AceShowbiz - Nicole Schmidt, Gabby Petito's mother, has offered a complex and emotional response to the tragic death of her daughter. In a speech at CrimeCon 2024, Schmidt revealed she has forgiven Brian Laundrie, the man responsible for the 22-year-old's murder.

"I forgive you," Schmidt said, addressing Laundrie. "I needed to release myself from the chains of anger and bitterness."

However, Schmidt held no such forgiveness for Laundrie's parents, Roberta and Christopher Laundrie. She accused them of being complicit in their son's flight from justice and of adding to her family's suffering.

Schmidt's comments came as part of a civil lawsuit her family filed against the Laundries for emotional distress. The lawsuit alleged that the couple knew about Laundrie's crime and withheld information that could have helped authorities find Petito's body.

Court documents revealed that Laundrie called his parents multiple times in the days following his murder of Petito. He told his mother that Petito was "gone" and he needed a lawyer, but both parents denied being told by their son that he had killed his fiance.

Roberta Laundrie admitted that she believed "probably went through my mind" when her son mentioned Petito being "gone."

Despite the settlement of the lawsuit, Schmidt remains steadfast in her belief that the Laundries were aware of their son's heinous act. She has called for Roberta Laundrie to be arrested and described her as "pure evil."

In a poignant tribute to her daughter, Schmidt described Petito as a "bright light" with boundless potential. She vowed to continue fighting for justice in her name.

"We will continue to honor her memory, to cherish the moments we shared, and to fight tirelessly for justice and change in her name," Schmidt said. "Let Gabby's legacy serve as a beacon of hope in the world, where such senseless violence and injustice are eradicated."