Jim Schmidt
Appearances
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We didn't have all the facts. We had no idea how it really played out.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
When did you see the video of her? When everybody else did. We were glued to the television watching it.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
That she wasn't just a victim. She was a person. She was an artist. She loved life. She loved adventure.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We didn't know where she would be. She could be somewhere in a hospital or a shelter.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Gabby gave us a platform. We could go cry all day. What is that going to do? So we're going to use it to try to help others as much as possible.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
Maybe it's just a hoax. They're trying to get this YouTube video up. So maybe it's just a hoax to try to get more followers. I mean, your brain just goes and goes and goes. But in the back of your head, it's like he's not talking and he has a lawyer. That just stuck right there. It's like if something bad didn't happen, then he would have been talking.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
She was an amazing artist. We had a large kitchen island and she would spread her artwork all over the island and just make masterpieces.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I got... Just hearing it, it's like you can't... That was the worst phone call of my life.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We're lucky we have a lot of memories. We're lucky we have so many pictures of her. I'm so happy that she took as many as she did. Because that's what we have. That's what we have now. 22 beautiful years.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
A lot of times if you strangle your loved one, your partner, It gets dropped down to a misdemeanor.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
And that's one of the reasons why we started the foundation, the Gabby Petito Foundation, to teach others and other parents. There might be some tips that you could talk to your child about. Try to let them know that you are there for them and that there are resources out there.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
I wasn't against her going. I just was like, make sure you take care of you. You are number one. You are the most important. Don't rely on somebody else. Make sure you just take care of you.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
We're lucky we have a lot of memories. We're lucky we have so many pictures of her. I'm so happy that she took as many as she did, because that's what we have. That's what we have now.
20/20
Gabby Petito: Her Parents Speak Out
And she always had that creative eye. I mean, she always enjoyed taking the photos and the pictures. And we would go on vacation, and she had her GoPro, and she would take videos of us doing things. So I think that's something that she always really enjoyed to do. So why not try to make it as a career?