Gabby Petito’s distraught mom says she believes missing roadtripper is ‘going to come home’ after mystery disappearance

THE distraught mom of missing 22-year-old Gabby Petito has said she has a gut feeling that her daughter will come home.

Nichole Schmidt and her husband Joe Petito, Gabby's father, appeared in front of the press at their attorney’s office on Monday, where Nicole said she believes that “a mother’s instinct is the most powerful.”

Gabby Petito was last seen on August 24 and was reported missing on Saturday, September 11.

She was last sighted leaving a hotel with Brian Laundrie, who conflicting reports have characterized as her boyfriend or fiancé.

Laundrie has since returned home to Florida alone and has hired a lawyer, according to reports.

When Gabby -originally from Long Island, New York - left her Florida home in early July for a cross-country roadtrip with Laundrie, her mother wasn’t worried.

“As a mom, I had concerns about a daughter going on a road trip in general,” Nicole said. “But I felt safe...They had a plan, an itinerary, and we were excited for them.”

Gabby was supposed to conclude the trip by reaching Portland, Oregon in late October, but her family lost contact with her at the end of August. 

She last posted photos on her Instagram profile on August 25 and was on a FaceTime call with her mom just days before.

Gabby’s mom Nichole received texts from her phone until August 30, but couldn’t confirm if Gabby was the person who sent them.