A convicted murderer who claimed to be a warlock admitted he regrets killing Nebraska store clerk Sydney Loofe not because of moral remorse, but because choosing someone with devoted family and friends led directly to his capture and death row sentence.
The Brutal Murder of an Innocent Woman
Sydney Loofe, a 24-year-old Menards cashier, disappeared in 2017 after what she believed was a second date with a woman named Audrey from Tinder. Instead, she encountered Aubrey Trail, then 52, and his girlfriend Bailey Boswell, 25, who strangled her with an electrical cord. Trail dismembered Loofe’s body into 14 pieces, placed the remains in garbage bags, and dumped them along roadside ditches across Nebraska.
Trail later told filmmaker Christopher St. John he felt no remorse for the killing itself. His only regret centered on selecting a victim whose strong support network would pursue justice relentlessly. This calculated admission reveals the predatory nature of his crime and his complete lack of human conscience.
Convicted killer
A Dating App Trap With Dark Motives
Boswell created a fake Tinder profile using the alias Audrey to lure potential victims. Loofe, living alone and hoping to find companionship, matched with the profile and went on a first date. Excited about the connection, she immediately texted friends before heading out for their second meeting. She never returned home. Police discovered her car in the driveway, work clothes laid out, and her cat unfed when concerned family members requested a welfare check.
Trial testimony revealed Trail described himself as a powerful warlock leading a sex cult. Witnesses testified the couple solicited people for group sex while discussing occult practices and gaining powers through murder. An FBI agent described the perpetrators as being in a frenzy, actively hunting for a suitable target when Loofe became available.
Justice Through Community Determination
Loofe’s friend Brooklyn McCrystal provided the investigation’s breakthrough by creating her own Tinder profile to locate Audrey. After matching with Boswell, McCrystal obtained her phone number and immediately provided it to authorities. This citizen detective work, combined with digital tracking and surveillance footage from hotels where the couple stayed, led investigators to both Trail and Boswell. The case demonstrates how community involvement and modern technology can bring dangerous predators to justice.
The Hulu docuseries Swipe Right on the Devil examines this horrific case through interviews with loved ones, investigators, and recordings from Trail on death row. The story serves as a sobering reminder about online dating dangers and the importance of staying connected with trusted friends and family members when meeting strangers.