Rebecca Auborn, a 36-year-old woman from Columbus, has been sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison after admitting to drugging and killing four men with fentanyl during a series of attacks in 2023.
The sentencing also included a concurrent term for felonious assault related to a man who survived a similar attack.
Auborn pleaded guilty in December 2025 to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault.
According to the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office, she deliberately overdosed four men with fentanyl and attempted the same with a fifth man, stealing their valuables in the process. Twenty-three other charges, including trafficking and involuntary manslaughter, were dismissed as part of her plea deal.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost commented on the case, saying,
“This sentence reflects the defendant’s disregard for life and the callousness not only to kill, but to do it repeatedly. My heart goes out to the families who lost a loved one – I pray that this measure of justice brings them closure and peace.”
Investigators from the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, established under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, received information that Auborn was meeting men for sexual encounters in northeast Columbus and then drugging them with the intent to steal their property.
The Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Columbus Division of Police conducted the investigation, and the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office handled the prosecution.
The victims of Auborn’s crimes were Wayne Akin, 64; Robert Snoke, 54; Joseph Crumpler, 30; and Guy Renda Jr., 42. Family members attended the sentencing to share statements about their loved ones and the devastation caused by the killings.
Christyn Akin-Crockett, daughter of Wayne Akin, reflected on her father’s character: “My dear Rebecca, my father would never have hurt you. He was kind, giving, loving, and gentle. I could never bring myself to hate you, and I never will.”
Mark Crumpler, brother of Joseph Crumpler, said the sentencing gave some measure of justice. “There is no punishment that can bring my brother back, but today we see accountability for the deeds she committed,” he said.
During the hearing, Auborn expressed remorse, admitting that she was heavily using drugs and had been a victim of sexual exploitation at the time of the offenses.
She told the court, “I am truly sorry for the pain I caused. I take full accountability and responsibility for my actions. I will continue to pray for the families every day.”
Judge Karen Phipps handed down four consecutive life sentences for the murders and a concurrent sentence for the surviving victim’s felonious assault. If released on parole after decades in prison, Auborn would be placed under strict, restricted community release conditions.
Authorities continue to review the case and early investigative procedures, as family members reported initial delays in police response before Auborn’s arrest. The case has also highlighted the dangers of fentanyl and the exploitation involved in targeting vulnerable individuals.
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