Family
Nichole Schmidt
Gabby's mother
1 case·50 media appearances
Profile
RoleFamily
Role detailGabby's mother
About
Nichole Schmidt is the mother of Gabby Petito. After Gabby failed to respond to calls and texts in late August 2021, Schmidt reported her daughter missing to the Suffolk County Police Department on September 11, 2021.[1] She became a central figure in the public search for her daughter, making media appearances to raise awareness and urge anyone with information to come forward.[2]
Following Gabby's death, Schmidt became an advocate for missing persons and domestic violence awareness. She and her ex-husband Joseph Petito established the Gabby Petito Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that supports searches for missing persons and provides resources for domestic violence survivors.[3] The foundation also offers scholarships to students from Gabby's former schools, Bayport-Blue Point High School and Newfield High School.[3] Schmidt has spoken publicly about the need for systemic reform in how law enforcement handles missing persons cases, particularly for young women and marginalized communities.
