Rebecca Auborn, 35, pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and additional charges after authorities said she fatally drugged four men with fentanyl in the Columbus area between Jan. 15 and June 17, 2023. She also admitted to felonious assault and theft and faces up to 69 years to life; sentencing is set for Feb. 20. Ohio’s attorney general said investigators collected "overwhelming" evidence, while relatives of one victim expressed relief and criticized earlier investigative handling.
Ohio Woman Pleads Guilty in Series of Fentanyl Overdoses That Killed Four Men
Rebecca Auborn, 33, during her arraignment in Columbus, Ohio, in 2023. (Courtney Hergesheimer / Columbus Dispatch / USA Today Network)
Rebecca Auborn, 35, admitted Friday that she fatally drugged four men and attempted to overdose a fifth in a string of incidents authorities described as "serial killings." Prosecutors say the attacks occurred in the Columbus, Ohio, area between Jan. 15 and June 17, 2023.
Auborn entered guilty pleas to four counts of murder, along with one count of felonious assault and a theft charge, the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office said. She faces a potential prison term of up to 69 years to life and is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 20.
Prosecutors Say Evidence Was Overwhelming
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said investigators had gathered an "overwhelming amount of convincing evidence" that left "no doubt that a conviction was forthcoming." Auborn was indicted in 2023 on multiple counts including murder, aggravated robbery and felonious assault.
Victims and Timeline
Officials have identified the four men who died as Wayne Akin, 64; Robert Snoke, 54; Joseph Crumpler, 30; and Guy Renda Jr., 42. Authorities allege Auborn met the men for sex and administered fentanyl that proved fatal during encounters from January through June 2023. In December 2022, she is accused of attempting to overdose a fifth person; that case led to an aggravated robbery charge.
Family Reaction and Investigation Concerns
Relatives of victim Wayne Akin expressed relief that Auborn is being held accountable. "I've spent two years preparing for the worst, and now it's almost over," Akin's daughter, Christyn Akin-Crockett, said by text. "The grieving process can finally begin."
Akin-Crockett has criticized local authorities for initially seeming to discount leads she provided after receiving a tip that a woman known as "Becka" had harmed multiple people. She said she was told investigators were awaiting toxicology results before pursuing her information; she later said she relayed the tip to a detective after a fourth death in June 2023.
The Columbus Division of Police previously said it reviewed Akin-Crockett’s account; the department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.
This report is based on statements from the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office and public comments from the Ohio Attorney General’s office. Auborn’s attorney declined to comment on the plea.
