A Henderson County Thanksgiving poisoning case has shocked a local community — police say a North Carolina mom allegedly laced wine with a toxic chemical during a family feast, killing her daughter and triggering a broader murder probe that reaches back to a 2007 cold case.
HENDERSON COUNTY, N.C. — A North Carolina woman is behind bars after investigators say she deliberately poisoned her own daughter’s drink during a Thanksgiving gathering, a case that involv multiple alleged victims and a cold case dating back nearly two decades.
According to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation, 52-year-old Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder, and three counts of distributing a prohibited food or beverage.
Authorities allege the poisoning occurred during a large family Thanksgiving celebration in 2025. Prosecutors say Casper-Leinenkugel secretly contaminated a bottle of wine that her daughter, Leela Livis, was drinking. Another daughter and her boyfriend also reportedly consumed the same wine.
Investigators say that shortly after the meal, multiple people began feeling seriously ill. Livis later died on December 1, prompting a homicide investigation.
Deadly Chemical Allegedly Used
Officials say the wine was allegedly laced with acetonitrile, a colorless industrial chemical commonly used in manufacturing processes and battery production. According to health experts, the substance can convert into cyanide inside the body, causing delayed but deadly toxicity.
Long-term or high-dose exposure can impact the nervous system, leading to severe symptoms including tremors, numbness, organ failure, and death.
Cold Case Reopened
In a twist, investigators say Casper-Leinenkugel is also now linked to an unsolved 2007 death in Hendersonville. While officials have not publicly revealed how she was connected to that case, authorities confirmed the death is now being re-examined as a homicide.
During a court hearing on January 16, prosecutors disclosed that additional deaths are currently under investigation, suggesting the case could expand further.
Casper-Leinenkugel remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Public Asked to Come Forward
The SBI is urging anyone with information related to this case — including past interactions, suspicious incidents, or knowledge connected to the 2007 death — to contact the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office Violent Crime Unit.
