Rachel Marie Wade (born February 27, 1990) is an American woman who was convicted of murder in the second degree in the 2009 murder of Sarah Ludemann in Pinellas Park, Florida.
Rivalry with Sarah Ludemann
Rachel Wade and Sarah Ludemann were romantic rivals who were competing for the affections of Wade's ex-boyfriend, Josh Camacho. In the first six months of Ludemann's relationship with Camacho, police officers spoke to her six times regarding public confrontations with him. Ludemann also got into a verbal argument with the mother of Camacho's child. Camacho exhibited domestic violence against Ludemann, whom he punched in the face, but Ludemann did not press charges.
After learning of Ludemann's relationship with Camacho, Wade left insulting voicemails for Ludemann. Their rivalry quickly turned violent. They began to harass one another, and according to Wade, Ludemann would show up at an Applebee's 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.
Murder
On the evening of Tuesday April 14, 2009, authorities say that Wade was alone in her apartment waiting for Camacho. Camacho was watching movies with Ludemann. While Wade was outside walking her dog, she heard a car honk, and she stated that Ludemann yelled "Stay away from my man!" Wade said that she was scared and that she decided to call Javier Laboy, an old boyfriend. He told her to come over to his house. She got her purse, opened a kitchen drawer, and pulled out a steak knife.
At 11 p.m., Wade approached Camacho's house. He and Ludemann were inside playing video games. Wade sent Camacho a text message stating "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 Laboy's house. Ludemann decided to confront her. As she was driving, Wade called her and yelled "I'm going to stab you! You and your Mexican boyfriend!" Ludemann arrived at Javier Laboy'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 that she was fearful when she stabbed Ludemann's shoulder and chest, one blow punctured her heart. However, authorities and the prosecution's witnesses said that Ludemann did not get a chance to leave the van and that it was Wade who approached and attacked Ludemann. Ludemann, mortally wounded, and 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 say that Wade threw the knife over a neighbor's house and calmly said "I'm done." Ludemann died at Northside Hospital as a result of a heart puncture, and was pronounced dead at 2:20 a.m. the next morning.
Police arrived and began questioning Wade and the witnesses. She began to cry when they told her Ludemann died. 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.