She went on what she thought was a second date with a woman she'd met on Tinder. It was actually a trap set by a couple already planning to kill her.
Who Was Sydney
Sydney Loofe, 24, of Lincoln, Nebraska, had recently confided in her family about struggling with her mental health in the days before her disappearance. On November 14, 2017, she matched on Tinder with a profile using the name "Audrey," actually operated by Bailey Boswell, who along with her partner, Aubrey Trail, had rented a basement apartment in Wilber, Nebraska.
The Disappearance
Loofe went on a second date with Boswell on November 15, posting a photo captioned "Ready for my date" before leaving. Her phone last pinged in Wilber that evening before going dark. When she failed to show up for her shift at a Lincoln hardware store the next day, her mother reported her missing.
Finding the Suspects
A friend of Loofe's, Brooklyn McCrystal, took it upon herself to search Tinder profiles until she found "Audrey," then shared the contact information with police, helping investigators trace Loofe's last known location to Boswell and Trail's rented apartment, where officers detected a strong smell of bleach.
The Discovery
On December 4, 2017, searchers found Loofe's dismembered remains, wrapped in garbage bags, near a rural road north of Edgar, Nebraska. We are not detailing further specifics of how her remains were found or handled.
Trial and Convictions
Trail told investigators he made money producing fetish content and had paid people, including Loofe, for participation in activities involving choking, despite knowing the associated risk of death. At trial, multiple witnesses testified the pair had expressed intent to record and profit from victims' deaths. Investigators also intercepted coded letters Trail sent Boswell from jail, instructing her on what to tell the court and attempting to take sole responsibility while portraying her as an unwilling participant.
Boswell was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, and is incarcerated at the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women. Trail was sentenced to death and remains on death row at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution.
FAQ
Who killed Sydney Loofe?
Bailey Boswell and Aubrey Trail, a couple who lured her through a fake Tinder profile.
What sentences did they receive?
Boswell received life in prison; Trail was sentenced to death.
How was Loofe's location traced to her killers?
A friend independently searched Tinder profiles to identify "Audrey" and shared the lead with investigators.