. Christopher and Roberta were never charged with a crime. Not for helping Brian, not for what they knew, not for anything.
Instead, the battles happened in civil court. By early 2024, the Laundries reached a confidential settlement with Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt. This effectively ended the emotional distress lawsuit that accused them of knowing Gabby was dead while her parents were still desperately searching.
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- The "Burn After Reading" Letter: This was a huge sticking point. Roberta wrote a letter to Brian offering to "bring a shovel and garbage bags" if he needed to dispose of a body. She claimed it was written before the trip, but the Petito family’s lawyers used it to paint a picture of a mother willing to do anything to cover for her son.
- The $3 Million Judgment: A Florida judge previously awarded the Petitos $3 million in a wrongful death suit against Brian’s estate. Since Brian had nowhere near that amount, the money was mostly symbolic, meant to fund the Gabby Petito Foundation.
- The 2024 Settlement: This was the big one. After a marathon mediation session, both families "reluctantly" agreed to settle. We don't know the dollar amount. We probably never will.
The Sister Who Walked Away
While Chris and Roberta stayed together, the family itself is fractured beyond repair. Cassie Laundrie, Brian’s sister, has basically cut ties.
She was the only one who really talked to the media early on. She stood on her driveway and told reporters she wanted Gabby found safe. Later, it came out that she had gone on a camping trip with Brian and her parents after he returned home without Gabby.
As of late 2025 and into 2026, Cassie has publicly stated she has been "non-contact" with her parents for years. She has been focused on her own kids and advocating for suicide awareness and domestic violence prevention. It’s a complete 180 from the wall of silence her parents built.
Why They Haven't Left North Port
It’s the question everyone asks. Why stay in a house that the whole world recognizes?
- Financial Constraints: Lawsuits are expensive. Between the $3 million judgment against the estate and years of high-end legal fees for Steven Bertolino, their primary attorney, moving might not be as easy as it sounds.
- The "Wait and See" Strategy: In their minds, they’ve done nothing wrong. Staying put is a way of asserting that they won't be bullied out of their lives, even if those lives are now lived mostly behind closed curtains.
- The Florida Privacy Laws: Florida has specific laws that make it a bit easier to protect certain assets, which might be a factor in why they haven't liquidated everything and disappeared.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Case
People often think the Laundries "got away" with something. Legally, they didn't break the law by staying silent. In the U.S., you generally don't have a legal obligation to report a crime or speak to the police, even if it's your own son. It feels wrong, and many believe it is morally wrong, but it’s not a crime.
Another misconception is that they are living some sort of high life. By all accounts, their world is incredibly small. They are pariahs. They can't go to a local restaurant without being recognized. They can't go for a walk without someone potentially snapping a photo. That’s a prison of a different kind.
The Legacy of the Petito Case
While the Laundries are living in the shadows, Gabby's family has done the opposite. They’ve turned their grief into a powerhouse for change.
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- The Gabby Petito Foundation: They’ve raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help find missing persons.
- Legislative Wins: Because of this case, Florida and other states have passed "Gabby’s Law" and other domestic violence legislation to help police identify "lethality" in domestic stops—something the Moab police famously failed to do.
- The Appeal in Utah: Even now in 2026, the legal fight continues against the Moab Police Department. A judge dismissed a $50 million lawsuit recently, but the Petito family is appealing, trying to hold the system accountable for not protecting Gabby when she was sitting in the back of a police car, crying and bruised.
What Happens Next?
Don't expect a public apology. It’s just not going to happen. The Laundries have consistently maintained they were "mourning their son" and acting on legal advice.
The most likely future for the Laundrie family is a slow fade into obscurity. As the 2021-2022 frenzy becomes a distant memory, they will likely continue to live quietly in Florida, hoping the world eventually looks the other way.
If you want to stay updated on the legal precedents being set by this case, you can follow the Gabby Petito Foundation or monitor the Utah Supreme Court filings regarding the Moab police appeal. These are the areas where the story is still actually being written, long after the van was towed away.
Actionable Insight: If you or someone you know is in a situation involving domestic violence, do not wait for the "right time" to leave. You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. The most dangerous time in an abusive relationship is the period immediately after a victim decides to leave; having a safety plan in place is essential.