“American Murder: Gabby Petito” is a true crime documentary released on Feb. 17, 2025. It follows Gabby Petito’s life story and shows the timeline before her disappearance and death. Petito had gone on a cross-country trip with her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie, but never returned home. The documentary shows clips of the mini vlogs Petito had made and numerous interviews with her family and close friends. They expressed how wonderful Petito’s life was and talked through her story.

This documentary was a relatively short film consisting of three 30 to 45-minute episodes. These episodes still manage to go into depth about Petito’s case. Many people from various associations worked hard on her case and searched relentlessly to find where she had disappeared. Modern technology, such as surveillance cameras and social media apps, significantly narrowed down where Petito was last seen. A couple, Jenn and Kyle Bethune, discovered Petito’s van on the side of a road in Wyoming’s Grand Teton National Park. This detail would later help to seal the case.

The ending of the documentary gave closure, but the details regarding the Laundries made it seem like there could’ve been more to the story. Through this documentary, it brought awareness to both missing persons and domestic violence cases. All Petito wanted was to have a voice and reach audiences, which she did before her passing, but now more than ever. Unfortunately, she gained fame after her passing, but her story has moved the hearts of many. In the end, Petito’s documentary is a good watch for those interested in true crime or wanting to learn more about her case.