Did Brian Laundrie Have a Hero's Journey? | Analysis of Notebook Left by Gabby Petito's Killer

This video answers the question: Can I analyze the note left by Gabby Petito’s killer Brian Laundrie. which was made public in June 2022?

Dr. Grande’s book Harm Reduction:

References:

[Kayavod]

I liked how you said: "Gabby Petito's killer, Bryan Laundrie". Sometimes murderers get an undeserved protagonism, and it was a nice way to put first the person who really matters.

[CharGC]

He never got her help, but instead "mercy" killed her, abandoned her body to the elements, then drove her van home to mommy and daddy while spending her money! Gee, how could anyone doubt his story? Dirty Laundrie indeed!

[ivoted-]

He wanted us to think he was “complicated” when he was just a simple narcissistic abuser who knew he did not deserve her.

[stansbruv]

“Brian’s last communication was an attempt to explain how he loved the person that he killed more than anything in the world. It offers a glimpse into the distorted thinking of a murderer and how they justify negative behavior with positive feelings. There is a tragic element in Gabbi Petito’s story, namely how she was killed by someone who said he loved her. Brian attempted to hijack this tragedy to cover his shame and to create this fantasy of a glorious relationship where he was actually the hero, but he only further revealed the depths of his self-centeredness, arrogance and sense of entitlement.”

Mic dropped

[JustinTaylor-bmtw]

I honestly believe this note was left behind as the final opportunity for a narcissist to stroke their own ego one last time. Or to convince himself he was a good person through the distorted view of reality narrative he probably told himself again and again and again.

[kkheflin]

So the love of your life falls and hits her head and goes into hypothermia and the solution is to strangle her to death? Makes no sense. Absolutely none. He was still manipulating people with this notebook until the end of his miserable cowardly life. Brian thought he was a character in one of those bizarre novels he read all the time. What a martyr. His parents released this notebook IMO to make the world not so "angry" with Brian. Good luck with that Laundries.

[emilyhollis]

He had all that time on the run and that's the best he could come up with?!? Quite unbelievable.
Thanks Dr Grande!

[GinaHarmeyer]

He's such a bad liar. I was sickened by his attempts to make himself look like some kind of hero. He even said in the note he didn't know what her injuries were. Interesting that without that knowledge (which is probably all a fabrication anyway) he would choose to kill her rather than go find help. It's pretty clear that he killed her for other reasons based on the body cam footage from Moab. It seemed like he was trying to find a way to get rid of her at that time by trying to leave her stranded somewhere. He didn't want her around. He probably blamed her for the run-in with the police. My heart goes out to Gabby. I agree that she was just too young to understand the situation she was in. She trusted him and probably never thought he'd kill her :(

[fulanichild]

One of the most shocking things about this note is that Brian actually thought people would believe it.

[danajohnson]

The fact that he thought this was a good idea and anyone would believe it is insane.

[Catlily]

If you want someone by your side it helps not to murder them.

[tertalkseventsday]

Coming from living with an abuser for 10 long years that I met when I was just 18, your analysis was absolutely spot on. My ex acted the same exact way. And, had it not been for nosy friends and intrusive family, I would have suffered the same horrible fate as poor Gabby.

[pattyengler]

Thank you, Dr. Grande, for your analysis of the letter. I have had a gut feeling that as Gabby and Brian's trip continued, being with each other in tight quarters in that van and with each other 24/7, that perhaps Gabby was realizing that Brian wasn't the one for her. After the Utah incident, I suspect that friction only continued to escalate to the point that he killed her in a rage. Gabby reminded me alot of Shannon Watts..how both of them portrayed their relationships so positively in social media, when in actuality, the relationships were both troubled. Thank you for all the insightful programs that you make.

[sharonreeves]

Why yes. I thought everyone knew strangulation was an act of mercy. He could not even be truthful before his own suicide. Brian Laundrie was a total sociopath. He did not want to face what he had done or face the consequences of his actions.

[CCaravasi]

“She was not able to appreciate the warning signs” I find this statement profound! When love between two people begins those rose colored glasses come on and any red flags often blend in or just get dismissed entirely. I like that you worded it in this way because if we all operated from our higher mind, appreciation is exactly how we should feel when things don’t present themselves as they seem. Warning signs should be APPRECIATED!! that’ll stick with me forever. Thank you Dr. Grande

[robotaholic]

If a person could murder then they sure as hell can lie. He's a liar and I don't believe anything he wrote. Period. He didn't deserve to touch a hair on her head.

[chumchum]

Narcissist at its core. Even in death a narcissist will never take responsibility.

[biblia]

My husband and I followed this case. As soon as I watched the police footage, I knew he was guilty. He was very obviously manipulating the cops to think she was just an overly-dramatic female stressed about him getting the van dirty. She was the one crying and being emotional and he was coming off as the rational man in the situation. Those cops, who sounded like they were young and naive themselves, bought it.

[DarthFurie]

I can't believe he had the audacity to make up a story about her begging to d!e and to say it was a "mercy k!lling"... what a sicko!!

[markgordon]

The note has a demented quality that reminds me of interviews of murderers I've listened to where they give their rationales for murdering. The narrative that Laundrie produces is stunningly arbitrary and illogical and incoherent and gives the impression that he's way, way out there in narcissism land. Murdering Gabby is rendered as part of a care strategy.