{"id":6144,"date":"2026-10-23T10:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/"},"modified":"2026-10-23T10:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-23T10:00:17","slug":"gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/","title":{"rendered":"Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"beyondwords-wrapper\" data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"beyondwords-wrapper\">\n<p><span class=\"label-bg\">NEW<\/span>You can now listen to Fox News articles!\n  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">PROVO, Utah \u2013 A Utah Supreme Court battle stemming from Gabby Petito&#8217;s 2021 murder could &#8220;pave the way&#8221; for Charlie Kirk&#8217;s family to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit over alleged security failures surrounding his assassination at a Turning Point USA event last year, according to an attorney involved in the appeal.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"speakable\">&#8220;Right now, Kirk&#8217;s claims, if filed, would likely be dismissed, like Gabby Petito&#8217;s claims were dismissed on that basis,&#8221; said Brian Stewart, an attorney for the family of Gabby Petito who is working on the appeal involving their own wrongful death claim in the Beehive State. &#8220;We would need the Utah Supreme Court to overturn Tiede to pave the way for Charlie Kirk&#8217;s family to proceed.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Tiede refers to a 1996 Utah Supreme Court decision upholding the dismissal of a lawsuit over the 1990 murders of Kay Tiede and her mother Beth Potts, two Texas women killed by a pair of men on parole who attacked their family after walking away from a halfway house, <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269625\" href=\"https:\/\/www.deseret.com\/1992\/10\/1\/19008084\/utah-isn-t-liable-for-2-oakley-murders-judge-rules\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">Deseret News<\/a> reported at the time.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269626\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/kirk-family-path-archaic-law-shielding-govt-police-chief-alleged-got-you-covered-text\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>KIRK FAMILY MAY HAVE PATH AROUND ARCHAIC LAW SHIELDING GOV&#8217;T IN POLICE CHIEF\u2019S ALLEGED \u2018GOT YOU COVERED\u2019 TEXT<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/343\/192\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/686\/384\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/672\/378\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1344\/756\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/931\/523\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1862\/1046\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/720\/405\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1440\/810\/gabby-petito-wings.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>This undated portrait of Gabby Petito served as the inspiration for a mural painted of her in her hometown of Blue Point, New York.<\/span> <span>(Family of Gabby Petito)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The decision upheld the constitutionality of the state&#8217;s governmental immunity law as applied to wrongful death claims, which Stewart said are barred against governmental entities when the injury arises from a third-party assault or battery.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Central to the Petito appeal is the argument that Utah&#8217;s Constitution prohibits lawmakers from limiting or eliminating the right to recover for wrongful death.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269627\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/kirk-family-powerful-evidence-utah-law-could-derail-wrongful-death-case\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>KIRK FAMILY HAS POWERFUL EVIDENCE \u2014 BUT UTAH LAW COULD DERAIL WRONGFUL DEATH CASE: EXPERTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Her family&#8217;s lawsuit against the Moab Police Department alleged that officers were negligent in their response to a traffic stop involving Brian Laundrie two weeks before he killed her. A judge dismissed the case on governmental immunity grounds.<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/343\/192\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/686\/384\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/672\/378\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1344\/756\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/931\/523\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1862\/1046\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/720\/405\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1440\/810\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1200\/675\/gettyimages-2234098310-scaled.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Political Activist Charlie Kirk Shot Dead At Utah Valley University\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Charlie Kirk speaks at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10, 2025 in Orem, Utah. Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, was speaking at his &#8220;American Comeback Tour&#8221; when he was shot in the neck and killed.<\/span> <span>(Trent Nelson\/The Salt Lake Tribune\/Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">In September, Kirk&#8217;s family filed a notice of claim, which is a precursor to a lawsuit. Their attorneys alleged that <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269628\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/review-charlie-kirks-assassination-utah-valley-university-made-public\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Utah Valley University<\/a>, the state of Utah and key officials failed to properly secure the event even after acknowledging responsibility for rooftop security, leading to his wrongful death on Sept. 10, 2025.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269629\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/charlie-kirk-assassination-timeline-utah-campus-shooting-details-attack-manhunt-suspect\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: TIMELINE OF UTAH CAMPUS SHOOTING, TYLER ROBINSON CHARGED<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Among the claims in the filing, UVU Police Chief Jeffrey Long allegedly told <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269630\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/category\/politics\/turning-point-usa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Turning Point USA organizers<\/a> &#8220;I got you covered&#8221; when they raised concerns about rooftop access around the campus courtyard.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269631\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FoxTrueCrime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>FOLLOW THE FOX TRUE CRIME TEAM ON X<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/343\/192\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/686\/384\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/672\/378\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1344\/756\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/931\/523\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1862\/1046\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/720\/405\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1440\/810\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1200\/675\/charlie-kirk-tyler-robinson-trial-fox-news_045.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Witness in the Charlie Kirk murder pretrial hearing\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Sgt. Jennifer Faumuina, of the Utah Department of Public Safety, motions toward a map of the Utah Valley University campus during a preliminary hearing for Tyler Robinson, who is accused in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk, at the Fourth District Courthouse in Provo, Utah, Thursday, July 9, 2026<\/span> <span>(Spenser Heaps\/AP via Pool)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269632\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/gabby-petito-mother-urges-public-ripple-effect-help-find-missing-5-years-after-daughters-murder\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GABBY PETITO&#8217;S MOTHER URGES PUBLIC &#8216;RIPPLE EFFECT&#8217; TO HELP FIND THE MISSING 5 YEARS AFTER DAUGHTER&#8217;S MURDER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Prosecutors say a sniper perched on a rooftop on the other side of the courtyard shot and killed Kirk.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269633\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>SIGN UP TO GET THE LATEST TRUE CRIME NEWS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">But that text message may not be enough to overcome Utah&#8217;s expansive governmental immunity protections, Stewart said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269634\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/true-crime\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE FOR MORE FROM THE FOX TRUE CRIME HUB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/343\/192\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/686\/384\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/672\/378\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1344\/756\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/931\/523\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1862\/1046\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/720\/405\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1440\/810\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1200\/675\/uvu-bugged.png?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"A view of the location where Charlie Kirk was shot one year ago.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>A view of the location where Charlie Kirk was shot.<\/span> <span>(Alec Thornock for Fox News Digital)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">&#8220;It&#8217;s another act of negligence that contributed to Charlie&#8217;s vulnerability and ultimate death, but it really wouldn&#8217;t change the applicability of the statute,&#8221; he said. &#8220;It&#8217;s similar in the Petito case. The parents of Gabby might have brought her home, might have intervened, but they relied on the analysis of the police on the scene who said, it&#8217;s no big deal, we&#8217;re not even gonna arrest anybody.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269635\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/charlie-kirk-assassination-new-uvu-president-says-continue-host-frays-embrace-free-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSINATION: NEW UVU PRESIDENT SAYS IT WILL CONTINUE TO &#8216;HOST THE FRAYS,&#8217; EMBRACE FREE SPEECH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">That created the impression that things were taken care of, he said, likening it to Long&#8217;s alleged assurance.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269636\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GOT A TIP?<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">The Petito family argues Tiede does not apply to its case and, if it does, should be overturned because the Utah Constitution says, &#8220;The right of action to recover damages for injuries resulting in death, shall never be abrogated.&#8221;<\/p>\n<div data-layout-index=\"5\" class=\"image-ct inline\">\n<div class=\"m\"><picture><source media=\"(max-width: 767px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/343\/192\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/686\/384\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"192\" width=\"343\"><source media=\"(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/672\/378\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1344\/756\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"378\" width=\"672\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/931\/523\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1862\/1046\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"523\" width=\"931\"><source media=\"(min-width: 1280px)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/720\/405\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1, https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1440\/810\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1 2x\" height=\"405\" width=\"720\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a57.foxnews.com\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1200\/675\/uvu-prayer-vigil-anniversary.jpg?ve=1&amp;tl=1\" alt=\"Floral tributes and a prayer vigil sign sit beside concrete planters at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"caption\">\n<p><span>Floral tributes and a prayer vigil sign are placed next to large concrete planters at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, at the exact campus location where Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk was fatally shot one year ago. Turning Point USA is hosting its &#8220;Freedom Built to Last&#8221; memorial service on campus today to mark the first anniversary of his death on Sept. 10, 2026.<\/span> <span>(Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269637\" href=\"https:\/\/link.podtrac.com\/cjdr_fnd_article\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>LISTEN TO THE NEW &#8216;CRIME &amp; JUSTICE WITH DONNA ROTUNNO&#8217; PODCAST<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Lawyers for Kirk&#8217;s family have also laid the groundwork for a potential federal claim, Stewart said.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269638\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/newsletters\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>GET BREAKING NEWS BY EMAIL<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">Kirk&#8217;s accused assassin, 23-year-old <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269639\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/tyler-robinson-face-trial-charlie-kirk-assassination-judge-keeps-death-penalty-table\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tyler Robinson<\/a>, pleaded not guilty through his own attorneys at his arraignment on Sept. 1. He could face the <a data-omtr-intcmp=\"fnc_us_article_main-content_article-body_6_1269640\" href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/judge-accused-assassin-tyler-robinson-case-explains-why-death-penalty-remains-table-written-order\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">death penalty<\/a> if convicted of the top charge of aggravated murder.<\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\"><a href=\"https:\/\/foxnews.onelink.me\/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&amp;af_dp=foxnewsaf%3A%2F%2F&amp;af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com%2Fapps-products\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p data-layout-index=\"5\">He&#8217;s due in court Friday afternoon for a scheduling hearing.<\/p>\n<p> <!----> <!----> <\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/us\/gabby-petito-court-battle-decide-charlie-kirk-family-prevail-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! PROVO, Utah \u2013 A Utah Supreme Court battle stemming from Gabby Petito&#8217;s 2021 murder could &#8220;pave the way&#8221; for Charlie Kirk&#8217;s family to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit over alleged security failures surrounding his assassination at a Turning Point USA event last year, according to an attorney&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"more-link-wrap\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &ldquo;Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit&rdquo;<\/span> &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/petito-kirk-split.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[4693,4094,3205,4028,4694,810,3913],"class_list":["post-6144","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world","tag-charlie-kirk","tag-crime-world","tag-homicide","tag-true-crime","tag-turning-point-usa","tag-us","tag-utah"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v17.8 (Yoast SEO v22.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit - Breaking News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! PROVO, Utah \u2013 A Utah Supreme Court battle stemming from Gabby Petito&#8217;s 2021 murder could &#8220;pave the way&#8221; for Charlie Kirk&#8217;s family to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit over alleged security failures surrounding his assassination at a Turning Point USA event last year, according to an attorney...Read More &ldquo;Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit&rdquo; &raquo;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Breaking News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-23T10:00:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/petito-kirk-split.png\" \/><meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/petito-kirk-split.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:image\" content=\"https:\/\/static.foxnews.com\/foxnews.com\/content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/petito-kirk-split.png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Admin\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/8b364f5cc7fbc8705a888e63db8c026a\"},\"headline\":\"Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-23T10:00:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-23T10:00:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\"},\"wordCount\":931,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/#organization\"},\"keywords\":[\"charlie kirk\",\"crime world\",\"Homicide\",\"True Crime\",\"turning point usa\",\"US\",\"Utah\"],\"articleSection\":[\"World\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/#respond\"]}],\"copyrightYear\":\"2026\",\"copyrightHolder\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/#organization\"}},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ventil.rs\/blog\/world\/gabby-petito-court-battle-could-decide-whether-charlie-kirk-family-can-prevail-in-utah-wrongful-death-lawsuit\/\",\"name\":\"Gabby Petito court battle could decide whether Charlie Kirk family can prevail in Utah wrongful death lawsuit - 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