Hi, long time lurker, but was tempted to make an account to chime in.
My point is knowing the distance between Google office and both Chelsea pier and the Highline only tells us the Vanessa could have frequented this places. It doesn't however put KV within .5 miles of those places or within .5 miles of Vanessa. That information only tells us something about Vanessa and nothing about Karina, or their potential connection to each other.
See, I just don't see that being so far for women their age in NYC. Just the fact that VM was in Rockaway makes it very possible that their paths could have crossed without realizing it and it's possible both could have crossed paths with the perp, either at a beach, bar, or maybe an online dating app. Online dating app most likely scenario in my mind if the perp is the same in both attacks (and if the attacks were targeted, obviously). But also, they could have each crossed paths with individual killers via online dating apps, as well.
Support for their use of online dating apps:
-Both single
-Both attractive women (no use using an app if you wouldn't be getting matches)
-Almost every woman I know has Tinder, more professional women I know also have Bumble (both of these women seem professional to me, IMO)
Tinder:
-The ability to match a potential partner up to 100 miles away, unlimited amount with Tinder premium (gives radius of a mile amount, but not in which direction, although you could travel certain ways to see if you're getting closer or farther - too much work, though)
-Tinder does not erase matches if you travel
-Encourages to link Instagram profile to Tinder profile (easy stalking)
-Unlimited "yes"/ right swipes unless you are swiping yes on everyone, but then it still only restricts you for a day
-Low commitment conversations, so people are forgettable and get drowned out
-Once you match, it will show how many miles away you are from each other and does not disappear unless you "unmatch"
-Men seem to check women's profiles more often than women check men's. What I mean by this is that men are more likely to go back to a woman's profile days, weeks, months later, randomly. Sometimes, they send a message out of the blue. Or several messages days, weeks, months apart even if the woman hasn't responded. I imagine a lot of them will go back to profiles and lurk and not send a message, as well.
-Most times, no trace of a connection between the two of you on other social media sites / people in your real life circles can be completely unaware of their existence. I can see this being easily overlooked
Bumble:
-The ability to match a potential partner up to 100 miles away
-Does not erase matches when you travel if the woman has initiated conversation with the man within 24 hours of matching
-Will show your exact location (i.e. "Manhattan, New York" or "Queens, New York")
-Does not encourage sharing Instagram, but a lot of women just write their username in bio
-Higher commitment conversations, but still forgettable
-Most times, no trace of a connection between the two of you on other social media sites / people in your real life circles can be completely unaware of their existence
Not that I necessarily back this theory 100%, but I think it is possible that these two women had one, two, or three degrees of separation.