Aurora Phelps faces charges in romance scam linked to three deaths

Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old woman in custody in Mexico, faces 21 criminal charges, including wire fraud, identity theft, and a kidnapping charge that resulted in death, following allegations of a severe romance scam targeting older men. The FBI reports that Phelps lured her victims through online dating platforms, drugged them with prescription sedatives, and then stole significant amounts of money, with the total value of her schemes amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Tragically, three of the men died after their encounters with her, with one being found dead in a Mexico City hotel room after being transported in a wheelchair. Phelps is accused of using the incapacitated state of her victims to access their financial accounts, steal vehicles, and make luxury purchases. The investigation is ongoing to identify additional potential victims, as authorities believe her actions may have affected many across the U.S. and Mexico. Phelps, who holds dual U.S.-Mexican citizenship, used several aliases and was known to have residences in both countries.