A Utah ranger with the National Parks Service law enforcement said that she witnessed the argument between Gabby Petito and her fiancé and knew their relationship was “toxic.”
“I was probably more candid with her than I should’ve been,” Melissa Hulls said of the August 12 encounter.
The official at Arches National Park recalled a sobbing Petito sitting in the back of a police vehicle in need of emotional support.
“I was imploring with her to reevaluate the relationship,” Hull said, “asking her if she was happy in the relationship with him, and basically saying this was an opportunity for her to find another path, to make a change in her life.”
Hulls felt that Petito was anxious about her advice. After a short while, the couple was left in the condition of spending the night in separate places.
“This wasn’t a good day for anybody. We thought we were making the right decision when we left them.”
“I wouldn’t have called the relationship unsafe. If we had any reason to think any one of them was in danger, we would’ve separated them.”
Hulls concluded by admitting that she regrets not having done more to avoid the tragic outcome.
“It’s hard not to second-guess myself, and wish I said more, or wish I had found the right words to make her believe that she deserved more.”