Death and mystery have hit quiet Hendersonville, North Carolina, as shocking details surface about Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52.
The once-popular restaurateur now finds herself at the center of a double murder scandal that’s rattling her rural community. Authorities allege Casper-Leinenkugel covertly poisoned multiple people with a hazardous chemical—acetonitrile—leaving at least two victims dead and others lucky to survive.
The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation dropped a bombshell this week, revealing Casper-Leinenkugel allegedly targeted 32-year-old Leela Livis in 2025, fatally spiking her beverage. But the story takes an even darker turn: detectives believe she’s linked to the unsolved killing of Michael Schmidt, whose life was cut short back in Henderson County in 2007. Evidence connected the dots, and now Casper-Leinenkugel faces two murder charges.
Officials didn’t stop there. She’s also charged with attempted murder—twice over—and accused of illegally handing out tainted drinks on three occasions. Investigators say she knowingly distributed beverages laced with acetonitrile, a notorious chemical that breaks down into cyanide after ingestion. The Centers for Disease Control warns of acetonitrile’s nasty after-effects, including delayed but deadly toxicity.
Casper-Leinenkugel isn’t just infamous now—she was once in the spotlight for her culinary ventures. Local outlet Mountain Xpress featured her in a 2016 profile, hailing her for launching Patton Public House in Asheville and boasting a resume that included six restaurants and bars nationwide.
Right now, there’s no escape for the accused: court documents confirm she’s being held without bond at the Henderson County Detention Facility, with no court date yet on the horizon. The community waits to see how this grim saga will play out, as new twists emerge in one of Western North Carolina’s most riveting crime stories.
