CRETE, Neb. -- A hearing in front of a three-judge panel to determine if convicted murderer Aubrey Trail will get the death penalty began on Thursday morning.

Trail will not be in attendance after waiving his right to appear.

Trail was found guilty of first-degree murder in 2019 for killing 24-year-old Sydney Loofe in 2017.

Trail's co-defendant, Bailey Boswell, was also found guilty of first-degree murder last year.

The three-judge panel will hear cases from both sides and will have to decide if there are aggravated circumstances involved in the killing.