Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, allegedly put a clear, colorless solvent with a sweet-smelling odor into four people’s drinks, authorities allege
NEED TO KNOW
- Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, of Hendersonville, N.C., is facing murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly poisoning four people’s drinks
- The most recent alleged victim, Leela Livis, 32, died on Dec. 1, 2025
- Police allege Casper-Leinenkugel poisoned Michael Schmidt in 2007 “with malice aforethought”
A North Carolina woman is facing murder and attempted murder charges for allegedly poisoning the drinks of at least four people, killing two, authorities say.
On Friday, Jan. 16, Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, of Hendersonville, was arrested and charged with murder in connection with the death of Leela Livis, 32, on Dec. 1, 2025, and with the attempted murders of Richard Pegg and Mia Lacey, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) said in a statement.
Detectives also found evidence allegedly linking Casper-Leinenkugel to the 2007 death of Michael Schmidt in Henderson County the SBI alleged in the statement…