Who is Joseph Petito & Nichole Schmidt? Gabby Petito’s Parents, Facts You Need to Know

Gabby Petito’s parents are Joseph and Nichole Schmidt. The days passed after her body was found planning his funeral and working on a base to remember it: the Gabby Petito Foundation.

Petito was reported missing on September 11, 2021, 10 days after her fiancé, Brian laundries 23-year-old returned from a road trip without her. The remains of the 22-year-old Van Life blogger were found on Sunday, September 19, 2021, in Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. Officials are conducting a search for Laundrie in the Carlton Reserve, a swampy nature preserve in Florida.

An arrest warrant was issued for Laundrie on Thursday, September 23, 2021, related to accusations from the Wyoming federal court regarding the use of “unauthorized devices” following Petito’s death. according to NBC News. Officials told NBC that the arrest warrant is related to allegations that he used a debit card that he was not allowed to use, and is not directly related to Petito’s death.

Petito’s family will hold a public memorial service for her today, Sunday, September 26, 2021, with an empty urn

A line had formed outside the Moloney Funeral Home in Holbrook for Gabby Petito’s funeral services, according to Associated Press. Among the group was a line of firefighters, and a fire truck was stationed on either side of the building, with raised ladders, the article said.

Fox News reported that the FBI has yet to turn over Petito’s body and that, instead, the family is using an empty urn during their funeral services. A medical examiner ruled that he died of homicide, but his official cause of death remains pending a final autopsy.

“Services for our sweet Gabby will be held at Moloney Funeral Home in Holbrook on Sunday, September 26 from 12 pm to 5 pm”, Joseph Petito wrote on Twitter. “Thank you all for your support and love.”

Gabby Petito’s Family posted a commemorative video for the young woman on the Moloney Funeral Home website. It included videos of his life, photos of his childhood, photos with family and friends, and iconic moments from his short life.

In loving memory. Gabby Petito: 1999 – 2021, ”the video read, along with a photo of the Petito family when he was younger.

The funeral will be held from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2021 at Moloney Funeral Home in Holbrook, Staten Island, New York. according to his obituary.

“In lieu of flowers, Gabby’s family is asking for donations for the future Gabby Petito Foundation. Donations can be made electronically at http://Johnnymacfoundation.org. Thanks.”

In just over 24 hours, the Moloney Funeral Home Facebook post had nearly 300 comments.

“Rest in peace beautiful girl! Fly high with the angels! Sending love and prayers to Gabby’s family and friends! Praying for your strength and healing in the days ahead! Praying for justice … from Idaho, ”read one comment.

“For Gabby’s mom, dad, family and friends. My heart breaks along with yours over the loss of Gabby. I hope and pray that justice is done so that she can rest in peace and all of you can, in time, close this senseless tragedy. I wish I could take away some of the pain you’re feeling. God bless you and God bless Gabby, ”wrote another person.

Nichole Schmidt, mother of Gabby Petito, is a long-time volunteer and board member of the Johnny Mac Foundation.

Schmidt was described as a “longtime volunteer and current board member for Johnny Mac” at the Johnny Mac Foundation website. Schmidt is listed as a board member and community liaison at the website dashboard page.

The Johnny Mac Foundation is a memorial fund created in memory of John F. McNamara, an FDNY firefighter who died aged 44 from cancer related to his Ground Zero response within 500 hours of September 11, 2001. according to the National Association of Fallen Firefighters.

“Gabby is the daughter of Nichole Schmidt, a longtime volunteer and current Johnny Mac board member. Funds donated via the link below will be used for family expenses,” the website says, along with a donation link.

The foundation was formed on the basis of McNamara’s dying wishes, which his wife, Jennifer, found after his death. according to the mission statement of the Johnny Mac Foundation.

Says:

The Foundation’s mission is to honor the essence of who John was and continue his inspiring work, not only to see the Community Center project come to life, but to continue the selfless spirit of Johnny Mac by supporting other organizations loved by your heart groups. dedicated to the support of Firefighters and Rescuers.

After John died, hidden in her hospital bag, Jennifer found a list of things John wanted her to do if he didn’t survive. One of those things was the construction of a community center in Blue Point, New York, where John, Jenn and Jack lived. Jennifer formed the FDNY Firefighter John F. McNamara Foundation, also known as The Johnny Mac Foundation, to fulfill that wish. The Foundation is now working tirelessly to build the community center that John envisioned, which will be the cornerstone of community, family, and camaraderie, just as John did.

Donations to the Gabby Petito Foundation can be made through the Johnny Mac Foundation here or through PayPal here with a note to send funds to the Gabby Petito Foundation.

The family said the donations will be used for “family expenses” in the donation page. Joseph Petito asked that donations be made to the Gabby Petito Foundation in lieu of flowers.

“In lieu of flowers for service, please send donations to the Future Gabby Petito Foundation through the Johnny Mac Foundation,” she wrote on Twitter, sharing donation links, along with a photo of her daughter with angel wings and a halo. “We appreciate all the support.”

 Gabby Petito’s parents started the Gabby Petito Foundation to help parents of missing persons bring their children home.

Gabby Petito’s family is in the process of creating the future Gabby Petito Foundation, her father, Joseph Petito wrote on Twitter.

Jose Petito shared a link to the Gabby Petito Foundation website Saturday night and wrote on Twitter about the organization.

“The Gabby Petito Foundation. No one should have to search for your child on their own. We are creating this foundation to provide resources and guidance on how to bring your children home. We seek to help people in situations similar to Gabby’s, ”he wrote.

The family established a website for the future Gabby Petito Foundation, which includes a picture of Petito with angel wings and a halo.

“In response to the overwhelming outreach, we are establishing the Gabby Petito Foundation. Come back and visit us as we develop a mission statement to advance Gabby’s memory, ”the website says.

Joseph Petito said his daughter’s Instagram page is all he has left of her

Gabby Petito’s father, Joseph Petito, told the PEOPLE cried when your daughter’s Instagram page was briefly removed. Although she was quickly restored, she said her account was the only thing she had left of her little girl. At the time of the interview with PEOPLE, Petito’s body had not yet been found.

“I cried for about 10 minutes,” said Joseph Petito after the page was removed. “I am not naive about how these stories tend to end. So if it ends that way, and that’s a big yes, those photos were all I had left. ”

Joseph Petito described his daughter as “amazing” in his interview with PEOPLE.

“She is so artistic. She is an amazing artist. He loves to draw. She has a great eye for decoration … She’s that flower girl kind of personality. The old soul, you know? TOLD PEOPLE.

He added: “If Woodstock was still going, she would still be there, man. She’s a 60s hippie, okay? He’s a Beatles fan, round glasses … a free spirit. ”

 Schmidt told investigators that the latest text messages he received from his daughter’s phone raised suspicions

Petito’s mother, Nichole Schmidt, told investigators that the latest text message she received from her daughter’s phone made her suspicious, especially in hindsight. according to WFLA. Schmidt told authorities that a text message dated August 27, 2021 was one of the last he received. That was also the day the witnesses said they saw Petito and Laundrie in a discussion at The Merry Piglets restaurant.

“Can you help Stan? I keep getting his voicemails and missed calls,” the text read, according to a search warrant reviewed by WFLA.

Schmidt said that Stan is Gabby Petito’s grandfather, but that Petito never referred to his grandfather by his first name.

According to The DeseretPetito’s attorney, Richard Stafford, said another text message came from Petito’s phone that said “No service from Yosemite.”

His social media activity ceased on August 25, 2021, two days before his mother received the text message referring to “Stan.”