Boswell sentenced to life for 2017 murder of Sydney Loofe

Wilber, Nebraska: Bailey Boswell was sentenced to life in prison yesterday.

She had been found guilty of all three charges against her including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and improper disposal of human remains in October, 2020. The jury deliberated for just three hours.

She faced the possibility of the death penalty, which would have made her the first woman in Nebraska to be sentenced to death.

A panel of three judges determined her sentence and in order for a death sentence, there had to be unanimity. Two of the three felt that the prosecution had met the burden of proof to establish the requisite aggravating circumstances to warrant the sentence.

"Ms. Loofe was needlessly mutilated by Trail and Boswell as part of the plan to satisfy her sexual desire," presiding District Court Judge Vicky Johnson said. "The mutilation was not done as an afterthought to hide the body," parts of which, including the heart and other organs, were never recovered.

Agreeing with Judge Johnson that the prosecution had met the burden of proof was District Court Judge Darla Ideus. Dissenting was Douglas County Judge Peter Bataillon.

"Nothing in this dissent should be understood to diminish the sentences of the murder of Sydney Loofe and the great pain this has caused her family and friends," Bataillon said.

After the sentencing Boswell's attorney Todd Lancaster said his client was "grateful" for not being sentenced to death. She had previously pleaded for her life to be spared for her five-year-old daughter's sake.

"She needs a mommy and I know I can contribute to her life. For my sake, for my daughter's sake please don't take my life," Boswell had pleaded in July.

When asked what was next for Boswell Lancaster said that she would be transferred to the York Women's Prison and her team would file an appeal in hopes of overturning her guilty verdict.

In the month before she made that plea, 55-year-old Aubrey Trail was sentenced to death for his role in the murder. He had previously been found guilty of the same three charges.