WILBER, Neb. (KMTV) — Over the last two days, Bailey Boswell’s defense team made their case that she does not deserve the death penalty for the murder of Sydney Loofe in 2017.
Friday, for the first time, we heard from Boswell herself.
“I’m so sorry for everything that happened to Sydney Loofe and for my role to what happened to her,” said Boswell.
Boswell was apologetic and emotional as she pleaded with the three-judge panel to not give her a death sentence.
Her team pointed to letters from Saline County Jail inmates saying she’s been a blessing. She thinks she can do that in the prison for women in York.
“I will spend the rest of my life in prison, but I believe I can help other women like me,” said Boswell.
She was convicted last year of murdering Loofe, alongside Aubrey Trail, who has already been given a death sentence.
She says she met Trail at a bad time of her life, thought he loved her, but eventually feared him and says she couldn’t get away from him.
“I was afraid of what he would do to my daughter, and my parents if I tried to leave him. He told me he would kill them,” said Boswell.
Much of what she said was backed up earlier in the day by Dr. Kirk Newring, who did a psychological evaluation of Boswell.
He said she suffered from PTSD and trauma from past relationships, making it hard to leave a relationship with Trail.
He believes she can be reformed.
At one point, a defense attorney asked him if Boswell was broken beyond repair.
“No. She has never had the chance of therapy, she should try that,” said Newring.
The state put documents into the record that included coded jailhouse messages between Trail and Boswell, that they say attempted to align with each other's testimony.
They also say Boswell sought a relationship with Trail, and has messaged men and women in jail in exchange for money.
Boswell focused much of her statement on her young daughter, saying she’ll later learn what she did, and that still, she wants to have a relationship with her.
“But I know that I can still be there for her in some way. She needs a mommy, and I know I can contribute to her life. For my sake, please don’t, for my daughter’s sake, please don’t take my life,” said Boswell.
Closing arguments were not made in court, and instead will be written statements that are due in August.
The three-judge panel must later unanimously agree for Boswell to be sentenced to death.
READ MORE: Bailey Boswell's mom: 'Please don't put her to death'
RELATED: Bailey Boswell sentencing hearing; graphic details from killing of Sydney Loofe reviewed in court
We’re on the third and final day of the sentencing hearing of Bailey Boswell.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) July 2, 2021
She’s convicted of murdering Sydney Loofe.
The state seeks the death penalty, Boswell is hoping for life in prison.
Follow this thread for what’s going on in the Wilber courtroom.
We again will hear from Eli McBride, an FBI special agent who worked on the case.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) July 2, 2021
This is the second time hearing from him, as the state called him as their own witness on Wednesday.
He described what he saw at the scene where authorities found Loofe’s body.
McBride describing an interview with Boswell’s father.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) July 2, 2021
Says Boswell at a younger age, shadowed a doctor, saw blood during a surgery and passed out.
McBride says the office made a policy not to allow children to witness surgeries.
McBride describes an interview with Boswell’s friend, who was an “emotional wreck” during the interview and believed it was completely out of character for Boswell to do something like this.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) July 2, 2021
She also knew Trail and was less surprised about his involvement.
Defense asking questions and trying to paint a picture that Trail was a controlling person, and that control was also directed at Boswell.
— Jon Kipper (@jonnykip21) July 2, 2021
