I think when they saw the messages, they realized this was deep muck, and there was nothing they had to say that was going to make anyone feel better. You really think the Petitos would have felt better if the Laundries said their son is now home a d they have no idea what happened to Gabby? I don’t think so. It would have resulted in a panicked screaming match and possible threats, and even a visit. No answer resulted in a slower processing of the horrible answer. JP, Gabby’s Father on Dr Phil, absolutely stated that at that time (and Gabby was dead then,; he just didn’t know it) he had to continue thinking she was alive. That she was all right.
tThis is an epic tragedy and there was no good way to handle it. If Bl were handed over from the get go, the Laundrie parents might be spared the maddening crowd taunts, but their son would likely have been in worse legal shape. Really, BL, was foolish to run. Unless there is direct evidence that he killed Gabby, possible that the silence helped mitigate the consequences.
Really, if a family member gets into a bad legal predicament, the best thing to do legally and monetarily is to keep quiet. I know families in financial ruin that could have been lessened because they talked too much and for things far less horrible than this. Same as a simple car accident—don’t admit blame, until you have all the facts on the table.
