WASHINGTON, Feb 22, (Agencies): The families of Gabrielle "Gabby" Petito and her fiancé Brian Laundrie have reached a settlement in the emotional distress civil lawsuit filed by Petito's parents against Laundrie's parents.

The resolution emerged during a mediation session held on Wednesday, involving Joe Petito and Nichole Schmidt (Gabby's parents) and Chris and Roberta Laundrie (Brian's parents). In the absence of the settlement, the case was scheduled to go to trial in May.

Laundrie family lawyer Steve Bertolino confirmed the development, stating, "Christopher and Roberta Laundrie and I participated in mediation with the Petito family and the civil lawsuit has now been resolved. The terms of the resolution are confidential, and we look forward to putting this matter behind us."

The Petito family, through their lawyer, released their own statement, noting that all parties reluctantly agreed to the settlement to avoid further legal expenses and prolonged personal conflict. The statement emphasized the family's desire to close this chapter and move forward while continuing to honor the legacy of their daughter, Gabby.

The settlement addresses the emotional distress lawsuit initiated by Petito's parents against Laundrie's parents. The Petito family had alleged that the Laundries were aware of Gabby's demise and the location of her deceased body. This legal action followed a nationwide search for Gabby, who went missing during a cross-country road trip with Brian in the summer of 2021, documented on YouTube.