In regards to motive, we do not have much to go on.
But the forensic files case where the woman was murdered in her apartment by a predator neighbor in the middle of the day, definitely seemed to click.
Not sure if anyone here followed the Lauren Giddings case. But she was attacked and murdered by her neighbor and classmate who was obsessed with her. He gained access to her apartment with a maintenance access key (it was believed he took or was given the key from management and copied it).
I lean towards a neighbor or someone in the area who became fixated on her. Could be a contractor who saw her around and became obsessed. Only “draw” I can come up with under this theory is that this person managed to get her number or email and faked an emergency to get her home (using a fake email/number) or was lying in wait in her apartment and she just happened to come home earlier than normal. IMO.
Any theory is viable at this point because we have so little information. COD and SA/condition of the body could give some indication as to whether it was someone she knew or a stranger/stalker. But we don’t even know that.
I tend to think as well if it is not personal then it is someone who had an obsession with her. It just seems the most likely. Otherwise we have to believe a total coincidence, she just happened to go home when she generally did not and just happened on the one occasion she did to run into a stranger in her apartment. If someone unknown or a burglary and she surprised the person, one would think he would just push her aside and get the heck out of there, unless he is recognizable.
She is an attractive single woman. It is a big apartment complex. Neighbors even stated she kept to herself and they pretty much only saw her coming and going. Well a creep would then notice the same I would assume...?
Maybe she knew or did not know if it was someone a bit obsessed with her (she thought) and she tried to handle it nicely, say he is from the complex, a resident, or a worker, and she does not want issues and thinks although a bit creepy, he is probably harmless. He baits her home somehow and has a key, he works there or some other way as you mention.
I just can't picture it random. As you say though, we know so little. Was there some type of ex she maybe gave a second chance to, etc.?
If we can even trust media, one account said they heard arguing, that sounds personal.
Just talking out loud and speculating.
And jmo based on the very little we have.