It's official.
Ron Beacom and Bill Kuester will lead the Neligh-Oakdale School District for the 2019-20 school year, pending contract negotiations. The board unanimously voted Beacom to serve as the director of education and Kuester was named the interim superintendent on Friday night. The duo will fill the vacancy left by outgoing Supt. Scott Gregory. Gregory resigned last month to accept a position at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kan. His resignation takes effect Aug. 5. Read more about the meeting in next week's Antelope County News. Six people were transported from the scene of a two-vehicle accident Friday morning west of Clearwater.
According to law enforcement, Juan Vera Irizarry, 52 of Schuyler, was driving a 2008 Chrysler Pacifica westbound on Highway 275 near 512th Ave. that struck the rear of a westbound 2013 Ford F-350 driven by Shane Krebs, 48, of Clearwater, at 9:46 a.m. Both Krebs and his passenger, Regina Krebs, 45, were transported by Ewing Rescue to Antelope Memorial Hospital with minor injuries. Law enforcement said Irizarry had to be extricated from the Pacifica. He and his three passengers — Lourdes Placa, 51; Tatiana Cara 21; and juvenile male — were transported to AMH by Clearwater Rescue with minor injuries. Officials said air bags deployed in the Pacifica and all occupants were wearing seat belts. The accident remains under investigation. Responding to the scene were the Antelope County Sheriff's Department, Neligh Police Department, Nebraska State Patrol, Clearwater Rescue, Clearwater Fire Department and Ewing Rescue. An Antelope County wind tower broke off near its base, toppling over the remaining sections and sending its blades crashing into the ground.
The wind tower is located northeast of Neligh about 3/4 mile south of 528 Avenue and 852 Road. It is part of the Upstream Wind Energy Project. Property owners in the area said they noticed the tower had fallen on the morning of July 5. "No one was injured in the incident and the damage was contained to this tower," according to Beth Conley, Invenergy vice president of communications. She was unable to comment on several questions due to the ongoing investigation. "Invenergy is investigating the incident at Upstream Wind Energy Center," Conley said. "One turbine was impacted and the wind farm remains fully operational and is generating electricity." This story will be updated as information becomes available. It was a silver and gold Fourth of July for seven Neligh-Oakdale FCCLA students as they earned medals at the 2019 National Leadership Conference in Anaheim, Calif.
The students received six golds and one silver: Skylar Long, Teach and Train, gold Jose Luna and Lesly Luna, Life Event Planning, Sr., gold Sadie Heckert, Illustrated Talk, Jr., silver Aleesha Bergman and Meredith Wiseman, Chapter in Review Display, Sr., gold Hailey Bixler, Chapter Website, gold The prosecution continued to bolster their case on Wednesday, showing Tinder messages of how Bailey Boswell allegedly lured Sydney Loofe to her Wilber apartment. There was no indication that Sydney even knew Aubrey Trail at the time.
The initial Tinder conversation between Loofe and Boswell, who used the alias “Audrey,” first started on Nov. 11, 2017, after both girls “swiped right.” According to Assistant Attorney General Mike Guinan, the messages started off with introductions, talk of arranging a date and what they like to eat. He said Boswell indicated that she “just made cornbread and black-eyed peas” and Sydney told her she was eating at Applebees. “Yeah, they’re just chit-chatting back and forth,” FBI agent Mike Maseth testified. Boswell asks if she likes casinos, and Sydney tells her she’s only been to a casino once — on her 21st birthday. They discuss possibly visiting a casino on a future date. On Nov. 13, the women start to set up their first date as Boswell suggests “maybe meet first somewhere in Lincoln cruise and smoke (marijuana) and get to know each other a little bit and I’ll take you on a date to Riva (Steak & Seafood at Ameristar) and pay for as much gambling as you want to do.” Sydney replied, “Haha okay (: I’m def down to cruise and smoke first. I haven’t smoked in 6 days.” Sydney later explained that she “was trying to quit,” but didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to smoke with “a gorgeous girl” and offers to pay her some money for the marijuana. “I have plenty of money dear and plenty of weed lol I can give you some bomb a-- sh--,” Boswell told her. Boswell tells Sydney all she needs is her address and Sydney said, “Ok, tomorrow.” Boswell presses her again later, saying she needs her address so she “can see how long it will take to get there.” Sydney sent her address, and within one minute, Boswell did a Google search of that address and made a reservation at the Best Western in Lincoln. They scheduled a time to meet on the evening of Nov. 14 and Sydney asked, “Just going to be me and you, right?” To which Boswell responded, “OK. Yes. Of course.” Guinan asked Maseth, “No indication of a male involved?” and the FBI agent replied, “No.” Boswell picked up Sydney to drive around Lincoln and smoke just before 6 p.m. She took Sydney back home a couple hours later and made plans for a second date the following night. There are messages back and forth in the morning. Sydney went to work her shift at Menards just before noon. At 12:23 p.m., Boswell asks her via Tinder, “How’s your day going?” Maseth said this message was sent the same time Trail and Boswell pulled out of the Menards parking lot. Sydney replied around 2 p.m. Boswell picked up Sydney shortly before 7 p.m. that night as she typed, “Here.” That was their final Tinder conversation. “The blacked out area under that was for other Tinder matches Bailey Boswell had after Sydney,” Guinan said as he pointed to the messages. After Sydney was picked up for their date, phone records indicate the young women travelled to Boswell’s apartment in Wilber. There are no more records for Sydney’s phone after 8:08 p.m. Other witnesses testified in Saline County District Court on Wednesday, including a Grand Island hotel manager, a Kearney hotel manager and the security director for Ameristar in Council Bluffs, Iowa. They detailed surveillance footage of Trail, Boswell and K.B. checking in and out of hotels in the days after Sydney’s body was dismembered and scattered in Clay County. The Kearney manager said the trio checked in around 1:19 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2017, but “left the hotel literally 20 minutes later” with all of their luggage. “ It was the day before Thanksgiving,” she said. “We honestly thought it was a dad and two daughters. We thought maybe they had family in town and didn’t trust leaving their luggage, but they never came back.” Maseth said an officer with the Lincoln Police Department called Boswell’s phone number about 11:45 a.m. that morning. According to earlier testimony, Trail and Boswell moved around after that, staying in Iowa motels before traveling to Missouri where they were arrested on Nov. 30. Testimony wrapped up around noon on Wednesday and Judge Vicky Johnson told the jury they didn’t need to report again until Monday morning due to the Fourth of July holiday. Once again, Trail did not appear in court. He has been absent since he cut his neck on June 24. His attorneys Joe and Ben Murray said they don’t know what his intent was on that day or when he will return to court. “Physically, he’s doing fine,” Ben Murray said. “I think the problem is sitting for 9 or 10 hours in the courtroom is what he’s worried about, but we expect him back here at some point.” Trial testimony will likely conclude next Tuesday. It’s not clear whether Trail will testify in his own defense. Three women testified Tuesday that Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell recruited them into a cult.
All of the women testified that they first met Boswell through the Tinder dating app — just as Sydney Loofe had — before being introduced to their "sugar daddy" Trail. They were promised financial help by following a set of rules. Some of Trail's rules, included that the women walk around naked in his Wilber apartment, check in every three hours with a call or text, ask permission to do anything, and they were not allowed to be with another man. Breaking these rules would result in whippings by Boswell, choking with a belt or performing sexual acts. The women — whose names were ordered not to be published by the trial judge on Tuesday — said they were slowly introduced into the witchcraft and torture talks. All of them said they were told that they needed to take someone's soul to gain more powers. These were key witnesses for the prosecution, who are arguing that Trail and Boswell intentionally lured and murdered Sydney, while the defense claims her death was accidental. Read the Omaha World-Herald story here. EDITOR'S NOTE: Media was not allowed to photograph or record the woman who testified on Monday. Her name and testimony are public record and the judge did not previously prohibit reporting her name.
A wide-eyed crowd watched in stunned silence Monday as a young woman told the courtroom how she was invited to join Aubrey Trail's cult as his thirteenth "witch" if she tortured and killed someone. Again, Trail did not appear in court. A.H., 22, said she met "Jenna," who later identified herself as Bailey Boswell, in July of 2017 through the Tinder dating app. Hills said Trail picked her up for her date with Boswell, drove her to Wilber and showed her photos of "his girls" on his phone. She said there were 10-15 women photographed, and "none of them were clothed." When they arrived in Wilber, A.H. said they waited for Boswell to return from an antique delivery in Iowa. While waiting, Trail showed her some coins, they watched TV, and he claimed he could provide her with "a different lifestyle." When Boswell arrived, A.H. said they smoked marijuana together and she drove her home. Trail gave A.H. $200 for missing work to meet them and said that would be her weekly allowance. He also offered to make her car payments and pay for school. She decided to return to Wilber a couple days later. Boswell picked her up this time, paying to get their nails done, buying dinner and shopping for lingerie with money from Trail. Then they went to Wilber where Trail requested the women to change into their newly purchased lingerie. A.H. said she and Boswell then went outside in robes and smoked marijuana before they entered the bedroom to have sex while Trail watched. Not long after her second date, she said Trail told her more about "his girls." "They were witches and everyone had their role to play in the cult," A.H. said he explained. "There were 12 other women and I would be 13." Trail told her she could become a witch when she took her "first soul," which meant "to kill someone," she said. "At that point, he made it sound real," A.H. said. Trail had told her he had killed before, but now he "doesn't get anything from it." He said he now pays the women to do it, possibly $10,000 for 10 people. She was told that "if you torture, that's how you get stronger powers." A.H. said a set of rules to follow was laid out by Boswell, which included at least one 24-hour stay in Wilber and hours working on antiques each week. She said she priced antiques for them and Trail gave her some antiques for her own booth in a Lincoln antique mall. A.H. said she earned around $1,000 and then Trail told her Boswell had been getting the antiques for her booth. "He told me I had to start stealing my own," she said. However, A.H. said she did not, and she gave the mall a vacate notice on Sept. 17, 2017. When asked by the prosecution, A.H. said she, Trail and Boswell never used bleach to clean any of the antiques. She said Trail wanted to be called "Daddy" and he asked her use the names "Tina" or "Katie" when she was making phone calls or meeting someone. A.H. said she was paid $50 per phone call and still received a $200 weekly allowance, as well as paid rent and car payments on occasion. About one month in, she met one of "the girls," Anatasia Golyakova. "Aubrey told me she was a cute little thing that might become one of us," A.H. said. She was told that "Ana" was Boswell's "watcher," Boswell was "the queen witch," and Trail was "a vampire." A.H. said Trail explained that "a watcher" was someone who watched the witches as they left their bodies once a month during a specific moon cycle. She said Trail was very convincing, and, "At that point, I still believed everything he said." A.H. said she was told that witches had powers, such as a healer, like Boswell. Trail claimed his powers were that he could "fly and read minds." In August of 2017, Trail identified a woman in a Beatrice WalMart who Hills could kill to become a witch. A blonde-haired woman, who stood about 5-6 and wore glasses walked in. "Aubrey asked me if I wanted her to be my first kill," she said. "At that point, I said 'yes.'" After 1-2 weeks passed, A.H. asked about the woman, and Trail said she had some trouble to take care of in California, so they "would find someone else to kill." In the meantime, he told A.H. to think about how she and Boswell wanted to torture someone that would "turn us on." She said torture "was just a regular conversation for him." A.H. said choking was sometimes part of her sexual acts with Trail and Boswell. She said he used his hands, belt or a scarf on her and a belt on Boswell. Trail later told her that Golyakova would be killed somewhere along the way when they took a trip to Pennsylvania. He explained to A.H. that Golyakova was "too nice." One day when she and Boswell were shopping, A.H. said she "looked in the mirror and just started shaking." She didn't recognize the woman she had become and decided to return to her hometown in western Nebraska in the beginning of September. A.H. said she was told if she spoke about anything that had happened, Trail said he "would kill my family and everyone would think I was crazy." She said they invited her to meet them in Kansas a short time after she moved. "I was scared they were going to kill me, so I said I couldn't get out of work," A.H. said. Sydney Loofe disappeared just two months later, after going on a Tinder date with Boswell on Nov. 15, 2017. Trail and Boswell posted several videos to Facebook claiming their innocence in Sydney's disappearance, but one of those videos eventually led investigators to their arrest in Missouri on Nov. 30, 2017. FBI Agent Mike Maseth testified that Trail was interviewed about a dozen times after his arrest — with his story changing from one of innocence to one where he "accidentally" killed her. "He said 50 percent of what I tell you is bull----," Maseth said of one interview with Trail. At one point, Trail began to describe a group of "treacherous women." The agent said Trail wanted to go off camera in the bathroom, and whispered, "Witches kill, witches kill. A life for a life and they get more power when they kill." Maseth said Trail often would say he "needed time to think" before answering questions. When investigators found Sydney's remains, he told a new account of what happened: Sydney had agreed to be paid $5,000 for a sexual fantasy and accidentally died. He clarified that it was not Sydney's fantasy, but that of two other women. Trail later drew a map where her dismembered remains could be found. He said disposal of her body was in line with his belief system so "reincarnation could occur faster." Trail later told Maseth that they had "missed two bags — one containing the blood and one containing the soul." When Joe Murray cross examined Maseth, he asked the agent how long it would take to drain a body of blood. "I have absolutely no idea," he replied. In their redirect, Mike Guinan of the Attorney General's Office asked Maseth how many roasting pans were found after Boswell purchased three or four. He said they only found two, and they never found the wastebasket that Boswell was seen purchasing in surveillance footage. Aubrey Trail hasn't appeared in court since Monday, but jurors heard testimony from him for the first time Friday as the video of his interview with the FBI was played in Saline County District Court.
Trail, 52, told FBI agents Mike Maseth and Eli McBride a gruesome tale of Sydney Loofe’s death. In the June 11, 2018 interview he told the agents that Loofe agreed to participate in a sexual fantasy with him and two other women he refused to name. Trail and his 25-year-old fiance, Bailey Boswell, have been charged with first-degree murder in Sydney’s death. In the FBI interview, he claimed that Sydney died accidentally and that her dismembered body was placed in “a special place.” The agents asked him how Sydney’s body was dismembered without leaving “a huge mess.” After several minutes passed, Trail said that he drained the blood from her body, and deposited the blood and her “soul” in a place that law enforcement had not located. For more details, read the Omaha World-Herald story here. Neligh's grad fireworks display will see a few changes this year. The July 4 fireworks will be discharged at Penn Park in Neligh. Nearby Wylie Drive will be shut down to just one lane traffic - with traffic only entering from Highway 14 heading east. The traffic lane will be designated for the handicapped and elderly.
The NYMC plans to run free trolleys up Main Street and down N Street, before and after the fireworks. There will be no parking along Highway 14 for those attending. Testimony in the Sydney Loofe murder trial continued Thursday — the third day without the defendant, Aubrey Trail.
“Once again, Mr. Trail has chosen not to appear,” Judge Vicky Johnson said as the trial reconvened in Saline County District Court. The bulk of Thursday’s testimony focused on the actions and whereabouts of Trail and Bailey Boswell on Nov. 15, 2017 — the same night Boswell picked up Sydney for a date and was never heard from again. LPD investigator Bob Hurley detailed the route that Boswell and Trail’s cell phones traveled around that time, using cell phone tower pings to track their movements to a Lincoln hotel, Home Depot, an antique mall, Sydney’s home, Menards and back to their Wilber apartment before stops at the local Dollar General and grocery store. According to their phone records, the couple traveled from Wilber to the Best Western in Lincoln on Nov. 14. Testimony from the hotel manager and surveillance footage from the hotel later corroborated Hurley’s findings as the video showed Trail and Boswell getting out of a silver car and checking in at the front desk. Boswell has told officers that she and Sydney went on a date that night, driving around, talking and smoking marijuana. Hurley said the phone records are consistent with driving around Lincoln the night of the 14th. After Trail and Boswell’s phones left the hotel on the morning of the 15th, they traveled to Home Depot, Hurley said. Once again, testimony from a Home Depot employee, a receipt and a store surveillance video verified this. The couple was shown buying a hacksaw and replacement blades, a knife, 3 pack of plastic drop cloths, tin snips, blades for a utility knife and two sodas. Hurley tracked their phones to the Aardvark Antique Mall in Lincoln after that. Mall manager Lorrie Orman testified that Trail and Boswell were dealers in the store, beginning June 18, 2017, and had come in on Nov. 15 to pick up a paycheck and buy some items. Surveillance video and a receipt confirmed that they purchased a folding saw, weed cutter, two food grinders and other items. The manager said Boswell was usually in the store once a week. She said Trail and Boswell had other girls with them on previous visits, but none of them were Sydney Loofe. Orman was asked whether bleach was often used as a cleaning agent for antiques and she replied it would be “damaging” to use bleach on items. She also said Trail and Boswell mostly dealt with toys, automobile items and tins. After the antique mall, Hurley said the couple’s phones traveled near Sydney’s home, about the same time she left to work her noon shift at Menards. Their phones then tracked to Menards, where surveillance footage showed Trail walking near Sydney as she headed towards the lumber yard. Trail and Boswell then headed back to their Wilber apartment, according to their phone records. That afternoon, Boswell was tracked to Dollar General in Wilber. A store manager confirmed this with a receipt and video surveillance showing Boswell purchasing Hefty trash bags, bleach and large aluminum roasting pans. Hurley said phone records indicated that Boswell left her apartment several hours later, arriving at Sydney’s house in Lincoln shortly before 7 p.m. Tinder records confirmed the timeline with a message from Boswell to Sydney that said “here.” Hurley said Boswell and Sydney’s phones track back to Wilber after that. After 8:08 p.m., he said there was no more movement to track on Sydney’s phone. “There are no more records after that,” Hurley said. The next day, Boswell was shown on surveillance cameras at the local grocery store purchasing bleach, trash bags, a wastebasket and coffee. Other testimony on Thursday centered on December 2017 searches done by the Saline County Sheriff’s Department. Sydney’s remains were discovered on Dec. 4. During questioning after his Nov. 30 arrest, Trail told officers that he had thrown out Sydney’s cell phone near Wilber’s Czech Cemetery. Sgt. Richard Zimmerman and Capt. Russell Kalkwarf said officers focused their roadside searches in that area. Down the road a stretch, officers eventually found a gray phone case which was cut into 7 pieces, Sydney’s drivers license in pieces, Sydney’s “smashed and broken” iPhone, Sydney’s keys and a cut up extension cord. Kalkwarf said several months later he drove the shoulder of Highway 15 to prepare for another search and found the white shirt Sydney was last seen wearing as well as a multi-colored bra with a cut in one of the cups. Stipulations during court proceedings on Thursday revealed that numerous sex toys found in Trail and Boswell’s apartment were tested for DNA by the Nebraska State Patrol Crime Lab, none of which matched Sydney’s. On Thursday, the judge told the jury that the trial “probably won’t be four full weeks,” even with a few days off next week due to the Fourth of July and the witness schedule. The Neligh-Oakdale School board unanimously approved the resignation of Superintendent Scott Greogry during a special board meeting on Monday night.
The letter sent to the school board was dated June 24. According to his letter, Gregory’s resignation will be effective August 5. He told the board that he will be pursuing “an opportunity at the post-secondary level that will also serve my spouse’s professional goals, as well as meet personal wishes in regards to being closer to family.” Ron Gilg made a motion to approve his resignation, with regrets. The motion, seconded by Kenny Reinke, passed on a 6-0 vote. Gregory has accepted a position with Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kans. He will work in the Department of Teacher Education and serve as the director of field experience, placing student-teachers in schools. Gregory said he will also be an instructor for two college courses — classroom management and discipline and student-teaching experience. “I’m very excited to start,” he said. “My parents taught at the college level for over 25 years at UNK, so this is kind of in the blood.” Gregory said he will continue finishing his doctoral program as well. “I just had this tremendous opportunity come up suddenly,” he said. “I didn’t think I would get to that level for another five or 10 years, but it just came up and worked out well.” Gregory, who was the local superintendent for three years, said he and his wife Dawn, and sons Ethan, Aiden and Carter, are thankful for their time at Neligh-Oakdale. “Neligh has been tremendous to my kids — wonderful experiences, great programs, lots of encouragement,” he said. “We will remember Neligh-Oakdale very well. We have very good memories and it’s really helped my kids grow.” According to board president Ryan Koinzan the board now needs “to develop a plan for a replacement.” The next Neligh-Oakdale School board meeting is set for July 8. He has always loved to sing. And his mom is one of his biggest fans.
She has encouraged him in his high school singing contests and celebrated when he was selected for Young Americans in December. His mom is also a huge fan of “The Voice,” a singing competition TV show that airs on NBC. “She always sees Young Americans go on there,” Cade Wilkinson, 18, said. “My mom was like, ‘You should try out.’” So last weekend he did. Wilkinson, the son of Justin and Carla Wilkinson of Tilden, traveled to Chicago with his family and auditioned for “The Voice” on Saturday. “What do I have to lose?” he thought. Wilkinson said he registered for the competition online under NBC’s “The Voice” website and printed out his artist audition pass. It was all set. Saturday at 2 p.m. he would be waiting for his chance to sing in front of a producer in Chicago’s Festival Hall at Navy Pier. Wilkinson said contestants were instructed to prepare two songs in case producers wanted to hear more before advancing them. The 2019 Neligh-Oakdale knew just what he wanted to sing for his first song. “I chose ‘You Raise Me Up’ because, personally, I have a connection to the song because of (Nate) Metschke,” he said. “He always told me, ‘Your voice is going to get you somewhere.’ I also think the song highlights my voice pretty well.” His second choice was “Then” by Brad Paisley. Wilkinson said it was a little bit intimidating when he was one of thousands to show up for the afternoon audition. “Just in my group alone there were like 2,000 people and there was a morning group at 7 a.m.,” he said. Wilkinson said there were long lines as he waited his turn and his parents weren’t allowed to wait with him. “Luckily, I actually made a friend while I was waiting in line,” he said. About 3 p.m., Wilkinson’s group of 10 artists was called and led to an audition room. “You sit in an arc of 10 chairs and they just made their way around, one would go and then the next for about 45 seconds to a minute,” he said. Wilkinson sang in front one producer, nine other artists and some parents of contestants who were under the age of 18. After singing the first verse and chorus, the producer told him some good — and bad — news. “The guy told me, ‘You’re singing is there,’” he said. “But producers of these shows don’t want a bunch of the same people, so they look at what type of an artist you are and what you sing. For production purposes, they are looking for a diversified group of people.” Unfortunately, Wilkinson was told he wasn’t the type of artist they wanted for this season. “I was a little disappointed because I didn’t make it as far as I wanted, but he didn’t say anything bad about my singing,” he said. “I’m not going to stop because one person says I didn’t fit the right description.” Wilkinson said he may try out again. If not for “The Voice,” maybe for another show like “America’s Got Talent” or “American Idol.” “From here on out, I’ll probably promote my singing by social media using hashtags,” he said. “I talked to another contestant who told me to keep pushing so someone will notice.” Wilkinson said he may not have advanced in the contest, but he learned a lot from the experience. “I know how to get people to recognize me now,” he said. “I’m building my confidence and self esteem, so I can go out and do these big things. I’m just kind of hoping for a miracle.” In the meantime, Wilkinson plans to attend Northeast Community College in Norfolk for two years, where he will start a degree in computer science, sing in the college choir and take vocal lessons. After that, Wilkinson plans to go to Young Americans in southern California and earn an associates of performing arts degree before touring with the group and finishing up his computer science degree. “The Voice” might not have worked out exactly like he had hoped, but he’s not giving up on his dream and he offered a bit of advice for others like him. “Don’t give up,” Wilkinson said. “It might not work out the first time, but if everything worked out the first time, it would be too easy. You’ve gotta work for it.” Aubrey Trail wasn’t present for the second day in a row as testimony centered around the discovery of Sydney Loofe’s dismembered remains Wednesday.
Trail, 52, chose not to appear in court for the second time following his outburst and attempted suicide attempt on Monday. Court proceedings continued without the defendant as FBI agent Eli McBride continued his testimony. McBride detailed crime scene photos which were taken in rural Clay County where Sydney’s remains were found. Dozens of photos were projected on a courtroom monitor; however, the most gruesome evidence photos were passed to the jury. One by one, they somberly glanced at the photos. McBride testified that Sydney’s remains were scattered in bags along two gravel roads and found in 13 different pieces in early December 2017. Evidence found in rural Clay County was linked Trail’s apartment and to Sydney, according to testimony. Investigators revealed that a “sauna suit” found along country roads fit the description of the sauna suit box uncovered in the basement apartment in Wilber where Trail and Bailey Boswell resided. Also found in the apartment were a hatchet and a book titled "The Human Body Atlas." A white Columbia coat Sydney was wearing in photos before her date with Boswell was found in a ditch near her remains. For more details on Wednesday’s testimony, go to the Omaha World-Herald story here. After slashing his neck with a small blade the previous day, Aubrey Trail chose not to attend his court proceedings on Tuesday, but testimony continued anyway.
Trail, 52, is currently standing trial for the murder of Sydney Loofe in Saline County District Court. He has been charged with first degree murder, a class I or class IA felony; conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a class II felony; and improper disposal of human skeletal remains, a class IV felony. Tuesday’s testimony focused on the search for Sydney, who disappeared after arranging a date with Bailey Boswell via the online dating app, Tinder. FBI and LPD investigators and a motel clerk detailed the whereabouts of Trail and Boswell after Sydney’s disappearance. Trail and his co-defendant Boswell fled to Iowa after swapping cars with another woman. On Nov. 29, 2017, an Ames, Iowa motel clerk said she called a police tip phone line. FBI did a search of their room, finding maps of Iowa and the Texas-Mexico border area and four sex toys. The FBI testified how the two were eventually tracked to a Branson, Missouri motel using a Facebook video posted by Trail and Boswell on Nov. 29, 2017. In the video, which was shown in court as evidence, the couple denied their involvement in Sydney’s disappearance. "I hope that Sydney is found soon," Trail said in the video. "I'm sorry that her family has to go through this." Trail and Boswell were eventually arrested at the Branson motel about 6 a.m. on Nov. 30, 2017. LPD investigator Robert Hurley secured phone records for Trail and Boswell’s cell phones. Using that data, he was able to plot the route they took together, which led west from Wilber and eventually to Clay County. Hurley was able to determine when the couple either slowed down or stopped in several places. On Dec. 4, 2017, he was able to direct a search team to the rural area where numerous bags of human remains were discovered. Trail’s attorneys objected to each photo of body parts which were shown to the jury, claiming it would prejudice the jury since their client pleaded guilty to the charge of improper disposal of human skeletal remains last week. On Wednesday, FBI agent Eli McBride is expected to resume his testimony about the evidence collected during the rural Clay County search. Read more from the Omaha World-Herald here. After the man accused of murdering Sydney Loofe slashed his own neck in today, he was treated for his injuries and has been ordered to be back in court tomorrow, according to District Court Judge Vicky Johnson.
Aubrey Trail slashed his neck with what appeared to be a pen and shouted as a witness took the stand in Saline County District Court on Monday morning. "Bailey is innocent and I curse you all," he shouted in the courtroom, then slashed at his neck, according to the Omaha World-Herald. After Trail slashed his neck several times, he fell to the floor, out of his wheelchair, and appeared pale and wasn't moving as deputies rushed over to him. Saline County District Judge Vicky Johnson then ordered the courtroom cleared of onlookers and news media as deputies attempted to administer first aid to Trail. Reporters said they witnessed blood coming from Trail's neck. It's unclear to the extent of his injuries. The judge has now adjourned proceedings for the day. She said Trail is back in custody and will appear in handcuffs for the remainder of the trial. The judge then spoke with each juror individually, asking them not to take the outburst into consideration. The trial is expected to resume again at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. Aubrey Trail, accused of murdering Sydney Loofe, slashed his neck in court today with what appeared to be a pen.
During testimony Monday morning in his murder trial, Trail suddenly shouted and slashed his neck. "Bailey is innocent and I curse you all," he shouted in the courtroom, then slashed at his neck, according to the Omaha World-Herald. Trail fell to the floor, out of his wheelchair, and appeared pale and wasn't moving as deputies rushed over to him. Saline County District Judge Vicky Johnson then ordered the courtroom cleared of onlookers and news media as deputies attempted to administer first aid to Trail. Reporters said they witnessed blood coming from Trail's neck. It's unclear to the extent of his injuries. This story will be updated. Read the full story from the Omaha World-Herald here. Shortly after Sydney Loofe’s disappearance, something unusual occurred at the basement apartment where Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell resided.
Their landlords, who lived on the floor above, noticed the strong smell of bleach emanating from the couple’s apartment. In Saline County District Court on Friday, landlords Alan Koll and his wife Jennifer of Wilber both testified that they initially noted the smell on Nov. 16, 2017. Sydney was last heard from on Nov. 15. Jennifer’s son who had a basement bedroom that was sectioned off from Trail and Boswell’s apartment — but shared two walls — said he noticed the distinct smell in the late hours of the 15th. The odor was so strong on the 16th that Mrs. Koll texted her husband at work after she smelled it around lunchtime. Her sensitivity to bleach was discussed in court. “We don’t keep Clorox in the house because I’m allergic to it,” she said. “I start vomiting. I get hives.” Despite the fact that it was mid-November, Mrs. Koll said she opened up the house for two days because the scent of bleach was making her sick. They said it took several days to dissipate. Around the same time, Mr. Koll said the basement apartment air conditioner froze up. He later discovered it was because the temperature had been set at 60 degrees even though it was chilly outside. Mr. Koll said Trail and Boswell first became their tenants in June of 2017, signing a one-year lease for the apartment. He said Trail introduced Boswell as his fiancee and said they were antique dealers. Mr. Koll said Trail always paid his rent in cash, often months in advance, and he “infrequently” had contact with him. He said the basement apartment and its contents came under investigation and were involved in several search warrants by law enforcement officers. Mr. Koll said he had to repair “all of the investigative damage” after evidence samples were cut from the carpet and other areas were destroyed. The landlords said they rarely saw the tenant or anyone with them; however, Mrs. Koll said she once saw Boswell with a girl who had blond hair. She initially thought it was Sydney Loofe, but later admitted that she was quite a distance away and probably identified her incorrectly. Saline County Deputy Tom Hudiburgh said Sydney’s missing persons investigation led law enforcement to Wilber — specifically to the residence of Boswell and Trail. When he contacted their landlords on Nov. 18, 2017, “They advised me that there was a strong aroma of bleach.” Hudiburgh knocked on their apartment door and no one responded. He noted the bleach smell, got a key from the landlords and entered the residence. Hudiburgh did “a sweep” of the apartment and found no one present. The final two witnesses of the day did more extensive searches, confiscating evidence after warrants were issued. Pedram Nabegh, a Nebraska State Patrol investigator, and Cindy Koenig-Warneke, a Lincoln Police Department investigator, said they first became involved in the Sydney Loofe investigation on Nov. 19, 2017. Nabegh said they were looking for evidence in connection with her disappearance. “Anything that helped establish a timeline,” he said. A couple searches were done and Nabegh said they collected numerous pieces of evidence from the apartment, including swabs from sinks, a prescription bottle for Katelyn Randall, instructions on how to encrypt a phone, receipts for bleach and Hefty cinch sacks, a digital scale, drug paraphernalia, zip ties, condoms, a Viagra pill, a whip, straps, fur handcuffs, sex toys, three bleach bottles — nearly two and a half of them empty — and a fitted sheet. “The corresponding straight sheet was not found at the time, it was later found in rural Clay County,” he said. Sydney’s remains were discovered in Clay County on Dec. 4, 2017. Nabegh said searches were also conducted of two cars, a silver Chrysler 300 and a black Ford 500. Some of the items found in the vehicles were: a handsaw, knife, handwritten list of names, bedding, Nov. 18 receipts from a Nebraska City Walmart and a Plattsmouth Shopko, hair and fibers and what appeared to be a small, wooden club. When Koenig-Warneke took the stand, her testimony focused on the processes and tools used in identifying evidence during the searches. The investigator explained that Blue Star is “a blood enhancement reagent” which is sprayed on items and ALS, or an alternate light source, uses ultraviolet light to help you “see things that you may not otherwise see.” She said the center of the living room was an “area of concern” after it produced a unique reaction she had never seen before. Testimony is scheduled to continue on Monday at 9 a.m. Sydney Loofe’s mom was the first witness to testify in her murder trial. After the trial was delayed Wednesday, it got back on track Thursday as the prosecution sailed through testimony, calling 10 witnesses and breaking early for the day. When court reconvened on Thursday morning, District Judge Vicky Johnson explained the previous day’s delay was because the defendant Aubrey Trail “was ill yesterday.” The prosecution got to work right after the judge’s announcement and called Susie Loofe to the stand. A Neligh-Oakdale special education teacher for 19 years, Loofe started her testimony by providing Sydney’s background information. She said the family moved to Neligh when Sydney was in second grade. After graduating from Neligh-Oakdale in 2011, Sydney started at Northeast Community College, but later decided to enter the workforce and began working at Menards in Norfolk. Two years later, she transferred to a Menards store in Lincoln, where she worked until the time of her death. Loofe said Sydney came back to Neligh for a visit in November 2017, the weekend before she went missing. “I rode back to Lincoln with her on Sunday night,” she said. Loofe said Sydney had been struggling with depression and her medication didn’t seem to be working, so Loofe set up a doctor’s appointment with her cousin who is a general practitioner in Lincoln. On Monday, Nov. 13, the doctor switched Sydney to a new medication. Loofe said she took her daughter out to eat and then returned to Neligh later that day. She was in contact with Sydney on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, texting on and off to ask about her new meds and her search for a different job. “She had a feeling in the first day or two that the new medication was working and she was feeling a little bit more upbeat,” Loofe said. Her last text message conversation with Sydney was Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2017. “I said, ‘I love you,’ and she said, ‘I love you too,’” Loofe said. She later saw a Snapchat of Sydney that said, "Ready for my date" and took a screenshot of it. "My children didn't like it, but I screenshotted a lot of their Snapchats," Loofe said. She texted Sydney again, “You didn’t tell me that you had a date,” but there was no response. This didn't concern Loofe at the time. She wasn't alarmed until the next evening when her other daughter MacKenzie began receiving messages from Sydney's friends saying no one had heard from her and she hadn't shown up for work at Menards that day. Loofe tried texting and calling Sydney, but got no answer. "Then I was concerned," she said. "That's when I called the Lincoln Police Department." Loofe told the officer no one was able to get in touch with Sydney, and because so many people had contacted them, officers decided to do a wellness check. When she wasn't at her apartment, Loofe, her husband George, and MacKenzie left for Lincoln the next morning to look for her. Her vehicle was still in the driveway when they got to her apartment. She said a landlord opened her apartment for them. Sydney's cat, Mimzy, was there — without food or water. "That's when we knew something was wrong," Loofe said. "She loved her cat." When the defense attorney cross examined her, he asked her to describe Sydney's tattoos and asked about drug use. Loofe said Sydney had told her that she was trying to stop smoking marijuana. Leah Shaw, a Menards manager, took the stand next. Shaw described Sydney as a reliable cashier who would help out whenever needed, even giving breaks to gate attendants at the lumber yard. She said Sydney was smiling and was feeling good when she saw her at work on Nov. 15, but she didn't show up for work the next day. Each time the manager tried to call, "her phone went straight to voicemail." She and co-workers also tried to contact Sydney at her apartment. LPD Sgt. Tyler Cooper testified that he and a couple other officers were the ones who conducted the wellness check on the night of Nov. 16. He said Sydney's vehicle was in the driveway, and all of her apartment lights were on, but her door was locked. They attempted to knock and ring the doorbell. When neither were successful, the officers found an unlocked window to gain entry. He said they searched for Sydney in her apartment. As they left, the officers turned off the lights so patrolling officers could easily check to see if someone had returned. LPD Captain Jake Dilsaver said he got a debriefing from Cooper when his shift started so they could continue the search. After talking with Loofe, officers learned that Sydney had been on a Tinder date and her mother thought she had last been with that person, he said. "I also initiated a ping of Sydney's phone," Dilsaver said. Verizon indicated that her phone had not received or sent any information for about 24 hours. "It had last pinged in Wilber, Nebraska," he said. After a lunch break, Brittney Flinn of Neligh took the stand. Flinn said she and Sydney had played softball together when they were young. "We were really good friends," she said as her voice quavered. Flinn said she last saw Sydney when she was back in Neligh the weekend before she disappeared. She said they went to Rafts of Crafts and out for supper together. Her last communication with Sydney was via text message on Nov. 14, 2017, when she texted Flinn she had been on a date. She sent Flinn a photo of her date and messaged that she had met her on Tinder. The prosecution showed the witness a photo that said "Audrey," the woman who would later be identified as Bailey Boswell — Trail's fiancee who is also charged with Sydney's murder. Brooklyn McCrystal of Lincoln, another one of Sydney's friends, testified next. She formerly worked at Menards and has remained a close friend, McCrystal said. After some friends told her Sydney didn't show up for work, she tried texting and calling her. When she didn't get a response, McCrystal texted Sydney's sister. "I was trying to really find her," she said. McCrystal said MacKenzie sent her the Tinder photo of "Audrey," and she "started doing some digging." On Nov. 16, 2017, McCrystal created her own Tinder page with similar settings in an attempt to find "Audrey." When she found the photo, she "swiped right" and got a response the following day. "That's when I was able to message her through the Tinder app." McCrystal said they communicated for awhile and she eventually got the woman's phone number. "I immediately told Sydney's family," she said. On the cross examination, defense attorney Joseph Murray said, "I, for one, applaud your initiative." LPD Officer Joseph Yindrick said officers tried a another ping of Sydney's phone on Nov. 17, and learned that it hadn't been powered on since Nov. 15. Yindrick said he was one of the officers who entered Sydney's apartment with her parents and sister when they arrived. "Her parents were extremely concerned," he said. LPD Investigator Cameron Cleland said he has been involved in "numerous" missing persons cases and became involved with Sydney's case on Nov. 17, 2017. "What stood out to me was the family's immediate reporting and insistence of it," he said. "The family was adamant there was a problem." Cleland said he contacted Sydney's bank and was advised that there had not been any activity for two days. He said an officer provided him with the phone number for "Audrey" that McCrystal had received. Cleland said he left a message, and on Friday afternoon, she called back. "Audrey" admitted that she had met Sydney on a dating app and had picked her up at her apartment at 7 p.m. on Nov. 15, 2017. She told him they drove around, listened to music, talked and smoked marijuana before she dropped off Sydney at a friend's house. She identified herself as "Audrey Cain," but was evasive about giving out other basic details, citing concerns about drug possession charges. "I felt she was holding information back," Cleland said. On Nov. 19, 2017, Aubrey Trail attempted to call LPD, but asked for the wrong officer. Cleland later listened to the messages in which Trail said officers were looking for his fiancee Bailey Boswell "because she was the last person with Sydney Loofe." Saline County Deputy Dillon Semrad took the stand next. He said he searched Boswell's phone number online. Semrad said he contacted Pinger — the company that provided Boswell with an application for a fake phone number. He said a Pinger number goes through the internet, but uses a phone number. Semrad was able to get her user name, email and three IP addresses. He said the IP addresses show where the phone accessed the internet and he was able to cross reference the times and dates. Semrad said there was a number that was used to contact Sydney. LPD Investigator Lacey Reha was the final witness for the prosecution on Thursday. Reha said she helped map the phone number that McCrystal helped get from Tinder. When Reha checked hotels that coincided with the area, she learned "Audrey" was really Bailey Boswell and that she had checked into a Lincoln hotel on Nov. 14, 2017. Her mapping of phone records uncovered that Sydney and Boswell's phones had traveled together to Wilber on Wednesday night. She also used a program in the police department to find the address in Wilber. Court adjourned around 4 p.m. on Thursday and is expected to reconvene at 9 a.m. on Friday. It was an unusual day in the Sydney Loofe murder trial.
The defendant Aubrey Trail didn’t appear, a juror was accused of blogging and the judge threatened to “pull the plug” on extended media coverage. The prosecution was expected to call its first witnesses in the trial on Wednesday, but no testimony was even heard in Saline County District Court. As the trial finally reconvened at 10:25 a.m., the judge, jurors, attorneys, media, members of the Loofe family and others were present. It seemed that everyone was accounted for — that is, except the defendant, 52-year-old Aubrey Trail. District Judge Vicky Johnson said there had been a delay, but she was not going to discuss reasons for the delay. “I’m not going to muddy the waters,” the judge said. Then she gave further directions to the jurors, instructing them not to read anything on social media or visit any of the locations involved in the case. Jurors were asked to return at 12:45 p.m. When court was back in session at 1:05 p.m., the judge reminded jurors that she had instructed them not to talk about the case. “The court staff received two phone calls that a juror has been blogging information about the case,” she said. “Now I’m obligated to talk to you individually.” Another recess was taken as the judge called each juror and alternate into her chambers, one by one. Several media members questioned whether it was actually a juror making the posts or if the judge was referring to a blog comment on a Lincoln TV station blog: “My daughter is a juror and they are not sequestered. They are not allowed to research the case outside of court.” Around 1:30 p.m., she went back on record and told the courtroom that she was “waiting on a phone call” before proceeding, so the jury was dismissed. After jurors left the courtroom, the judge spoke directly to the press, “I am concerned that we’ve made it an atmosphere here that it’s approaching a point where I’m going to have to take some action.” She told the media that she has two decisions to make: “sequester the jury for three weeks or pull the plug on expanded media coverage.” The judge said she was concerned about the audio feed going outside the courtroom to media members as well as jurors walking by media. She later informed the courtroom that the trial would not proceed any further on Wednesday and said it would reconvene on Thursday at 9 a.m. A Lincoln Journal Star reporter later tweeted that she heard that Aubrey Trail had been “taken from D&E in Lincoln, where he was being held, on a 911 emergency today.” Defense attorney Joseph Murray said he couldn’t comment on his client’s health. Trail has been charged with first degree murder, a class I or class IA felony; conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a class II felony; and improper disposal of human skeletal remains, a class IV felony. On Monday, he pleaded guilty to the latter charge in what is being called a “legally strategic move” in an attempt to keep out evidence showing grisly photos of Loofe’s dismembered body. The Sydney Loofe family is getting widespread support from family and friends — and many people they have never even met. Standing on the corner across from the Saline County Courthouse, a woman displays a sign while wearing a shirt that says. “Everything will be wonderful someday.” She solemnly holds a sign that reads, “Wilber will never forget Sydney Loofe!!! Prayers for her family & friends!!!” Eileen Campbell of Wilber said she wants to show her support for the family as her murder trial begins and hopes others in the community join her. "I just want justice for Sydney,” Campbell said. “These murderers aren't our people." Sitting in the middle of the courtroom Wednesday, Sydney’s immediate family — parents George and Susie Loofe, and siblings Levi and MacKenzie — sat in the courtroom surrounded by extended family, friends and their former pastor, David Kuhfal. A David City woman, who said she has never met the Loofes, also sat behind the family to show her support. “Sydney’s story just tugs at my heartstrings,” she said. “Sydney was about my granddaughter’s age, and I just want to show my support for the family.” As the trial reconvened about 10:25 a.m., the judge, jurors, attorneys, media, family and others were present. It seemed that everyone was accounted for — that is except for the defendant, Aubrey Trail. District Judge Vicky Johnson said there had been a delay, but she was not going to discuss reasons for the delay. “I’m not going to muddy the waters,” the judge said. Then she gave further directions to the jurors, instructing them not to read anything on social media or visit any of the locations involved in the case. “And there is someone outside with a sign,” the judge said. “Pay no attention.” The jury was told that the delay would continue and the judge called a recess a few minutes later. Jurors were asked to return at 12:45 p.m. The first witnesses are expected to take the stand this afternoon. During Monday's jury selection, more than a half a dozen people admitted they couldn't be fair and impartial jurors in the Sydney Loofe murder trial.
Out of 45 potential jurors called forward, six of them were excused by 10:30 a.m. The jury selection process was moved to the Wilber American Legion Hall due to the large jury pool. There were 220 potential jurors present. The selection process will continue on Tuesday and opening statements are expected to begin on Wednesday in Saline County District Court. Before jury selection started, Aubrey Trail, 52, pleaded guilty to improper disposal of human remains, "a legally strategic move just before the start of his trial," according to the Omaha World Herald. The OWH said by pleading guilty it could mean "some grisly photos of Loofe's body" may not be shown to the jury. Trail has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty. The entire trial is scheduled to last at least three weeks. Emily Anderson was recently named to the Bryan College of Health Sciences' Dean's List for the Spring 2019 term.
Anderson, daughter of Fred and Linda Anderson of Neligh, is currently a senior at Bryan College of Health Sciences. The Dean's list is composed of students who were taking 12 credit hours or more and received a 3.5 GPA or higher. Before jury selection started on Monday, Aubrey Trail pleaded guilty to one charge in the Sydney Loofe murder trial on Monday.
Trail, 52, pleaded guilty to improper disposal of human remains, "a legally strategic move just before the start of his trial," according to the Omaha World Herald. The OWH said by pleading guilty it could mean "some grisly photos of Loofe's body" may not be shown to the jury. Trail has pleaded not guilty to a charge of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty. The trial began on Monday morning in Saline County District Court, and jury selection is expected to take at least one day. The entire trial is scheduled to last at least three weeks. According to the OWH, Trail appeared in the courtroom in a wheelchair. His attorney stated earlier that his client has suffered a stroke and two heart attacks since his incarceration. Monday's jury selection process was moved to the Wilber American Legion Hall due to the large number of potential jurors, the OWH stated. For more details, read the Omaha World Herald story here. Two Rivers Irrigation and Carquest of Neligh was awarded the 2019 Northeast Nebraska Business of the Year award Wednesday night at the Nebraska Diplomats Banquet.
Accepting the award presented by Governor Pete Ricketts for Two Rivers Irrigation & Carquest was Cody Frank, Abigail Frank, Justin Frank, Tabetha Jurgens, Jeff Lieswald, and Laurie Lieswald. Dial-A-Ride Driver Gordon Hagge prepares to take Darlene Booth in the new 2019 Minivan. Dial-A-Ride purchased the minivan with 80% federal funds, 10% state funds and 10% local match funds made possible through the Neligh Lottery. |
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