She may well have been, but the other thing it didn’t mention - and I’m sure the jurors weren’t told - is that this guy is also on trial in another state (Texas?) for the gruesome murder of another woman that he barely knew or perhaps didn’t know at all.
He is sort of a drifter who may be a serial killer and seems to enjoy causing pain. It’s possible that he had connections with drug gangs in her area, but equally possible that he just lured her out there. SHe was apparently very trusting and he was supposedly one of those charming psychopaths that attracts women.
She had bought extra gasoline, probably at his request because he told her he needed it for his vehicle, although she doesnt seem to have known him well if at all and probably just met him by accident.
I don't believe everything I read so take this all with a grain of salt.
I’m pretty sure that she was heavily involved with him at one point. He left the area after the murder and killed another girl.