Crime has a ripple effect—it doesn’t just impact the victim and the accused but also deeply affects their families and friends. This was evident in the tragic case of Gabby Petito, a 22-year-old van-life influencer whose life was cut short in a devastating turn of events. The case, which shocked the nation, has now been turned into a three-part docuseries, shedding light on the details surrounding her disappearance and murder.
While most of the focus has been on Gabby and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, the tragedy also had a profound impact on their families, including Brian’s sister, Cassie Laundrie. The recent release of the docuseries has sparked renewed curiosity about her, especially regarding her relationship with her parents and her stance on the tragic case.
All you need to know about Brian Laundrie’s elder sister Cassie Laundrie
Cassie Laundrie, born nearly a decade before Brian, was more than just his older sister—she had built a life of her own long before tragedy struck. Married to James “Jimmy” Luycx since 2015, she’s a mother of two and was living in Florida when everything unfolded. Ironically, Brian and Gabby’s move to the state was reportedly influenced by his desire to be closer to Cassie and her kids, showing the bond they once shared.
Before the events that changed everything, Cassie never had anything bad to say about Brian. In fact, she often described him as a great uncle and someone she could always count on. When she appeared on Good Morning America in October 2021, she spoke warmly about their time together—but that was before she fully understood the gravity of what had happened.
One particular incident that gained attention was a family camping trip at Fort De Soto in Florida. This took place after Brian returned home in August 2021—without Gabby. At the time, nothing seemed unusual. Cassie later recalled it as a regular visit, filled with food, s’mores, and casual conversations. There were no red flags, no signs that something was wrong. She said (via ABC News),
We just went for a couple of hours and we ate dinner and had s’mores around the campfire and left, and there was nothing peculiar about it. There was no feeling of grand goodbye. There was no nothing. I’m frustrated that, in hindsight, I didn’t pick up on anything. It was just a regular visit.
After her brother disappeared she said,
I worry about him. I hope he’s OK, and then I’m angry and I don’t know what to think. I hope my brother is alive because I want answers just as much as everybody else.
But in hindsight, people wonder—should she have noticed something? Could she have picked up on any warning signs? These lingering questions have followed her, especially with the recent docuseries reigniting interest in her role. While Cassie insists she had no knowledge of what was happening behind the scenes, her connection to Brian continues to keep her name in the conversation.
Cassie Laundrie has no contact with her parents
Losing a sibling is devastating, no matter the circumstances. When Brian died by suicide in 2021, Cassie was left to navigate a storm of emotions. Not only was she grieving her brother, but she was also dealing with the public scrutiny that came with being a Laundrie.
Since Brian’s passing, Cassie has used social media as a space to share her journey of healing. In September 2022, exactly one year after her brother’s death, she took to Facebook to post a heartfelt tribute, emphasizing the importance of suicide awareness. She wrote,
I miss and think about my brother everyday. Today marks one year I’ve been without him but it’s worse than that & not for Facebook. I just want to remind my friends here that they are loved always and no matter what you’re going through, life is beautiful even in the pain.
Every year since, she has continued to acknowledge the anniversary of his death, advocating for mental health awareness and breaking the stigma surrounding domestic violence against men.
But despite her online presence, one thing has remained constant—she has completely cut ties with her parents, Christopher and Roberta Laundrie. Their relationship deteriorated, and by the time the Netflix docuseries, American Murder: Gabby Petito was released in 2025, Cassie made it clear that she hadn’t spoken to them in nearly two years.
Her decision to distance herself became even more understandable when the lawsuit between her parents and Gabby’s family came to light. Gabby’s parents, Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, accused Christopher and Roberta of withholding crucial information about their daughter’s murder and her whereabouts. Though Cassie was not directly implicated in the lawsuit, the situation undoubtedly caused the divide within her family.
On the day the docuseries premiered, Cassie addressed the ongoing chatter by posting a firm message on Instagram, reiterating that she had been out of touch with her parents for almost two years. She wrote,
If you’re new here. And just starting to attack me today. I’ve been non contact with my parents for almost two years. Have fun.
She wanted to make it clear—she was not on their side, and she had no involvement in covering up her brother’s actions.
Cassie Laundrie opened up in the docuseries American Murder: Gabby Petito
In the recently released Netflix docuseries, Cassie opened up about her personal struggles following the tragic events. She described how the situation had left her feeling like she had lost everything—her parents, her brother, and even the future sister-in-law who might have become part of their family. She explained that, just like the rest of the world, she and her family were learning about the details of the case through the news. She said (via E! Online),
I am losing my parents and my brother and my children’s aunt and future sister-in-law on top of this. We have literally been finding everything out with the news like everybody else.
However, Cassie’s statements didn’t sit well with everyone. Gabby Petito’s parents revealed in the series that they had reached out to Cassie multiple times while searching for their daughter, only to be met with silence. This revelation led many to question whether Cassie was truly as uninvolved as she claimed.
Since the series’ release, Cassie has taken to social media to defend herself against criticism. She made it clear that she has no allegiance to her parents and addressed the backlash from online users, explaining that she had been estranged from them for years. In one of her Instagram posts, she called out those attacking her online, stating that she had already been estranged from her parents for years.
She also addressed a statement made by Suffolk County detective Tracey Barry, who previously claimed that Cassie had shared details about Brian’s whereabouts during Gabby’s disappearance. Cassie strongly denied these claims, insisting that her words had been misinterpreted. She wrote
No one from my family contacted me until detective Barry called me. Det. Barry gravely miscommunicated what I told her in the phone.
Despite all of this, Cassie continues to live her life outside the public eye as much as possible. She remains active on social media, using her platform to spread awareness about mental health and domestic violence, but she is firm about maintaining her distance from her past.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
