"Conspiracy theory" might be a loaded term, but it's a person with a fairly notable job position (nuclear science at MIT) shot multiple times in his home with apparently no persons of interest yet. Of course it could be something unrelated to his position, like a random burglary or a dispute with someone close to the victim.
If someone said the individual had a serious gambling problem and failed to payback his bookie, it would not be any less credible at this time. It also doesn't make it any more legitimate. Speculation is nothing more than that. Unfortunately, very few care to admit speculation and if it is something in the realm of plausibility, there will be many that accept it as true. People are suggesting Comet 3I/atlas could be under powered control, and convinced it is true with no real evidence.
