A years-long investigation into a chilling series of drug-fueled deaths reached a major turning point this week as Rebecca Auborn pleaded guilty to murdering four men in a case authorities say was driven by robbery and exploitation.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced the plea, calling it the end of a difficult but decisive case.
“Today’s plea closes a tough case,” Yost said in a statement. “An overwhelming amount of convincing evidence and an airtight investigation conducted by BCI and Columbus Police left no doubt that a conviction was forthcoming. When law enforcement works together, there’s hope for families to secure justice.”
Auborn pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault. She is scheduled to be sentenced on February 20, 2026, at 9 a.m.
A Deadly Pattern Emerges
Rebecca Auborn was originally indicted in October 2023 after investigators linked her to a disturbing pattern: meeting men for sex, drugging them, and stealing their belongings. In at least four cases, the overdoses proved fatal.
The investigation determined the crimes occurred in northeast Columbus, where Auborn allegedly targeted men—often referred to in court filings as “johns”—and intentionally dosed them with drugs. One additional victim survived an attempted overdose.
The case was uncovered through work by the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force, operating under Yost’s Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission, after tips suggested a woman was systematically drugging men she met for sex.
Victims Spanning Months
Investigators ultimately connected Auborn to five separate overdose incidents:
- December 13, 2022 – Attempted overdose
- January 15, 2023 – Fatal overdose
- April 1, 2023 – Fatal overdose
- April 13, 2023 – Fatal overdose
- June 17, 2023 – Fatal overdose
Earlier indictments included a sweeping list of charges: murder, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated robbery, felonious assault, corrupting another with drugs, tampering with evidence, and drug trafficking.
At the time, Yost issued a blunt warning: “Don’t buy sex in Ohio – it ruins lives and could cost you yours.”
Coordinated Investigation
The case was jointly investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Columbus Division of Police, with prosecution handled by the Franklin County Prosecutor’s Office.
Authorities say the collaboration between agencies was critical in tying together overdoses that initially appeared unrelated—and ultimately holding Rebecca Auborn accountable.
With the guilty plea now entered, families of the victims are one step closer to justice in a case that exposed how predatory crime, drug abuse, and exploitation can collide with deadly consequences.
