Gabby Petito's parents and family filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab City Police Department on Thursday alleging its officers of negligence in their encounter with the then 22-year-old and her fiancé Brian Laundrie, weeks before her death last summer.

"The purpose of this lawsuit is to honor Gabby's legacy by demanding accountability and working toward systemic changes to protect victims of domestic abuse and violence and prevent such tragedies in the future," James W. McConkie, the family's attorney said in a statement.

The lawsuit alleges the police failed to adhere to Utah's domestic abuse laws and officers were 'biased' against Petito, weeks before Laundrie killed her.

Her family, in a press conference Thursday, said they filed the lawsuit to ensure that police can make changes to help other abuse victims.

"No one here, the four of us, don't want to be here. We'd give it up in a second if she was back," Joseph Petito, her father said.

The city of Moab denied wrongdoing and issued a statement Thursday refusing to claim responsibility for Petito's death.

"The death of Gabrielle Petito in Wyoming is a terrible tragedy, and we feel profound sympathy for the Petito and Schmidt families and the painful loss they have endured. At the same time, it is clear that Moab City Police Department officers are not responsible for Gabrielle Petito's eventual murder," the city said.

Petito, 22, and her fiancé, Laundrie, 23, were on a road trip through the American West in the summer of 2021, documenting their journey online. Petito was reported missing after Laundrie returned to his parents' Florida home on September 1 and her parents were unable to reach her. Her disappearance sparked a nationwide manhunt and several internet sleuths trying to decipher what had happened to her.

Petito's body was found several weeks later in Grand Teton National Forest, with a coroner ruling she died by strangulation. Laundrie was also reported missing after disappearing into a Florida nature preserve. His body was found in mid-October with a notebook in which he admitted killing her.

Petito's parents have also taken legal action against Laundrie's estate and filed a separate suit against his parents for failing to cooperate during the search for Petito and causing them emotional distress.