Gabby Petito’s father speaks for first time since Laundrie settlement, pushes for new domestic violence bill

Garrett Phillips
·2 min read
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Gabby Petito’s father speaks for first time since Laundrie settlement, pushes for new domestic violence bill

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Joseph Petito, Gabby’s father, gave his first live interview since coming to a settlement agreement with the parents of Brian Laundrie on WFLANow’s #HeyJB Live.

Gabby Petito was found dead on Sept. 19, 2021, in Grand Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Brian Laundrie took his own life in late October 2021.

Joseph Petito is pushing for a new bill that could help prevent domestic violence homicides in Florida.

SB 638, which passed 8-0 through the Senate Committee on Criminal Justice on Wednesday, would bring a Lethality Assessment Program to Florida. This would give Florida law enforcement training to identify victims of intimate partner violence who are at higher risk of death or serious injuries.

The bill outlines 12 questions law enforcement officers would use to help determine the risk:

  • Did the aggressor ever use a weapon against you or threaten you with a weapon?

  • Did the aggressor ever threaten to kill you or your children?

  • Do you believe the aggressor will try to kill you?

  • Has the aggressor ever choked you or attempted to choke you?

  • Does the aggressor have a gun or could the aggressor easily obtain a gun?

  • Is the aggressor violently or constantly jealous?

  • Does the aggressor control most of your daily activities?

  • Does the aggressor reside in the same household with you?

  • Is the aggressor employed?

  • To the best of your knowledge, has the aggressor ever attempted suicide?

  • Do you have a child whom the aggressor believes is not the aggressor’s biological child?

  • Has the aggressor ever followed, spied on, or left threatening messages for you?

If it is determined the domestic violence victim is at high risk, first responders would then connect them with a local domestic violence service program.

The Lethality Assessment Program was developed in 2003 by the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence. The program is used in 32 states, presently.

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