HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Gudrun Linda Jean Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, of Hendersonville, N.C., was denied bond today, May 20, 2026 by a Hendersonville judge.
According to Henderson County court records, Casper-Leinenkugel will next be seen for a disposition hearing at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, Courtroom 0002 in the Henderson County Courthouse. Judicial officer Peter Knight will oversee the proceedings.
What is Gudrun Linda Jean Casper-Leinenkugel charged with?
Casper-Leinenkugel was charged in January 2026 with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of distributing prohibited food or beverages.
According to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, Casper-Leinenkugel’s 32-year-old daughter, Leela Jean Livis, died after consuming wine laced with acetonitrile, an industrial solvent that can produce cyanide inside the body. The wine was served by Casper-Leinenkugel during a Thanksgiving meal in November 2025. Two other victims, Mia Lacey and Richard Pegg, also drank the wine, surviving after becoming seriously ill.
While investigating Livis’ death, detectives said they also uncovered evidence tying Casper-Leinenkugel to the 2007 death of Michael “Misha” Schmidt in Henderson County, leading to a second murder charge.
For more information about the case, read our previous coverage here.