Parents of Gabby Petito to speak in Boise on domestic violence
The parents of murder victim Gabby Petito are hoping to raise awareness about domestic violence by speaking in Boise this month.
Petito’s parents and stepparents —Nichole and Jim Schmidt, and Joseph and Tara Petito— will serve as the keynote speakers for the Faces of Courage 2026 event at 5:30 p.m. April 30 at the downtown Boise Centre.
It will mark the fifth annual domestic violence awareness event hosted by Faces of Hope, a Boise nonprofit that offers crisis services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, child abuse, elder abuse, stalking and human trafficking.
“Through their advocacy, they’ve become powerful national voices for domestic violence prevention, using their family’s story to help survivors feel seen, heard, and supported,” Faces of Hope said on its website.
Petito was a 22-year-old travel blogger who caught the public’s attention after she went missing while on a cross-country road trip with her fiancé, Brian Laundrie in August 2021. Laundrie raised suspicion when he returned home without Petito.
Law enforcement located Petito’s remains in Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming following a highly publicized search. The Teton County Coroner’s Office concluded Petito had died of “blunt-force injuries to the head and neck, with manual strangulation.” Laundrie admitted to killing her in a note before dying by suicide in Florida, according to the FBI.
Petito’s parents are in the midst of a national tour to bring more awareness about the need for domestic violence prevention.
“The Petito and Schmidt families continue to transform their unimaginable loss into action, awareness, and hope — and we are deeply grateful to have them join us in Boise,” Faces of Courage said.
Faces of Courage said the event will raise money to help local survivors “ find safety, legal support, counseling, crisis intervention and compassionate care.”
Tickets start at $150 on the Faces of Hope website.
