Wayne Akin

Wayne Akin was a 64-year-old Black / African American man from Columbus, Ohio, remembered by his family as a kindhearted and gifted tinkerer who had once been a postal worker. His daughter, Christyn Akin-Crockett, said that while he later struggled with drug addiction, he had provided a "powerful foundation" for his family and was always intent on making sure they had a good life.

On April 17, 2023, his 64th birthday, Akin was found deceased in his apartment. His daughter discovered his body and immediately felt the circumstances were suspicious. She found women's clothing on the floor, and her father's phone and wallet were missing. She reported her concerns to the Columbus police but was told investigators would have to wait for toxicology results before determining if the death was suspicious. The cause of death was later found to be a fatal dose of fentanyl.

Frustrated by what she perceived as a lack of action, Akin-Crockett began her own investigation after receiving a tip on Facebook. Her efforts eventually led her to a woman named Rebecca Auborn. Authorities later determined that Auborn, a sex worker, had been targeting men she met for sex, drugging them with fentanyl, and then robbing them of their valuables, including cars and credit cards. Her crimes took place between December 2022 and June 2023.

In addition to Wayne Akin, Auborn was responsible for the deaths of three other men: Joseph Crumpler, Robert Snoke, and Guy Renda. A fifth man was drugged but survived the attack. In October 2023, Auborn was indicted on more than two dozen counts, including murder, aggravated robbery, and involuntary manslaughter. She initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.

In December 2025, as part of a plea deal, Rebecca Auborn pleaded guilty to four counts of murder and one count of felonious assault. In exchange, 23 other counts against her were dismissed. During her sentencing hearing, Auborn apologized to the victims' families, stating she was a heavy drug user and was being sexually exploited when she committed the crimes. She said she prayed for the men she killed and took full responsibility for her actions.

On February 19, 2026, a judge sentenced Auborn to four consecutive life sentences. She will be required to serve a minimum of 60 years in prison before becoming eligible for parole. Akin-Crockett said her family was relieved by the outcome, stating, “The first thing we wanted was for her to take full accountability, the second we wanted her to serve a life sentence.” The case was closed as of February 2026.