Stepfather of Gabby Petito to host seminars on domestic violence

Program is for local first responders

(LAWRENCEBURG, Ind.) – Local first responders are invited to a Safe Passage seminar that will be hosted by the stepfather of Gabby Petito. 

Petito was on a cross-country road trip with her fiance when she went missing for three weeks in 2021. 

The high-profile case captured the attention of the nation as Gabby was eventually found dead from strangulation in Wyoming.

Her fiance was the prime suspect and he was later found deceased from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in Florida. 

Her stepfather, Jim Schmidt, is a former firefighter who has made it his mission to educate first responders on the warning signs of domestic violence. 

Schmidt has traveled around the country in an effort to help first responders recognize the dynamics of domestic violence, how to ensure scene safety, identifying signs of strangulation, and to provide trauma-informed care. 

He will lead two in-person training sessions and it is free to attend for first responders. 

The first will be held at the Ivy Tech Lawrenceburg Riverfront campus from 6-10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11.  Dinner will be provided

The second one will be at the Ivy Tech Madison Business Conference Center from 11-3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. Lunch will be provided. 

Registration is required and priority will be given to 9-1-1 operators, police and fire and EMS. 

“Participants will also be introduced to local and national resources and learn strategies for improving their response to domestic violence,” Safe Passage said. 

You can register by clicking this link.

RELATED: Safe Passage recently welcomed Gabby's mom and stepmom to Batesville. You can watch that story here.