Gabby Petito's father remembers his deceased daughter.
On Tuesday, August 27, Gabby's father Joseph gave an emotional memorial speech on the third anniversary of her death.
“Three years ago tonight you were taken from us,” his caption read, next to a photo of him and Gabby at Fish Spa Therapy. “We can't stop crying when we think of you. There's no waking up from this nightmare.”
He added: “We will keep going for you and everyone you have inspired and nothing can stop us. I ask everyone reading this to please share a flyer today that says #MissingPerson. #EveryoneDeservesTheEqualAttention #GabbyPetito #DomesticViolence #TogetherWeCanDoThis.”
In the photo, Gabby and her dad laughed while putting their feet in containers of water and fish at a fish pedicure spa.
FBI Denver/ZUMA Press Wire Service/Shutterstock
Gabby was last heard from in August 2021, while she was on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie. Laundrie returned to his parents' home in Florida on September 1 without Gabby, and 10 days later she was reported missing. Laundrie was named as a suspect in Gabby's disappearance on September 15.
Her body was found on September 19 in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. The medical examiner ruled it a homicide and that she died by “manual strangulation.” She was 22 years old at the time.
The body of 23-year-old Laundrie was found in a park in North Port, Florida, on October 20. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Laundrie was identified as Gabby's killer in January 2022 after a notebook found near his remains contained a written confession in which he took responsibility for her death.
Joseph also celebrated Gabby's 25th birthday in March by sharing the same photo of them at Fish Spa Therapy.
“Happy 25th birthday #GabbyPetito our angel. We love and miss you. ?,” his caption read.
Meanwhile, Joseph told PEOPLE in June how the Gabby Petito Foundation supports missing people of color.
“There is a hierarchy when it comes to sharing missing persons flyers,” he said. “First it's children, then white women, then women of color.”
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“We want to help all missing people,” he added. “If the media doesn't continue to do that for all people, then it's a shame because Gabby isn't the only one who deserves this.”
