You may be right, there may be no connection whatsoever between the Padilla names, on the other hand, it's apparent that Nichols maintained contact with his wife after the divorce. Can you say for certain that Nichols wasn't in contact with his ex-wife's husband Robert?
It may be nothing, but to totally dismiss just because it is a common surname and Padilla isn't his wifes real surname is presumptive. I saw the comments from Lana Padilla, but nothing that dismissed any contact between Nichols and the suband.
Is Mrs. Padilla's new husband Puerto Rican? If not, then END of story.