North Carolina Restaurant Owner Accused of Poisoning Family Members, Killing Two
Investigators Described it as a Calculated Campaign of Chemical Murder
North Carolina Restaurant Owner Accused of Poisoning Family Members, Killing Two
A former North Carolina restaurant owner stands accused of a chilling poisoning spree that spans nearly two decades, leaving two people dead and others gravely ill in what investigators describe as a calculated campaign of chemical murder.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, faces two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder after allegedly lacing beverages with acetonitrile—a toxic chemical that converts to cyanide in the human body—killing her own daughter and another victim nearly 18 years earlier.
A Thanksgiving Dinner Turned Deadly
The most recent alleged attack occurred during what should have been a joyful Thanksgiving gathering in November 2025. Casper-Leinenkugel hosted a 12-person dinner at her Hendersonville home, where she allegedly poisoned wine that would ultimately kill her 32-year-old daughter, Leela Livis, and sicken two other family members.
According to court documents, Livis, her half-sister Maija Lacey, and Lacey’s boyfriend Richard Pegg all drank from the same bottle of wine during the holiday meal. Within hours, all three became violently ill. Livis died on December 1, 2025—just days after the family gathering—while Lacey and Pegg survived after hospitalization.
The choice of poison was particularly sinister. Acetonitrile, a clear, colorless industrial solvent with a sweet, ethereal odor, is slowly converted to cyanide when ingested, resulting in what toxicologists describe as “delayed toxicity.” This chemical delay meant victims didn’t immediately connect their symptoms to the wine they had consumed hours earlier.
Digital Trail of Guilt
What allegedly gave Casper-Leinenkugel away was her own internet search history. Investigators discovered she had searched “What happens if I accidentally ingest acetonitrile?” and “Does wine turn into cyanide?” after learning of her victims’ illnesses—a digital breadcrumb trail that prosecutors argue demonstrates premeditation and guilt.
Blood tests revealed that Livis had five times the legal dose of the toxic substance in her system at the time of her death. Tests confirmed the other victims had also ingested acetonitrile, and the chemical was later found during a search of Casper-Leinenkugel’s home.
A Pattern of Poisoning Emerges
As detectives dug deeper into Casper-Leinenkugel’s past, they uncovered what they believe is evidence of an earlier poisoning. The investigation linked her to the 2007 death of Michael Schmidt, who died in a house fire at a property he had transferred to Casper-Leinenkugel just one year earlier.
Schmidt’s death certificate, which originally listed his cause of death as pending autopsy, has now been amended. Investigators believe Schmidt was also poisoned, though they have not disclosed what toxic substance was used in that case.
The property connection is particularly troubling. County land records show Schmidt transferred his home at 15 Schmidt Terrace to Casper-Leinenkugel in 2006. He died in that same house in 2007. The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office incident report from October 29, 2007, lists both Schmidt and Casper-Leinenkugel as “others involved” in the case.
A Mother’s Betrayal
Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this case is the alleged betrayal of maternal trust. Court documents reveal that Casper-Leinenkugel is the biological mother of both Livis and Lacey—the very people she allegedly targeted for death.
Family members describe a complicated relationship between the accused and her daughters. Sandra Riddle, whose son was once married to Casper-Leinenkugel and who considers both victims her granddaughters, told local reporters: “They were there to have Thanksgiving dinner at their mother’s house, and next thing, Leela was dead, and Maija and her boyfriend was in the hospital. I don’t know [why]. That’s just the strangest part of it. What was to be gained?”
Riddle’s account paints a picture of a woman who had been estranged from much of her family. “I don’t associate with Linda,” Riddle said, referring to Casper-Leinenkugel by the name she knew her. “When her and my son broke up, he was moving out of the house, and we were helping him move and we went back up to get the rest of the stuff and the house had burnt down mysteriously in the middle of the night.”
The Restaurant Connection
Casper-Leinenkugel’s background in the food service industry adds another layer of concern to the case. She previously operated a restaurant in Asheville, North Carolina—a detail that has investigators wondering whether other patrons or employees might have been victimized over the years.
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that detectives are actively investigating whether there may be additional victims associated with Casper-Leinenkugel. Given her access to commercial kitchens and her apparent knowledge of toxic chemicals, authorities are urging anyone who may have dined at her establishments or attended gatherings she hosted to come forward.
Chemical Weapon of Choice
Acetonitrile, the alleged murder weapon in the recent poisonings, is particularly insidious. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the chemical is “a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet ethereal odor” that is primarily used as a solvent in pharmaceutical manufacturing, for spinning fibers, and in the production of lithium batteries.
The National Institutes of Health warns that when ingested, acetonitrile is “slowly converted to cyanide, resulting in delayed toxicity.” This delayed reaction can make it difficult for victims to identify the source of their illness and for medical professionals to quickly diagnose poisoning.
In a medical journal case study cited by prosecutors, a 39-year-old woman who deliberately poisoned herself with acetonitrile didn’t show symptoms of cyanide poisoning until 11 hours after ingestion. Doctors were only able to save her life by administering concentrated doses of sodium nitrite and thiosulfate—antidotes that must be given quickly to be effective.
International Connections Raise Flight Risk Concerns
During her initial court appearance, prosecutors argued that Casper-Leinenkugel should be held without bond due to her connections to other countries, including Germany and parts of Central America. These international ties, combined with the severity of the charges, convinced District Court Judge Abe Hudson to deny her request for release.
The concern about flight risk is particularly acute given that investigators believe Casper-Leinenkugel may be connected to additional deaths that are currently under investigation. Assistant District Attorney Robert Reeves told the court that detectives are working to determine if there might be other victims associated with the defendant.
A Community in Shock
The Hendersonville community, known for its mountain beauty and tight-knit community spirit, has been shaken by the allegations. The case has sparked conversations about how well we truly know our neighbors and whether warning signs were missed over the years.
Leela Livis, the daughter who died, was described by coworkers at Western Carolina University—where she worked after earning her MBA—as “such a joy to talk with” who had “a joy for knowledge and learning.” A tribute posted after her death noted: “Always full of questions, a surprising joke, and a helpful, supportive nature, Leela will surely be missed in all the halls of her life.”
The Investigation Continues
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has been tight-lipped about many details of the case, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to “preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation” pending court adjudication. However, they have confirmed that multiple agencies are involved, including 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.
Sheriff Lowell Griffin has thanked these agencies for their “assistance and collaboration throughout the investigation,” suggesting that the case has required unprecedented inter-agency cooperation.
Justice Delayed, Not Denied
For the families of the victims, the arrest brings both relief and renewed grief. The revelation that Michael Schmidt’s 2007 death may now be solved after nearly two decades provides some measure of closure, while the loss of Leela Livis has left a family shattered by a mother’s alleged betrayal.
Casper-Leinenkugel faces the possibility of the death penalty if convicted of first-degree murder. She is currently being held at the Henderson County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court on February 10 for a probable cause hearing.
As this case moves through the legal system, investigators continue to piece together what they believe may be a pattern of poisoning that spans years and potentially involves additional victims. Anyone with information about Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel or who may have attended gatherings where she provided food or beverages is urged to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit at 828-694-2938.
The full scope of this alleged poisoning spree may not yet be known, but what is clear is that a trusted restaurant owner and mother stands accused of using her knowledge of food service and toxic chemicals to become a serial poisoner hiding in plain sight.
If you have any information about this case or believe you may have been victimized, please contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office at 828-694-2938.