HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — A Thanksgiving dinner at a Henderson County home in late 2025 became the focus of a homicide investigation after two guests fell ill, one woman was found dead and authorities later alleged the wine served that night was intentionally poisoned, investigators said.

Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, of Hendersonville, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in connection with the death of Leela Livis and the poisoning of Richard Pegg and Mia Lacey, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation.

Investigators also said evidence uncovered during the probe connects Casper-Leinenkugel to the 2007 death of Michael Schmidt, which occurred in Henderson County.

In addition to the murder and attempted murder charges, Casper-Leinenkugel faces three counts of distribution of certain food or beverage prohibited. She is being held in the Henderson County Detention Center.

Sheriff Lowell S. Griffin said in a video posted to social media by WLOS that the investigation centered on a Thanksgiving dinner held at the suspect’s residence on Nov. 30, 2025, during which three people consumed wine.

Livis, identified by Griffin as the suspect’s daughter, was found dead the following morning at her home in Jackson County. Around the same time, Pegg, who also attended the dinner, was hospitalized at AdventHealth, Griffin said.

The Henderson County Sheriff’s Office was notified of Livis’ death by the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 19, prompting further investigation into the dinner and related circumstances, authorities said.

Detectives later determined that Casper-Leinenkugel was linked to the deaths of Livis and Schmidt, as well as the attempted murders of Pegg and Lacey, through what investigators described as intentional poisoning, Griffin said.

Authorities said no additional information will be released at this time to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation. Officials emphasized there is no current threat to the public.

Griffin thanked 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 for their assistance.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is asked to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit at 828-694-2938.