Rachel Wade Sentenced: Teenage Love Triangle Murderer Gets 27 Years for Death of Sarah Ludemann

By: Kevin Hayes
Topics: Daily Blotter

Sarah Ludemann, Josh Camacho and Rachel Wade (Personal Photos)

CLEARWATER, Fla. (CBS/WTSP) Rachel Wade, the teenage girl who murdered her romantic rival, Sarah Ludemann, was sentenced Friday in a Florida courtroom to 27 years in prison.

PICTURES: Teen Love Triangle Murder Case

According to the St. Petersburg Times, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Joseph A. Bulone said that Wade had "caused a lot of pain" before handing down the sentence.

Wade, now 20, was found guilty of second-degree murder on July 23. The jury deliberated for less than three hours, before siding with prosecutors, who argued that Wade had murdered the 18-year-old Ludemann in April 2009 because the two were involved with same young man, Joshua Camacho.

The state maintained that Wade murdered her nemesis, then sat back as Ludemann was dying and asked Pinellas Park police officers for a cigarette.

Prosecutor Wesley Dicus described the stabbing as so violent that the knife blade was bent.

Wade's attorney, Jay Hebert, maintained that his client acted in self defense, saying that on the night of the murder, Ludemann and her friends were on their way to "jump" Wade. Months and months of vicious taunts and bickering came to a head, he explained, and it was Ludemann, not Wade, who started the fatal fight.

During his closing argument, Hebert told the jury, "Sarah was the aggressor. They couldn't stop her. She went looking for Rachel that night."

Wade and Ludemann were both dating the same young man in a twisted and drama-filled love triangle that lasted for months.

There had been numerous confrontations between the girls.

The most damning evidence from the trial was a collection of threatening voice mail messages from Rachel to Sarah.

Rachel is heard saying, "Please tell me Sarah why you would be a dumb-a** c**t and put a brand new picture of you and Josh at the beach on your MySpace. Seriously, I told you to watch your f***ing back and not to f***ing chill with him. I'm guaranteeing you that I'm going to f***ing murder you, I'm letting you know that now."

The jury fell silent after the messages were played in court, and Rachel began crying.

More Coverage of the Sarah Ludemann Murder on Crimesider.

21 Photos

Teen Love Triangle Murder Case

Add a Comment

See all 39 Comments


by coontruth August 22, 2011 1:24 AM EDT: this is a great result, one filthy girl dead, the other in prison, and one dumb negro still on the loose, looking to destroy another white girl's life; Reply to this comment


by coontruth August 22, 2011 1:16 AM EDT: 2 white girls fighting over a common street negro?, how pathetic!
truly a sign of the collapse of our society; Reply to this comment


by pahidu_jbo June 25, 2011 10:02 PM EDT: Perhaps I wouldn't make a good juror, definitely I am not a judge; however, I have an opinion on this horrible tragedy. After watching this a 2nd time on tv, I feel that both of these young women are/were victims. The boy (a child himself) seemed unmoved for both of these young ladies; he seemed cocky, in my opinion. It breaks my heart to see Rachel in jail - but my hurt is for her lovely parents. I am as deeply hurt to see Sarah's parents suffer, for I have lost a young son to death (not prison), but life was never kind to him. My heart understands the pain of the parents in this situation. In the interview with Rachel, no, to me she did not seem remorseful, and that troubled me; on the other hand, Rachel's mother was upset that she might not outlive Sarah - that is revenge, not justice. But no one, NO ONE, has the right to judge these children or their parents. To the parents, let me say, I will be much in prayer for you all....my heart is broken for you. And I pray for peace for all of you. Lastly, to Rachel.....baby, please ask God to forgive you....I know you felt you were defending yourself....let God defend you now, by turning all of this over to Him, for only He can heal your heart and mind. Broken for the families, I am.; Reply to this comment


by ocmonalisa February 26, 2011 1:37 AM EST: Rachel Wade should not deserve ONE DAY IN PRISON! I hope to God an attorney takes on this case and appeals. Her attorney should have gotten her off completely. Rachel had a stalker called Sarah who thought she could do bodily harm and murder Rachel with her band of thugs. This isn't America when people don't have a right to defend themselves, Yes, it's unfortunate when somebody dies in the process. That doesn't mean the defender should go to prison for defending themselves! Sarah's parents brought up a bully of a girl who thought she could physically assault people to get her way. Now she is dead, and another young girl is languishing in prison. Disgusting what this country is coming to. No rights anymore.; Reply to this comment


by SteveJacksonPhiladelphia November 19, 2010 10:22 PM EST: when your WHITE and thinking your HOOD.
when your like 90 percent in my area of philly at least and a white chick dating black men,or in josh case puerto rican latino etc. your going to most likely be USED play with NOT taking seriously.just how it is and i feel bad for white girls who are trying to be hood.white girl trying to be sexy and latina or black what are you doing?this is sad story i feel sorry for BOTH but more the victim Sarah the tall girl RIP,she was clearly doom when this CRAzy Rachel chick was OUT to get her from i think day one when she learn she was being cheated on no man is worth it PERIOD.when your raise the RIGHT way,your going to understand that peace out 1 from steven jackson philly.; Reply to this comment


by spark4200 September 10, 2010 7:35 AM EDT: If Judge Judy had presided she would have said "you put youself into that position by continually harrassing each other, so go home, goodbye."; Reply to this comment


by johnlott21 September 9, 2010 12:16 PM EDT: none of my comments get posted, the censorship is ridiculous! idiots; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt September 9, 2010 12:16 PM EDT: by monkey2168 September 5, 2010 2:51 AM EDT
Ugh, Is this guy worth fighting for? lol
---
You mean worth killing for, I believe.

Obviously, American white teenaged girls are stupider than they used to be.; Reply to this comment


by formrusmcsgt September 9, 2010 12:16 PM EDT: by monkey2168 September 5, 2010 2:51 AM EDT
Ugh, Is this guy worth fighting for? lol
---
You mean worth killing for, I believe.

American white teenage girls are obviously stupider than they used to be.....; Reply to this comment


by johnlott21 September 9, 2010 12:14 PM EDT: self def. she should be on probation, why should she get punished because she was better prepared for a violent physical altercation? a group of people chase you down in a car and jump out to do you harm, and you stab one of them as they are beating you is defending yourself, espeacially when you are alot smaller than your attacker 50 plus lbs.; Reply to this comment