Rachel Wade

Case overview

Rachel Wade (born on February 27, 1990) was convicted of murder in the second degree in the high-profile murder of Sarah Ludemann. Rachel Wade was involved in a romantic rivalry with Sarah Ludemann over Joshua Camacho.

Background

Rachel Wade and Sarah Ludemann were romantic rivals. The rivalry began after Wade’s breakup with Joshua Camacho, after which Camacho began seeing Ludemann.

In the first six months that Ludemann was with Camacho, police spoke to Ludemann six times regarding public confrontations with Camacho. Wade left insulting voicemails for Ludemann. The rivalry became more volatile and included harassment between the two women. Wade stated that Ludemann would show up to an Applebees where Wade worked in order to taunt her. During one incident, Ludemann told police that Wade repeatedly called her cell phone and left threatening voicemails. Detectives admitted that Ludemann also made threats toward Wade.

The offence

On the evening of April 14, 2009, authorities said that Rachel Wade was alone in her apartment waiting for Joshua Camacho. Camacho was watching movies with Ludemann. While Wade was outside walking her dog, she heard a car honk and stated that Ludemann yelled, "Stay away from my man!"

Wade said she was scared and decided to call an old boyfriend, Javier. Wade said Javier told her to come over to his house. Wade got her purse, opened a kitchen drawer, and pulled out a steak knife.

At 11 p.m., Wade approached Camacho’s house. Camacho and Ludemann were inside playing video games. Wade sent Camacho a text message saying, "Now I know why you're not talking to me — because you got her." Camacho replied, "That's right. I don't like you no more, why don't you go home?" Wade responded, "No. I'll wait for her to go home."

Witnesses later testified that they overheard Wade threaten Ludemann on speakerphone, “I'm going to stab you and your Mexican boyfriend."

Just before midnight, Camacho’s sister asked Ludemann for a ride to McDonald's. Ludemann saw a friend at a stop sign who told her Wade was at Javier's house. Ludemann decided to confront her. Wade called Ludemann and yelled, "I'm going to kill you! You and your Mexican boyfriend!"

Ludemann arrived at Javier’s house and saw Wade speaking with him and their friend Dustin Grimes. Wade testified that Ludemann slammed on her brakes, nearly hitting Wade, and stormed out of the car with her fists flailing. Wade said she was fearful when she stabbed Ludemann’s shoulder and chest, striking her heart. However, authorities and prosecution witnesses said that Ludemann did not get a chance to leave the van, and that it was Wade who approached and attacked Ludemann.

Ludemann, clutching her chest, called Camacho to tell him what happened. Camacho ran to Ludemann's home to tell her father. They both drove to the scene.

Immediately after the stabbing, witnesses said Wade threw the knife over a neighbor's house and calmly said, "I'm done."

Police arrived and began questioning Wade and the witnesses. Wade began to cry when they told her Ludemann died.

Investigation and arrest

Hours later, Wade was arrested and charged with murder in the second degree. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on $500,000 bond. She stayed there through the conclusion of the trial.

Trial

The televised trial of Wade was shown on TruTV’s In Session and CNN's Headline News. Jury selection began on July 20, 2010. Testimony began on the following day.

Prosecutors brought up the history between Wade and Ludemann to show that Wade intended to kill her rival over Joshua Camacho. Wade’s defense argued self-defense under the Stand Your Ground law in which Florida encompasses.

Wade’s attorney, Jay Hebert, stated that Ludemann was very upset and that Wade was fearful because Ludemann was bigger and her friends outnumbered her. Hebert brought up the Applebees incident in which Ludemann and her friends knocked Wade's tray over, sang Girlfight during karaoke, and taunted her. He also stated that the two girls fought before the stabbing and pulled each other's hair.

The witnesses who testified for the prosecution were Joshua Camacho, his sister, and Dustin Grimes. Javier testified for the defense. Javier stated that the two fought but admitted he did not see much of the incident. Camacho’s sister and Mr. Grimes testified that Wade approached the vehicle and stabbed Ludemann.

The jury heard the voicemails, which Ludemann saved eight months prior, in which Wade stated she was going to kill her. The jury took three hours to find Wade guilty of murder in the second degree.

Sentencing

On September 3, 2010, Rachel Wade was sentenced to 27 years in state prison. The judge stated that he believed Wade intended to kill Sarah Ludemann.

Appeals and current status

Wade maintained that she acted in self defense and was currently appealing her case. She was housed at Lowell Correctional Institution Annex.

In a March 2011 interview with ABC News, she believed that social media played a major part in the rivalry and murder, stating that it gives people the ability to say whatever they want with very little consequence.

On February 17, 2012, Wade lost her appeal according to online dockets.

Other details

People mentioned

• Sarah Ludemann (victim)
• Rachel Wade
• Joshua Camacho
• Javier (identified in the narrative as an old boyfriend; Javier testified for the defense)
• Dustin Grimes
• Charlie Ludemann (Sarah's father)
• Janet Camacho (Joshua Camacho’s sister)
• Jilica Smith (a friend of Janet Camacho's)
• Ashley Lovelady (Sarah Ludemann’s best friend)
• Lisset G. Hanewicz (prosecutor referenced in closing argument and trial reporting)
• Jay Hebert (defense attorney)

Places and facilities

• Applebees (workplace referenced)
• Pinellas County Jail
• Lowell Correctional Institution Annex
• McDonald's (ride and stop referenced)

Prior and related matters described in the narrative

The narrative described confrontations between Wade and Ludemann involving public confrontations, voicemails, text messages, and MySpace postings. The narrative also described Wade’s and Ludemann’s rivalry as continuing until Ludemann’s death.

Quoted statements (verbatim)

"I'm going to stab you and your Mexican boyfriend."

"Stay away from my man!"

"Now I know why you're not talking to me — because you got her."

"That's right. I don't like you no more, why don't you go home?"

"No. I'll wait for her to go home."

"I'm going to kill you! You and your Mexican boyfriend!"

"I'm done."

Civil suit

Charlie Ludemann, Sarah's father, filed a civil suit against Rachel.