New Hulu Docuseries Recounts Sydney Loofe's Murder and Cult Abduction

The harrowing story of Sydney Loofe’s 2017 murder and the cult that preyed on her is explored in the new three-part Hulu docuseries, "Swipe Right on the Devil." The series offers the first public account from Loofe’s family, alongside insights from Nebraska investigators and an FBI agent involved in the case.

Loofe, a 24-year-old hardware store clerk, was seeking connection on Tinder in 2017. Her second date with a woman she knew as "Audrey" on November 15, 2017, marked the last time she was seen alive. When Loofe failed to appear for work the following day, friends alerted authorities, who found her apartment seemingly undisturbed. The search intensified when a friend created a fake Tinder profile, leading investigators to identify "Audrey" as Bailey Boswell. Loofe's remains were discovered on December 4, dismembered and scattered in rural Clay County, Nebraska.

A Cult of Manipulation

The investigation soon revealed that Boswell was part of a couple with Aubrey Trail, a man who identified as a vampire. Both had extensive criminal histories involving scams and theft across multiple states. Loofe was not their only target; the pair lured vulnerable individuals, particularly young women seeking relationships in conservative Midwestern communities, into their orbit through Tinder. Survivors of the cult, who have chosen to remain anonymous, testified that Trail and Boswell showered recruits with gifts and money in exchange for participation in group sex and assisting in selling stolen goods.

Trail, who called himself a "vampire" and claimed supernatural abilities, indoctrinated the women into what he described as a witchcraft coven. He and Boswell allegedly demanded ritualistic violent acts, including murder, to gain power and entry into their inner circle. Trail reportedly sought to film murders for profit, viewing these acts as essential for his ascension as a messiah. The women reported escaping the cult shortly before Loofe's abduction.

Evidence recovered from Trail and Boswell’s residence included items such as a BDSM dog leash, duct tape, a hatchet, zip ties, and a blood-smeared plastic drop cloth, suggesting preparation for violence. The series trailer features survivors recounting Trail's demands for nakedness, observation of lesbian encounters, and the ultimate requirement to kill to gain power.

Confession and Conviction

Trail confessed to Loofe's killing, initially claiming it was accidental during a BDSM act. He stated he strangled Loofe and dismembered her body to conceal the crime, asserting Boswell’s innocence. During his trial, Trail, who had previously attempted suicide in court by slitting his throat, changed his narrative, claiming he killed Loofe out of fear of exposure. He was convicted of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and improper disposal of human remains, and sentenced to death on June 9, 2021. He is currently on death row in Nebraska and has petitioned the state to set an execution date.

Boswell's trial took place in September 2020. Physical evidence, including DNA found on a glove in the same trash bag as Loofe's remains, linked her to the murder. She was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and improper disposal of human remains in October 2020 and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2021.

Legacy of Remembrance

In 2019, Loofe’s family established the Sydney Loofe Foundation, which has raised funds for scholarships and community causes. The foundation's website describes Loofe as someone who was always willing to help others, despite her own struggles, and cherished her family, animals, and fishing. Her family continues to hold onto her belief, tattooed on her arm, that "Everything will be wonderful someday."