A raven-haired beauty named Aurora Phelps is on trial for murder in Mexico City, accused of using dating apps to meet older men, clean them out, and in some cases, leave them dead. The Lonely Hearts grift, as old as time, has found new wings through the internet, with dating apps becoming a goldmine for scammers and golddiggers.
The Accusations
Phelps, 44, faces murder charges in Mexico and has been indicted in the U.S. on fraud charges and two counts of kidnapping, one resulting in death. Authorities have identified 11 possible victims. FBI special agent Christopher Delzotto described her as a psychopath who truly believes her lies, blurring the line between white-collar and violent crime.
Robert Erbach: The First Known Victim
Robert Erbach, 67, met Phelps on Tinder, where she called herself Sissy. They dated for three months before visiting a friend's band performance at the Hard Rock Hotel in Guadalajara in December 2021. Erbach was never seen alive again. Phelps allegedly drove his BMW SUV to Las Vegas, pilfering $50,000 from his accounts. She sent a poorly written text from his phone to his son, claiming Erbach had moved to Ecuador. Days later, a John Doe found near Guadalajara was identified as Erbach, asphyxiated.
A Pattern of Deception
Born in Arkansas, Phelps worked at a Las Vegas casino, allegedly bringing home married men, then sending them fake positive pregnancy tests to extort money. She later married William Phelps and had a daughter. Six months after Erbach vanished, she targeted a 69-year-old American chiropractor in Guadalajara. She allegedly drugged his milkshake with 1,000 milligrams of Valium, leaving him unconscious for nearly a week. Phelps claimed to be his landlady, cousin, fiancee, and wife, firing his maid for questioning his behavior.
More Victims
Phelps allegedly met Miguel Carrillo at a cantina; he was found dead in an abandoned car lot days later, his bank account drained. Next was John Wiens, 78, a retired engineer she met on Plenty of Fish. Wiens' son grew suspicious when his father stopped returning calls. His Facebook profile bizarrely showed Wiens photoshopped into a Brazilian locale, and his email revealed orders for luxury women's fashion delivered to Phelps' Vegas home. After one date, Phelps and Wiens flew to San Diego on Nov. 4, 2022. The next day, Wiens was found dead in a Mexico City hotel bathtub. Phelps claimed he was José López from Ecuador; an autopsy ruled his death a heart attack.
Broader Investigation
Investigators discovered Phelps targeted not only elderly men but also women and people of all ages, using multiple aliases on dating sites. Delzotto noted her skill in identifying lonely individuals susceptible to fraud. Phelps will face justice in the U.S. after her Mexican trial concludes.
