Yoonseo Lee
Image by Ella Koehler
The countless cases of victims reported missing frequently unfold in tragedy. Most remain unrecognized from others in the crowd, and are referred to as just one in a thousand. Despite the tragic
unsolved cases that have failed to attract publicity and attention from the media, the recent Petito case has. Since the moment Gabby Petito was reported missing to when she was confirmed dead, her case has been spotlighted with significant public attention.
On August 27, Gabby Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie adopted a “van life” lifestyle and embarked upon a cross-country trip to visit state and national parks. Soon, Laundrie returned to his Florida home alone without Petito. She was soon reported missing and speculations of her absence pointed to Laundrie, who declined all inquiries regarding his fiancé’s case. After further investigation, Petito was found dead near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
Laundrie was recently reported missing and eventually found dead when special task forces and police officials attempted to question him due to his identification as a “person of interest” in the missing homicide case. Gabby Petito has attracted immense media obsession through her social media presence provided with the wide availability of the case evidence, her unassisted mental health crisis, and the alleged media bias from the “missing white woman syndrome”.
Petito and Laundrie shared their lives through social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube. Vlogging their van life and updating viewers about their cross-country trip, the couple seemed to be having the time of their lives. The two even announced major milestones such as their engagement on these platforms.
When Petito was reported dead and officials announced Laundrie as a person of interest, the public was stunned by the unexpected accusation. Many individuals felt immediate curiosity to investigate further into the case, especially younger generations who related to Petito’s social media presence. Private investigators opened their own investigations as social media platforms sensationalized her case and content creators spread information about Petito. This type of attention was rare considering that the case was yet to receive a formal investigation.
Social media sleuths soon uncovered Petito and Laundrie’s abusive relationship. In an interaction with police, body camera footage pointed to domestic violence. Although Gabby Petito admitted to being a victim of abuse, law enforcement concluded that the couple’s case was simply an excusable quarrel; the indifferent eyes meant to protect her were unable to recognize her call for help. Because Petito was experiencing mental health issues that limited her from being cognizant of the nature of her relationship, she was unable to confront her abusive situation.
THE INDIFFERENT EYES MEANT TO PROTECT HER WERE UNABLE TO RECOGNIZE HER CALL FOR HELP.
As the tragedy of Petito’s relationship continued to unfold, the public began to view Petito as an emblem of police incompetence regarding mental health and domestic abuse. The public felt deep sorrow for Petito’s death when nothing had been done even after she called for help. People found it necessary to recognize how a mental health crisis that appeared inconsequential eventually led to extreme casualties; they determined that seemingly minor signs must be acknowledged while conducting further investigations on one’s situation. While Petito’s case is tragic, it is essential to recognize that similar cases in the past have not received equivalent media coverage. According to the Black and Missing Foundation, a nonprofit organization which raises awareness about missing people of color, there are more than 600,000 individuals currently missing. Similarly, Wyoming’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons Task Force reports that throughout 2011 to 2020, approximately 710 indigenous people—mostly women and girls—were reported missing. All of these cases deserved media attention and justice.
A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS THAT APPEARED INCONSEQUENTIAL EVENTUALLY LED TO EXTREME CASUALTIES
Compared to other missing women, Gabby Petito received extraordinary amounts of support from officials. Through Petito’s case, a pattern of racial favoritism became apparent amongst the missing population, referred to as the “missing white woman syndrome,” where certain victims are highlighted over others due to their racial background. The case of Gabby Petito along with others who fit her description have been overly spotlighted by the media from the start.
ALL MISSING VICTIMS DESERVE ATTENTION AND CLOSURE WITH JUSTICE.
Gabby Petito was a victim whom society remorsed for realizing that she was simply an ordinary young woman trying to live her best life. The Petito case reveals that media attention should not solely be about race, but also about safely returning people home. No family of a victim should need to advocate for more public attention or their importance as a person. All missing victims deserve attention and closure with justice.
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