A woman accused of poisoning her daughter with a glass of acetonitrile at Thanksgiving dinner has been denied bail as she faces trial on multiple charges.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, was arrested Jan. 16 and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and three counts of distribution of certain prohibited food and beverages.
The charges relate to two separate incidents, one in 2007 and another in 2025.
Fox Carolina reported that Casper-Leinenkugel hosted 12 people for Thanksgiving in November. Authorities claimed during the bail hearing that she poisoned alcohol that her daughter, Leela Levis, another daughter and her daughter’s boyfriend were drinking.
Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel, 52, arrested Jan. 16 (Henderson County Sheriff’s Office)
The bottle contained acetonitrile, a clear, colorless liquid used as a solvent for spinning fibers and a component of lithium batteries. This chemical is metabolized into cyanide in the human body.
After the dinner, the three victims fell ill and Levis died on December 1.
Authorities with the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office said during a court hearing that Casper-Lenenkugel’s search history showed she looked up and asked, “What would happen if I accidentally ingested acetonitrile.”
The 2007 case uncovered evidence linking Casper-Leinenkugel to the death of Michael Schmidt, who died in a house fire that year, according to the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office.
Fox Carolina further reported that the suspects are connected to other deaths that are currently being investigated. Prosecutors said she faces the possibility of the death penalty and is due to appear in court again on February 10.
Casper-Leinenkugel is a well-known restaurateur in North Carolina.
In 2016, her European-style bar in Asheville received coverage in local media.
The suspect opened Barton’s Tavern in July 2013.
Kasper-Lenenkugel told the outlet she grew up in Germany and on the northern border between Wisconsin and Minnesota.
“I’ve been working since I was 13 years old…I owned a laundromat. I had to learn how to run a business and fix machines. It was a great learning experience,” she said.
Casper-Leinenkugel said the idea for Patton’s Tavern was inspired by the comfort food and beer served in European taverns where she grew up.
“We’re actually trying to restore the bar to what it was,” she said at the time.
The business was in the news again in 2018 after several employees claimed they were not paid on time. The restaurant is no longer open.
“I mean, it’s ridiculous. I come out here and work my ass off day in and day out and get nothing? I’m not here to get compliments from other people,” hostess Maci Hold told WLOS.
