At a Glance
- Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, is charged with fatally poisoning her daughter Leela Livis in November 2024.
- Detectives tied her to an unsolved 2007 arson death of Michael Schmidt after reopening that cold case.
- She also faces two counts of attempted murder and three counts of distributing tainted food or drink.
- Why it matters: The arrest ends a 17-year-old mystery and highlights how modern forensic reviews can crack old cases.
Authorities in Henderson County, North Carolina, announced Wednesday that a local woman allegedly killed her own daughter with poison last year and has now been connected to a 2007 slaying that had gone cold for nearly two decades.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, of Hendersonville, was arrested on two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder, and three counts of distribution of prohibited food or beverage, according to an arrest warrant released by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.
Charges and Victims
The November 2024 poisoning claimed the life of Leela Livis, Casper-Leinenkugel’s daughter. Investigators said the same incident left Richard Pegg and Mia Lacey critically ill but alive.
Key charges:
- Two counts first-degree murder (includes 2007 cold-case victim Michael Schmidt)
- Two counts attempted murder (Pegg and Lacey)
- Three counts distributing tainted food or drink
The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit led the probe with state support. A bureau statement praised the “extensive and comprehensive investigation” that ultimately linked the suspect to both deaths.
Cold Case Break
Michael Schmidt died in an October 2007 house fire in Hendersonville. The blaze was ruled arson, yet the case sat unsolved for 17 years until detectives reopened the file after the recent poisoning investigation.
Officials declined to specify what new evidence surfaced, citing the ongoing prosecution. County and state agencies would only confirm that forensic advances and re-interviews helped cement Casper-Leinenkugel’s alleged role in Schmidt’s death.
Community Impact
Hendersonville, home to just under 16,000 residents, sits south of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The dual arrests have rattled the tight-knit community, where violent crime rates typically remain low.
Sheriff’s deputies arrested Casper-Leinenkugel without incident. She remains held in the Henderson County Jail ahead of a first court appearance.
It was not immediately clear whether she had appointed counsel or retained an attorney to speak on her behalf.
Investigation Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
|---|---|
| October 2007 | Michael Schmidt dies in arson fire; case goes cold |
| November 2024 | Leela Livis poisoned; Richard Pegg and Mia Lacey sickened |
| Early 2025 | Detectives reopen 2007 file and find links |
| Present | Casper-Leinenkugel charged with both murders |
Key Takeaways
- A single modern poisoning probe unlocked answers in a 17-year-old arson death.
- The suspect faces dual first-degree murder counts plus attempted-murder and tampering charges.
- Officials credit collaborative work between the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the State Bureau of Investigation.
- Authorities have not disclosed a motive or the exact substance used in the poisonings.
- The case now heads to county prosecutors for grand-jury presentation.
Ethan R. Coleman reported this story for News Of Los Angeles.
