Super long time lurker here. WS is an awesome community!
I know it came up (as recently as earlier in this thread, I think) that it was possible ML had previously been to the park where the Lyft dropped her off. However, this is unverified. If perhaps she had not been there before, I wonder if she could have thought it was a safer meeting spot than it turned out to be. Although the Lyft driver apparently didn’t pick up in any uneasiness upon arrival so perhaps not. Sorry.. just thinking out loud here.
As far as why she was meeting him there in the first place, I’ve been considering reasons my friends and I may have done so at that age, and have some theories... All my own opinion.
Firstly, I do not believe it was the first time they met in person. For the obvious reason, that it’s not a great idea to meet someone for the first time alone at 3am. But also because, even if she didn’t have any intentions of a sexual relationship, I just don’t think many young women would want to have their very first meeting with someone right after getting off a flight, especially after a loved one’s funeral.
I seriously doubt ML met AA with a plan for anything sexual to take place that night. While I agree with other posters that she looked beautiful as always in the airport pics, young women are often quite critical of their own appearances. If posters thought her eyes/face looked puffy, I think we can bet that she saw and felt it too. I think it’s very possible that she met with AA for weed or maybe even some Xanax. The drug angle makes the most sense to me considering the time and where she had just come from. Perhaps he said they would go on a “blunt ride” and then he’d drive her home. MOO
Because her phone went off immediately after arriving at the park, I believe this had to be premeditated. Not necessarily well thought out, but premeditated. I also believe ML was murdered at AA’s home. While he (thankfully) doesn't seem to be extremely bright, I still cannot imagine he would murder her by the canyon and then take the risk of not only transporting evidence in his car, but bringing it back to his home. Again MOO