Definitely before, but WHY remains to be answered.
From this article: "Police learned Graf had left his truck nearby earlier that morning, telling an employee it needed to be serviced at an area garage, Morganelli said. Additional video surveillance showed the truck driving away within 30 seconds to a minute after Padgett's car was abandoned, Morganelli said.
Workers at Harhart's Service Station told investigators that Graf never contacted them about doing work on his vehicle, Morganelli said. Authorities are investigating whether that could be evidence of a plan on Graf's part.
"We're still trying to develop that information as to whether this might be some evidence of premeditation, or whether he had good intentions to drop his truck off," Morganelli said."
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-jessica-padgett-murder-stepfather-20141126-story.html#page=1