A Columbus woman lured men for sex, deliberately overdosed them with lethal drugs, and robbed their lifeless bodies in a chilling black widow killing spree that prosecutors call unprecedented.
Story Snapshot
- Rebecca Auborn, 33, pleaded guilty to four murders and one felonious assault after intentionally causing fatal overdoses in men she met for paid sex.
- Crimes spanned December 2022 to June 2023 in a high-risk Columbus neighborhood tied to sex work and drugs.
- Ohio AG Dave Yost warns of potential additional victims and copycats after Auborn advised another woman on the deadly scheme.
- Guilty plea avoids trial due to airtight evidence from inter-agency probe; sentencing set for February 20, 2026.
The Crimes Unfold
Rebecca Auborn targeted men in a specific Columbus, Ohio neighborhood known for sex work between December 13, 2022, and June 17, 2023. She met them for paid sexual encounters, then intentionally dosed them with lethal drugs to induce overdoses. Auborn robbed the victims after they died, distinguishing her acts from accidental overdoses. A fifth man survived her attempted overdose, providing key evidence. Prosecutors describe this as deliberate serial killings mimicking a black widow pattern.
Investigation and Arrest
Columbus Police arrested Auborn in September 2023 following reports of a woman drugging sex clients. The probe escalated after her admission to causing one death and advising another woman on the method. Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force linked four deaths and the assault through witness tips and communications. On October 26, 2023, AG Dave Yost announced charges, calling the case unprecedented in his career.
Guilty Plea Secured
Auborn recently pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one felonious assault, eliminating the need for a trial due to overwhelming evidence. Yost stated the plea closes a tough case and brings hope for victims’ families when law enforcement collaborates. The airtight investigation by police, BCI, and task force gathered convincing proof. Sentencing remains scheduled for February 20, 2026, as authorities keep a tip line open for more witnesses.
Warnings and Broader Dangers
AG Yost urged the public to avoid buying sex amid Ohio’s human trafficking issues and rising drug crimes. He suspects additional victims exist, given Auborn’s advice to another woman, raising fears of copycats or accomplices. The case echoes Aileen Wuornos, who killed eight men during prostitution, but Auborn’s method exploited overdose spikes in Columbus’s illicit scenes. Families of the unnamed victims now seek full justice.
This precedent may strengthen prosecutions of overdose-robberies as murder, deterring johns and bolstering anti-trafficking efforts. Columbus communities face heightened scrutiny on sex work dangers, with law enforcement modeling inter-agency success for future cases. Taxpayers funded the probe, underscoring commitments to public safety over underground risks.
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Rebecca Auborn pleads guilty in serial killings of Ohio men.
