Seems like an old article? 12 bitcoins which equated to $5000, at today's price, 12 bitcoins should go for around more than $100,000. Sides, even if we do say that the woman got it since she didn't hide her address, that was years ago when not much was really being paid attention to the security or privacy of addresses of most people. Plus, oddly enough, it's either the killer met up with the woman herself and transferred BTC directly, or through address, but in that case, the killers should also know who the woman is. If that was the case, kind of stupid from the side of the woman who hired the killer.

There is, but negotiations broke down. If what @TedMosby's link is actually the article op has said, then negotiations broke down after the killer tried to offer more expensive ways to kill someone. Seeing that OP and the link provided pertain to the same woman, it should be the same story OP has said.