• Aurora Phelps, 43, has been indicted for drugging and robbing elderly men in a deadly romance scheme.
• She is charged with 21 counts, including wire fraud and kidnapping, after at least three victims died.
• The FBI is actively seeking more potential victims of Phelps' alleged schemes.
• Phelps is currently in custody in Mexico, facing extradition to the U.S. following charges filed in Nevada.

In a chilling tale of deception, Aurora Phelps, a 43-year-old woman from Las Vegas, has been indicted for allegedly drugging and defrauding elderly men through what officials are calling a "sinister" romance scam. The accusations detail a disturbing pattern of luring lonely men via online dating platforms before incapacitating them with sedatives and stealing from their financial accounts. According to the South China Morning Post, at least three of Phelps' victims have died, leaving authorities to investigate more potential victims.

Charged with a total of 21 counts, including seven counts of wire fraud, three counts of mail fraud, six counts of bank fraud, and one count related to kidnapping resulting in death, Phelps's situation has shocked many. The USA Today reported that if convicted on all counts, she faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The FBI's Spencer Evans described her actions as "a romance scam on steroids," emphasizing the premeditated nature of her crimes. Phelps's alleged tactics often involved meeting victims on dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, and Bumble, gaining their trust, and then providing them with prescription drugs that left them incapacitated.

The investigations revealed that Phelps would often stay with her victims for extended periods, systematically gaining access to their personal belongings and financial assets. For instance, in one case detailed by CBS News, she is accused of drugging a man whom she met on a dating service and later accessing his financial accounts to the tune of millions of dollars, including selling his stock in Apple for approximately $3.3 million. Despite the successful stock sale, she apparently failed to withdraw the funds. Authorities also link her to other bizarre incidents, including one where a victim was found dead shortly after a date with Phelps in Mexico, prompting further investigations.

Phelps holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Mexico and is currently detained in Mexico as authorities work on her extradition. The FBI has urged any additional victims to come forward, implying that Phelps's alleged activities may not be confined to just a handful of men. Investigators are working diligently to ensure that all victims can come forward without fear of exposure. As the chilling details of her alleged crimes continue to unfold, the case serves as a grave reminder of the vulnerabilities many face in the search for companionship.

Interested parties can follow this developing story through sources such as SCMP, USA Today, and CBS News.