North Carolina Restaurateur Accused of Poisoning Daughter, Linked to 2007 Cold Case Murder

Thanksgiving Poisoning Allegations

• 🎯 Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, a restaurateur from North Carolina, is accused of poisoning her own daughter, Leela Livis, to death during a Thanksgiving dinner in 2025.
• ⚠️ She is also accused of attempting to kill her other daughter, Mia Lacy, and Mia's boyfriend, Richard Peg, with a toxic chemical.
• 🧪 Investigators allege the victims drank wine laced with acetonitrile, a chemical used as a solvent for lithium batteries, which is toxic and can be fatal.
• 🔍 Prosecutors claim Gudrun researched the effects of acetonitrile before the dinner, citing her search history for "what happens if I ingest a night trial."

Cold Case Murder Reopened

• 🕯️ In addition to the Thanksgiving incident, Gudrun is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Michael Schmidt in 2007.
• 🔥 Schmidt died in a house fire in Hendersonville, North Carolina, in a home where Gudrun was living.
• 🕵️ Investigators uncovered evidence linking Gudrun to Schmidt's death while investigating the poisoning case, reopening the nearly 20-year-old cold case.

Legal Proceedings and Potential Penalties

• ⚖️ Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel faces charges including first-degree murder, two counts of first-degree attempted murder, and distribution of prohibited food and beverage.
• 🚫 She has been denied bond and is currently without a lawyer, having waived appointed counsel to hire her own.
• ⚡ North Carolina is a death penalty state, and prosecutors are reportedly considering seeking the death penalty, especially given the alleged murder of Michael Schmidt and the attempted murders at Thanksgiving.
• 🤝 The 2007 murder case will likely be tried separately from the Thanksgiving incident due to it not being transactionally related.

Background and Investigation Details

• 🍽️ Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel was known in the Asheville food scene, having opened several restaurants, including The Patent Public House.
• 🚨 Prosecutors indicated that Gudrun is being investigated for additional deaths beyond the two cases for which she has been charged.
• 💻 Defense attorneys might explore alternative explanations for the search history or investigate who else had access to the wine or Gudrun's computer.