I wonder if she could have been a victim of Richard Biegenwald, the so-called Jersey Thrill Killer. If it was him, he died in prison 8 years ago.
Back in 1981 or 82, a friend and I were having a few drinks at a dive bar called "Dolly Dimples" at the time. It was on Rt. 33. My parents lived a half mile away, so when I'd had enough I told my friend I was going to my parents house to sleep it off. I asked her for a ride, but her car wouldn't start. I said I'd walk to my parent's house and asked if she wanted to come with me. She declined, saying she'd get home somehow.
The next day when I went home I asked her how she'd got home, and she said her ex husband picked her up. After a bad experience. She tried to hitchhike(!!) home, was picked up by a guy who told her several minutes later that he was going to kill her. She jumped out of the car at 50 mph, rolling into the field of the property called Rorher's or something like that. They used to supply plants for films. Anyway, my friend didn't get hurt much just a bit bruised.
She said the guy looked for her for a couple of minutes, but when she heard his car pull away she got up and found a pay phone at a bar a mile up the road. She never called the police, but after hearing about Biegenwald, I was sure he was the guy who picked her up. Same description, and he used to troll Rt.33.
I wouldn't be surprised if he was the murderer of this young woman.