Swipe Right on the Devil Premieres on Hulu
LINCOLN, October 25, 2026 — The Hulu docuseries Swipe Right on the Devil premiered on Oct. 22, 2026, offering a detailed look at the 2017 murder of Sydney Loofe. The three-part series chronicles how a friend’s digital intervention helped identify the killers. It also explores the disturbing cult dynamics surrounding the victims.
Loofe, a 24-year-old resident of Lincoln, Nebraska, vanished after a Tinder date. Her story has captivated audiences for nearly a decade. The new documentary provides the first time the Loofe family shares their side of the story. It includes interviews with investigators and survivors of the perpetrators.
A Friend’s Digital Detective Work
When Loofe failed to appear for work at Menard’s on Nov. 16, 2017, her family called for a wellness check. Police found her car in the driveway and her purse in her apartment. Her cat had not been fed, suggesting she did not plan to leave. Knowing she had met a woman named Audrey on Tinder, her friend Brooklyn McCrystal acted quickly.
McCrystal created a fake Tinder profile to locate Audrey. She matched with the user and exchanged phone numbers. McCrystal then gave the number to police. Investigators traced the number to Bailey Boswell, a 23-year-old woman. Boswell was not cooperative with investigators. She refused to provide information when they called her. This single act of digital sleuthing became the breakthrough in the case.
The Discovery of Remains
Loofe’s remains were found on Dec. 4, 2017, in garbage bags along a state highway in rural Clay County, Nebraska. The scene was grim. Her body had been dismembered into 14 pieces. The location was roughly sixty miles from where she had gone on her date in Wilber. The discovery confirmed the worst fears of her family and friends.
Loofe had been searching for love and connection in Lincoln. She had moved from her hometown of Neligh to the college town. She worked as a cashier and lived alone with her cat, Mimsy. Her friends described her as someone who wanted a serious relationship. The contrast between her daily life and the violent end she met is stark. The documentary highlights this disconnect, showing how ordinary life can intersect with extreme danger.
Convictions and New Claims
Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell were convicted of Loofe’s first-degree murder in 2019. They were tried separately. Trail, described as a lifelong criminal and self-proclaimed warlock, and Boswell, his girlfriend, had targeted Loofe. They believed she had no family nearby. In the documentary, Trail alleges that they carried out the crime as an act of witchcraft. He claims the goal was to “take her soul.” This new insight adds a layer of psychological complexity to the case.
The couple had a history of financial crimes. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Nebraska, they were convicted of interstate transportation of stolen property. They had convinced victims to help purchase gold and silver coins using bad checks. They were ordered to pay restitution of more than $407,782. Their criminal activities extended beyond the murder. They used dating apps to recruit young women into dominant-submissive relationships. These relationships involved grooming, physical punishment, and discussions of the occult.
Survivor Testimonies and Context
The docuseries features interviews with women who escaped the couple’s control weeks before Loofe’s murder. Ashley Hills, one of the survivors, described being terrified of Trail. She alleged he demanded the women be naked at all times. He would beat them if they failed to follow his commands. Hills said Trail told her she could be the 13th woman in his coven. These testimonies paint a picture of a manipulative and violent partnership.
Director Brian Biegel spent three years immersing himself in the case. He previously worked with FBI officers on the ESPN documentary The Counterfeiter. Biegel says the experience changed his views on the occult. He remains skeptical but admits the case made him more open-minded about the human experience. Loofe’s mother, Susie Loofe, noted that the family was contacted by at least 100 production companies. They chose Imagine Documentaries to tell their story. The series offers a comprehensive look at how digital tools can aid in solving crimes, while also exposing the dangers of online dating.
For viewers, the series serves as a reminder of the importance of digital safety. It highlights how quickly online interactions can turn dangerous. The case of Sydney Loofe underscores the need for vigilance when meeting strangers. The documentary provides a factual account of the events, grounded in court records and interviews. It is a somber but necessary look at a tragedy that unfolded in a small Nebraska community.
Sources
- Sydney Loofe Went on a Tinder Date in 2017 and Never Came Home. Here’s How Her Friend Helped Bring Her Killers to Justice – AOL
- The Terrifying True Story of Witchcraft and Murder in 'Swipe Right on the Devil'
- Witchcraft and Murder: Inside the Chilling Killing of Sydney Loofe | Oxygen
Photo: Mathis franckel (CC BY-SA 4.0)
