Real Crime/Paranormal/Conspiracy Theories Book III

The Murder of Sarah Ludemann

Rachel Wade (born February 27,1990) is an American woman who was convicted of murder in the seconddegree in the 2009 murder of Sarah Ludemann in Pinellas Park,Florida.

Rivalry with Sarah Ludemann

Rachel Wade and Sarah Ludemannwere romantic rivals who were competing for the affections of Wade'sex-boyfriend, Joshua Camacho. In the first six months ofLudemann's relationship with Camacho, police officers spoke to Wadesix times regarding public confrontations with him. Wade also gotinto a verbal argument with the mother of Camacho's child. Camachoexhibited domestic violence against Ludemann, who he punched in theface, but Ludemann did not press charges.

Wade left insulting voicemails forLudemann. Their rivalry quickly turned violent. They began to harassone another, and according to Wade, Ludemann would show up at anApplebee's where Wade worked in order to taunt her. During oneincident, Ludemann told police that Wade repeatedly called her cellphone and left threatening voicemails.

Murder

On the evening of April 14, 2009,authorities say that Rachel Wade was alone in her apartment waitingfor Joshua Camacho. Camacho was watching movies with Ludemann. WhileWade was outside walking her dog, she heard a car honk, and shestated that Ludemann yelled "Stay away from my man!"Wade said that she was scared and that she decided to call JavierLaboy, an old boyfriend. He told her to come over to his house. Shegot her purse, opened a kitchen drawer, and pulled out a steak knife.

At 11 p.m., Wade approached Camacho'shouse. He and Ludemann were inside playing video games. Wade sentCamacho a text message stating "Now I know why you're nottalking to me — because you got her." Camacho replied"That's right. I don't like you no more. Why don't you gohome?" Wade responded "No. I'll wait for her to gohome." Witnesses later testified that they overheard Wadethreaten Ludemann on speakerphone "I'm going to stab you andyour Mexican boyfriend." Just before midnight, Camacho'ssister asked Ludemann for a ride to McDonald's. Ludemann saw a friendat a stop sign who told her Wade was at Javier's house. Ludemanndecided to confront her. As she was driving, Wade called her andyelled "I'm going to kill you! You and your Mexicanboyfriend!" Ludemann arrived at Javier's house and saw Wadespeaking with him and their friend Dustin Grimes.

Wade testified that Ludemann slammed onher brakes, nearly hitting Wade and stormed out of the car with herfists flailing. Wade said that she was fearful when she stabbedLudemann's shoulder and chest, one blow punctured her heart. However,authorities and the prosecution's witnesses said that Ludemann didnot get a chance to leave the van and that it was Wade who approachedand attacked Ludemann. Ludemann, mortally wounded, and clutching herchest, called Camacho to tell him what happened. Camacho ran toLudemann's home to tell her father. They both drove to the scene.Immediately after the stabbing, witnesses say that Wade threw theknife over a neighbor's house and calmly said "I'm done."Ludemann died as a result of a heart puncture at a hospital and waspronounced dead at 2:20 a.m. the next morning.

Police arrived and began questioningWade and the witnesses. She began to cry when they told her Ludemanndied. Hours later, Wade was arrested and charged with murder in thesecond degree. She was booked into the Pinellas County Jail on$500,000 bond. She stayed there through the conclusion of the trial.

Trial and conviction

TruTV's In Session televised the trialwhich began on July 20, 2010 with jury selection. After televisioncoverage ended at 3pm each day, a live internet stream was providedby CNN. Testimony lasted three days from July 21 through July 23. Prosecutors brought up the history between the two in order to showthat Wade intended to kill her rival over Camacho. The defense arguedself-defense under Florida's Stand Your Ground law. Wade'sattorney, Jay Hebert, stated that Ludemann was very upset and thatWade was fearful because she was outnumbered and because Ludemann wasbigger than her. Hebert brought up the Applebee's incident in whichLudemann and her friends knocked Wade's tray over, sang Girlfightduring karaoke and taunted her. He also stated that the two girlsfought before the stabbing and pulled each other's hair. Thewitnesses who testified for the prosecution were Camacho, his sister,and Dustin Grimes. Javier testified for the defense. Javier statedthat the two fought, but admitted he did not see much of theincident. Camacho's sister and Grimes testified that Wade approachedthe vehicle and stabbed Ludemann. The jury heard the voicemails,which Ludemann saved eight months prior, in which Wade stated thatshe was going to kill her. This ultimately sealed her fate as thejury of five men and one woman took just two and a half hours to findher guilty of murder in the second degree.[

On September 3, 2010, Rachel Wade wassentenced to 27 years in state prison. The judge stated that hebelieved Wade intended to kill Ludemann. Wade maintained that sheacted in self-defense, and appealed her case. She is housed atLowell Correctional Institution. In a March 2011 interview with ABCNews, she said that she believed that social media played a majorpart in the rivalry and murder. She stated that social media givespeople the ability to say whatever they want with very littleconsequence. This case has been featured on Dateline NBC in February2011, Deadly Women in November 2011, Facing Evil with Candice DeLongin December 2011 and on E! Entertainment Special's When Girls Kill.

Charlie Ludemann, Sarah's father, hasfiled a civil suit against Wade.

On February 17, 2012, Wade lost herappeal.

On October 7, 2012, Wade's case wasalso featured on the shows Snapped, and Killerpost on February 13,2016. On December 7, 2016 her case was featured on Crime Watch Daily.

On March 17, 2019, Wade's case wasfeatured on the "Fatal Love Triangle" episode of theseries Vengeance: Killer Lovers.