Opinion: There's a page missing in Gabby Petito murder story

When Brian Laundrie was a child, years before he killed his girlfriend, he enjoyed listening to the books his mother Roberta would read.

Among them were "The Runaway Bunny" and "Little Bear." They are essentially stories about returning home and the power of a mother's love.

Through the years, Brian and Roberta had a very "open and communicative relationship," though it was starting to fracture at the end of May 2021. Roberta was concerned so she wrote him a letter.

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She says she gave it to him just days before he left North Port in a van with his girlfriend, Gabby Petito, on June 2, 2021.

Petito was strangled to death in Wyoming in August 2021 by the hands of Brian Laundrie. After the killing, Laundrie returned home to North Port. His remains were eventually found on Oct. 20, 2021 in the Carlton Reserve. His death was ruled a suicide.

Found in his backpack was a confession letter, and another letter that said "Burn after Reading" on the cover.

That letter was given to him by his mother.

In the letter were phrases similar to those found in "The Runaway Bunny" and "Little Bear."

The phrases had nothing to do with Gabby Petito's murder or any knowledge Roberta Laundrie had of it, she claimed in an affidavit filed March 1 in Circuit Court in Sarasota.

Besides, Roberta Laundrie claimed the letter was written before Brian and Gabby embarked on their trip, even though there was no date on the letter.

This is part of Roberta Laundrie's explanation for the letter's contents from a lawsuit filed by Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, Gabby's parents. It is the first time her thoughts have been expressed publicly.

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There's more, as Roberta Laundrie contends that Petito once gave her son a book called "Burn after Writing."

The book contains questions that the reader answers. At the end of the book the reader is instructed to write their own book based on the answers and then "Burn after Writing."

Brian and Gabby often joked about the book, according to Roberta Laundrie's affidavit.

This, according to Roberta Laundrie, is why it said "Burn after Reading," on the letter. It was another reference to a book.

"In short, I was trying to connect with Brian to repair our relationship as he was planning to leave home," she wrote. "I had hoped this letter would remind him how much I loved him.

"While I used words that seem to have a connection with Brian's actions and his taking of Gabby's life, I never would have fathomed the events that unfolded months later between Brian and Gabby would reflect the words in my letter."

Maybe Roberta Laundrie's explanation for the letter's contents is valid -- who knows? -- but there is one glaring omission.

Patrick Reilly, the attorney for Joseph Petito and Nichole Schmidt, has alleged in court documents that Roberta Laundrie offered in the letter to "bring a shovel to help bury the body."

Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney who was given the letter by the FBI and has it in his possession, has denied the claim and accused Reilly of sensationalism.

Still, why didn't Roberta Laundrie address bringing "a shovel to help bury the body" in her affidavit?

Why didn't she deny it?

Or attempt to explain it?

Maybe because it's hard to find that particular reference in a children's book.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Brian Laundrie's mom avoids troubling accusation in Petito murder case