When this all first broke, I thought it was so "out there" to think of gangs, etc.
But after reading more and more, and seeing about how Nick and Tom's case could be related.
My theory is most definately COMPUTER RELATED, IMO, it's a game that has been played for a while over the internet and where the people have gotten to know each other. It has turned into something more sinister/deadly. It's almost like, whoever loses the game that is being played, has to be the one that kills. Maybe that is why it is happening in different states??
My theory above is being simply put forward without all of the rest that I think.