Gabby Petito's Dad Reacts To Sad Update In Kiely Rodni Case

Back in 2021, the country was fixated on the search and rescue of Gabby Petito, and unfortunately, the news of her death, too. Fans and followers were obsessed with truth behind Petito's tragic story, but it was her cause of death that rocked the nation. TMZ reported that Petito's was strangled to death, according to the coroner, and it was her fiance, Brian Laundrie, who killed her. He made an absolutely bone-chilling confession that many of people still can't get over today. Detailing an "unexpected tragedy," Laundrie wrote (via WFLA), "I ended her life, I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted but I see now all the mistakes I made."

Unfortunately, another missing persons case has gripped the nation and, just like Petito, it involves a young woman who had gone missing for several weeks. CNN reports law enforcement officials are confident they've located the body of 16-year-old Kiely Rodni from Truckee, California. The announcement came after underwater search and recovery team Adventures With Purpose found Rodni's car underwater in Lake Prosser, not far from the teen's last-known sighting. Upon locating the vehicle, one of AWP's divers confirmed human remains were inside. Her mother, Lindsey Rodni-Nieman, told ABC News that she knew something was wrong the last time she texted her. Rodni was at a party with teens at a campground when she vanished. Rodni-Nieman said, "I told her to be safe and that I loved her. And she said, 'OK, mom, I love you, too. She never came home."

Because this story hits so close to home, Petito's father had something to say about it.

Gabby Petito's father, Joseph Petito, couldn't help but share his reaction soon after he and the rest of the country found out that California teenager Kiely Rodni was allegedly dead. Sharing a photo of the young teen, he wrote on Twitter, "My condolences to #kielyrondi's family. May she rest in peace. The emotions all come back to the surface when you see things like this."

Many of Joseph's Twitter followers also reacted to the death by commenting, "I bet it does. But I have to say I am always so impressed with how you selflessly post about other missing persons. In spite of your pain you have consistently tried to help other families who are dealing with what you dealt with." Seeing how the Petito family has been working with politicians in an effort to create a national missing persons database, according to TMZ, it should not come as a surprise to anyone that Joseph was left emotional over Rodni's case, too. It looks like there is still much more work to be done.