NC - Restaurant owner charged with murdering 2 people by putting poison in their drinks - Hendersonville, arrested 16 Jan 2026

[Warwick1991]

Do we know if she's currently (prior to arrest) working in food prep or serving now?

I haven't found anything yet.

 

[bestill]

So little information about this case out there. I did find what I believe is her facebook - Gudrun Linda Casper

 

[CityKid]

Leela Livis is the suspect's daughter! And the surviving victims are the daughter's boyfriend and the suspect's other daughter!

Woman accused of killing daughter with poisonous wine

Officials said the woman was linked to two separate murder cases that took place in 2025 and 2007.

www.foxcarolina.com

She saw the Erin Patterson mushroom murders and said, "hold my beer." What sort of vile human would want her relatives and other alleged victims to die slow, painful deaths? Yike.

 

[Inthedetails]

She's one of the most frightening people I've read about recently. It is so sinister for a restaurant owner to do this - slipping a difficult to detect chemical that turns to cyanide in the body - and putting it into a bottle of wine. She must have researched this very carefully, perhaps planning to kill customers as well as family members before her establishment closed.

The Thanksgiving dinner sounds like a family only event, but one has to wonder whether she also killed restaurant customers this way.... I wonder whether victim Michael Schmidt was a restaurant customer or someone in her inner circle.

And it appears that she wanted to kill both of her daughters....

Edit: According to some sources, the chemical, also known as methyl cyanide, is a clear liquid that has an ether-like odor and a sweet, but burnt taste... https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Pr...9-05.pdf?rev=28d46581211d4fcfa7d6354706f38e38

So it would have to be in a food or drink that would disguise the odor or taste. She would have experimented with it, I assume, to find out what would disguise any off taste or smell.

It is very dangerous to touch or inhale, too

Do we know where she was in 2007? Who is the alleged first victim to her?

jmopinion

 

[Serononin]

Do we know where she was in 2007? Who is the alleged first victim to her?

jmopinion

I wonder if he was a partner or ex?

 

[bestill]

She saw the Erin Patterson mushroom murders and said, "hold my beer." What sort of vile human would want her relatives and other alleged victims to die slow, painful deaths? Yike.

Could it be for insurance money? JMO

 

[CityKid]

A few interesting comments (and lots of stupid ones) on this North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations post. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1266395485519551&set=a.270940895065020&id=100064473351086

Can anyone confirm that Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel is the result of a name change?

Like Leinenkugel beer? Is she pretending to be part of a dynasty?

 

[Inthedetails]

Like Leinenkugel beer? Is she pretending to be part of a dynasty?

According to the article linked above, she is part of that dynasty. Not pretend.

jmo

 

[alexwood]

"The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies also found evidence linking Casper-Leinenkugel to Michael Schmidt, who died in a house fire in 2007. During the hearing, it was also revealed that Casper-Leinenkugel is tied to additional deaths that are currently under investigation."

Mom accused of killing daughter by poisoning her wine at Thanksgiving dinner, officials say

 

[Inthedetails]

"The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies also found evidence linking Casper-Leinenkugel to Michael Schmidt, who died in a house fire in 2007. During the hearing, it was also revealed that Casper-Leinenkugel is tied to additional deaths that are currently under investigation."

Mom accused of killing daughter by poisoning her wine at Thanksgiving dinner, officials say

Whoa. Serial killer?

jmo

 

[alexwood]

From @Warwick1991's post above:

How is acetonitrile used?
Acetonitrile is used to make pharmaceuticals, perfumes, rubber products, pesticides, acrylic nail
removers and batteries. It is also used to extract fatty acids from animal and vegetable oils.
Before working with acetonitrile, employee training should be provided on safe handling and
storage procedures.

https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Pr...9-05.pdf?rev=28d46581211d4fcfa7d6354706f38e38

 

[alexwood]

Whoa. Serial killer?

jmo

Don't get on her bad side!

 

[bestill]

Whoa. Serial killer?

jmo

That's what I was going to post!! This is wild!

If anyone has a private I would like to be added.

 

[Inthedetails]

"The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said deputies also found evidence linking Casper-Leinenkugel to Michael Schmidt, who died in a house fire in 2007. During the hearing, it was also revealed that Casper-Leinenkugel is tied to additional deaths that are currently under investigation."

Mom accused of killing daughter by poisoning her wine at Thanksgiving dinner, officials say

So the timeline so far, afaik (correct me if I'm wrong)

2007 Michael Schmidt dies in fire. LE has linked Leinenkugel to his death. (Do we know where this happened?)

2016 Leinenkugel opens public house bar/restaurant.

Unknown dates: Leinenkugel is being investigated for additional deaths.

2025 Leela Livis murdered by drinking poisoned wine. Livis is Leinenkugel's daughter.
Another daughter and the daughter's boyfriend were sickened by the poisoned wine. Leinenkugel is charged with these crimes.

jmo

 

[bestill]

So the timeline so far, afaik (correct me if I'm wrong)

2007 Michael Schmidt dies in fire. LE has linked Leinenkugel to his death. (Do we know where this happened?)

2016 Leinenkugel opens public house bar/restaurant.

Unknown dates: Leinenkugel is being investigated for additional deaths.

2025 Leela Livis murdered by drinking poisoned wine. Livis is Leinenkugel's daughter.
Another daughter and the daughter's boyfriend were sickened by the poisoned wine. Leinenkugel is charged with these crimes.

jmo

The only thing I have been able to find is that the Schmidt fire happened in Henderson county.

This woman has lived in several locations, it's going to be interesting to see what she's connected to!

JMO

 

[Inthedetails]

So the timeline so far, afaik (correct me if I'm wrong)

2007 Michael Schmidt dies in fire. LE has linked Leinenkugel to his death. (Do we know where this happened?)

2016 Leinenkugel opens public house bar/restaurant.

Unknown dates: Leinenkugel is being investigated for additional deaths.

2025 Leela Livis murdered by drinking poisoned wine. Livis is Leinenkugel's daughter.
Another daughter and the daughter's boyfriend were sickened by the poisoned wine. Leinenkugel is charged with these crimes.

jmo

Answering my own question: Michael Schmidt died in a house fire in Hendersonville

Mother Accused Of Poisoning Her Daughter Is Linked To 2007 Cold Case Murder | 101.5 WIBA FM

Authorities indicated that additional deaths might be under investigation.

wibafm.iheart.com

 

[Inthedetails]

Answering my own question: Michael Schmidt died in a house fire in Hendersonville

Mother Accused Of Poisoning Her Daughter Is Linked To 2007 Cold Case Murder | 101.5 WIBA FM

Authorities indicated that additional deaths might be under investigation.

wibafm.iheart.com

My hunch is they lived together. If so, she seems to kill or attempt to kill people close to her.

I do worry about customers at her public house, though!

jmopinion

 

[bestill]

My hunch is they lived together. If so, she seems to kill or attempt to kill people close to her.

I do worry about customers at her public house, though!

jmopinion

Lived together or she lived in one of his properties as a tenant. JMO

 

[airportwoman]

That's what I was going to post!! This is wild!

If anyone has a private I would like to be added.

Same here.

Even if she doesn't meet the dictionary definition of a serial killer, she sounds like someone who has left carnage everywhere they went.

 

[alexwood]

My hunch is they lived together. If so, she seems to kill or attempt to kill people close to her.

I do worry about customers at her public house, though!

jmopinion

I think she no longer runs/owns the Public House. (Not sure about that, though). So, they may have had a romantic relationship that turned sour? Sounds very plausible to me!