Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel is an alleged killer from North Carolina who has been charged with two counts of murder
According to police reports Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel allegedly put acetonitrile into a beverage before giving it to three people. One of the victims, 32-year-old Leela Livis, would die
Acetonitrile is a chemical when introduced into the body turns into cyanide
During the investigation police also determined that Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel is responsible for another death that took place in 2007
Turns out that Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel used to run a restaurant so there may be other victims out there
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel has been charged with two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and a assortment of other charges
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel News
Following an extensive investigation by multiple agencies, a Hendersonville woman has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel has also been charged with three counts of distribution of certain food or beverage prohibited, according to a Jan. 16 news release from the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Detectives have charged Casper-Leinenkugel in connection with the 2025 murder of Brevard’s Leela Livis, 32, and the attempted murder of Richard Pegg and Mia Lacey. During the investigation, they discovered evidence that reportedly linked Casper-Leinenkugel to the death of Michael Schmidt, which happened in 2007 in Henderson County.
The “distribution of certain food or beverage prohibited” charge is described under North Carolina as the following:
It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly distribute, sell, give away or otherwise cause to be placed in a position of human accessibility or ingestion, any food, beverage, or other eatable or drinkable substance which that person knows to contain any of the following: Any noxious or deleterious substance, material or article which might be injurious to a person’s health or might cause a person any physical discomfort; any controlled substance included in any schedule of the Controlled Substances Act; and any poisonous chemical or compound or any foreign substance such as, but not limited to, razor blades, pins, and ground glass, which might cause death, serious physical injury or serious physical pain and discomfort.
The sheriff’s office said in its release that no more information would be released at this time. The sheriff’s office said there was no current or ongoing threat to the public.
Other agencies helping in the investigation were the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the North Carolina Department of Insurance and the District Attorney’s Office.
Woman charged with murder, distributing prohibited food, beverage
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel More News
A woman has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after allegedly poisoning at least three people by slipping a deadly chemical into their drinks, state investigators said.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, faces charges in the 2025 death of 32-year-old Leela Livis, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation announced. Authorities said Casper-Leinenkugel distributed a beverage containing acetonitrile, a chemical that converts to cyanide in the body and causes delayed toxicity.
Investigators also linked Casper-Leinenkugel to a 2007 killing in Henderson County, leading to a second first-degree murder charge, officials said.
Casper-Leinenkugel, who previously operated a restaurant in Asheville, is being held at the Henderson County Detention Facility after a judge denied her request for release.
