Utah Police Implement Few Changes After Gabby Petito Killing: Report

MOAB, UTAH — It's a year after the death of Gabby Petito, but only three out of the 10 recommendations for handling domestic violence calls — after an investigation into the traffic stop with her and Brian Laundrie — have been completed by Moab City police, according to records obtained by Fox News Digital.

An independent investigation by Capt. Brandon Ratcliffe of the Price Police Department found "unintentional mistakes" in the handling of the stop in which officers separated the couple for the night. It was about two weeks before Petito was strangled to death near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.

Fox News Digital reported that city officials would not provide any evidence the recommendations have been implemented and records now show that two of three were followed, but "to a lesser degree than proposed."

Parker & McConkie attorney Brian Stewart, who is representing Petito’s family in a wrongful death lawsuit against the city, reviewed the records and told the outlet: "Based on what they have provided, it appears pretty underwhelming in terms of what their commitment may be to getting their officers up to speed on the training that they should have had long before the incident with Gabby."

Moab City spokeswoman Lisa Church declined comment, citing the pending litigation.

To read more on Fox News Digital, click here.

More recently, Moab City officials have drawn some criticism after it came to light that one of the officers involved in the stop, Eric Pratt, had been promoted to the designation of detective. Pratt was later praised by the new police chief.

Petito's family is suing the city for $50 million for what they believe was her wrongful death.

Their lawsuit asserts that the traffic stop could have been handled differently and it would have saved her life.

Stewart told The Sun that they hope "Officer Pratt is committed to learning from his experience and the mistakes that were made in Gabby's case."

"We hope he has received significant retraining in how to properly respond to domestic violence situations and how to apply the law correctly to protect victims, like Gabby," he added.

Ratcliffe's report points out the department did not get a statement from the 911 caller who reported seeing the alleged assault.

The final police account did not recount the caller's initial report describing Laundrie as the aggressor, and it labeled the altercation instead a "mental health crisis."

The witness had seen Petito and Laundrie fighting in a town nearby, and when the pair was later pulled over after Laundrie drove Petito's van into the side of a curb, Petito can be seen with tears streaming down her face as the two are interviewed about their interaction.

In police bodycam footage, which Patch obtained from the Moab City police, Petito, who was asked to step out of the van over to a police cruiser, tells Officer Daniel Robbins, who was wearing the body camera, that Laundrie hit the curb because she "distracted him."

She tells Robbins that she had been apologizing to Laundrie, explaining she was in a bad mood and was stressed out because she had been building a website for her blog about Van Life.

Laundrie would not let her in the vehicle under the belief she needed to calm down, according to her statements in Robbins' footage.

"He really stresses me out," she said, then describes the altercation as "just a bad morning."

Laundrie then tells the officer that Petito "gets really worked up sometimes" and he was trying to distance himself from her, saying that he did shove her to get away from her, and apologizes to the officer because of that. Laundrie, who had visible scratches on his face, is then asked by the officer how he got them and says that Petito "had her phone" and he was struggling with her as she was trying to take the keys to the van.

He then tells Robbins that the van struck the curb because she grabbed the steering wheel.

A group of officers, including Pratt and Robbins, then discuss how to handle the situation and explain to Laundrie that, based on their investigation — including his and Petito's comments, as well as those of the witness — there was enough evidence to charge Petito with assault, but they were hampered because they live together and he did not want to press charges.

Instead, they told Laundrie that they did not have discretion under the law and suggested giving her a citation for domestic assault, which included a stay-away order. The stay-away order would be in effect for the night, preventing any contact between the two, and then if Laundrie wanted to have the order removed, he could do so the next morning, Robbins told him.

Petito did not want to be separated from Laundrie, though, according to another officer who interviewed her.

Near the end of the video, Robbins decides not to cite Petito for domestic assault and tells her, then suggests separating the pair for the night.

"I want you guys both to be — tonight — away from each other," he said, adding, "relax, breathe."

Petito then started welling up with tears as he was speaking.

"There is no reason to be crying," he said. "I understand this can feel like a nightmare, but you are coming out the golden flower on top."

He tells Petito that she is taking the van for the night and Laundrie will be taken to a hotel and urges them to stay away from each other for both of their sakes.

"From what you told me and what he told me, both of you guys have little things that have been building up and building up, and finally the little string that you guys were walking on broke," he said.

The officer then asks Petito if she wants him to let Laundrie know that she loves him and will see him in the morning, and she tells him yes, before adding that he needs to keep his cell phone charged because he is bad about keeping it powered.

Ratcliffe released his 102-page report in January, outlining his review of the incident.

The report recommended both officers be placed on probation, and calls for additional training in domestic violence and legal issues so that officers have a better grasp of state laws and statutes, as well as upgraded software.

Pratt said in the report that he was afraid charging Petito would embolden Laundrie.

"So, if he's going to bail her out, is he not going to have more control over her now?" Pratt said.

Pratt also told investigators that he was "desperately f---ed over," The Sun reported.

"I really am," he said. "I would have done anything to stop it if I would have known that was coming. I accept responsibility for it but I don't want anyone to think that I did not care. I am devastated about it. I cared that day and I still care."

Petito was reported missing by her mother in her hometown of Suffolk County after Laundrie returned to Florida in her van but without her, sparking a massive search that spanned several states. Petito was confirmed dead on Sept. 19.

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