The body of Sydney Loofe, who had been missing for more than two weeks, has been found, her family announced on its Facebook page Monday night.
“It’s with heavy hearts that we share this most recent update with you all. Please continue to pray for Sydney and our entire family,” the family wrote above a photo of the smiling 24-year-old. “May God grant eternal rest unto thee. We love you Sydney.”
The post then linked to a story on the website of the family’s local newspaper, the Antelope County News. The brief story says:
“In a tragic ending to the search for Sydney Loofe, her parents announced Monday night that the Neligh native’s body has been recovered.”
Sydney is the daughter of George and Susie Loofe of Neligh and had been missing since Nov. 15. Multiple agencies, including the FBI, had been searching for the missing Lincoln resident.
The FBI, Lincoln police and various county sheriff’s offices involved in the search all declined to comment Monday night. Loofe’s family was not available Monday night to provide further details.
Among the details not available is where Loofe’s body was found or how authorities were led to her body.
Authorities have announced a 9 a.m. press conference Tuesday at the Lincoln Police Department. The FBI and other law enforcement agencies will attend. The World-Herald will provide live coverage of the press conference on Omaha.com.
Loofe’s family reported her missing Nov. 16 after she didn’t show up for work at Menards. Her last known activity was going on a date the day before with 23-year-old Bailey Boswell, whom she had met online.
Boswell and a roommate, Aubrey Trail, 51, lived in Wilber, and authorities say that is the last place that Sydney was seen. It’s also the last place that a cell tower received a ping from her cellphone.
Boswell has confirmed via a social media post that she went on a date with Loofe before Loofe disappeared.
Trail and Boswell are being held in the Saline County Jail as “persons of interest” while the investigation unfolds. The two were picked up in the Branson area of Missouri.
Last week Boswell and Trail posted a series of videos online talking about Loofe after police sought the public’s help in finding them.
George Loofe, Sydney’s father, is the principal of Neligh-Oakdale High School, and his wife, Susie Loofe, is a teacher in the district. Sydney graduated from the high school in 2011.
People in those communities and elsewhere have rallied around the Loofe family, helping with the search and wearing green, the color of missing children, to show their support.
News that Sydney Loofe had been found spread rapidly across social media, which also had been an important tool in keeping people updated on the search and soliciting the public’s help.
The family’s announcement on the Facebook page quickly garnered thousands of comments or shares.
“Praying for your family. I’m so sorry for your loss,” wrote Rebecca Reiter of Scottsbluff. “Such a tragedy and most of us could see our own families are a lot like yours ... meaning this could happen to anyone.”
“I was hoping and praying, as everyone was, for a better outcome,” commented Karen von Glahn of Tampa, Florida. “I can’t begin to understand why this had to happen nor what you all must have gone and are going through.”
The Lincoln Police Department is holding a 9 a.m. press conference to discuss the latest developments in the case. Watch the video HERE.
