I've lurked around and researched old threads on here for awhile but I've never been able to jump on WHILE a case was unfolding.
This is a wild situation. Personally, I'm starting to think the ransom/kidnapping & disappearance are two different crimes being committed, with the ransom for a kidnap return just being someone attempting to take a really unsavory advantage of a sad situation.
Something I saw mentioned a ways back, who knows how far, but sexual assaults on elderly women do happen more than we'd like to think they would. Elderly women don't strike people as "sexually appealing" but we know rape isn't about sex, it's a violent crime of power. For someone who maybe has not previously acted on their desire, an 84 year old woman with a pacemaker and mobility issues is a bit of a "wounded gazelle" in terms of potential victims. Not saying that this is the case here, obviously JMOO but a beginner predator who perhaps had previously encountered NG (whether tangentially known as someone who worked on the home or for NG) may have entered with one crime in mind, a sexual assault, and the next thing you know, between being off balance and blood thinners, bad heart, etc. suddenly someone is deceased...it would not shock me at this point. But the timing of that first ransom demand, the repeat with no new demands, and then ultimately sending it to TMZ? I think that may truly be a different sicko taking advantage of a sad situation.