Sarah Ludemann
White female
Age at time: 18
Weapon: unarmed
Victim photo: Undated family photo
Rachel Wade
White female
Age at time: 20
Weapon: knife
Defendant photo: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, 2009
Case type:
Argument over love interest
Location:
Public
Initiator:
Victim
Witnesses:
Yes
Case year:
2009
Location details: In the street less than half a mile from the victim's home in Pinellas Park, Pinellas County, on April 15, 2009
What happened: Rachel Wade stabbed a teen girl, Sarah Ludemann, after months of battling over the same boy. The night of the stabbing, Ludemann drove the family van to where she knew Wade would be. Ludemann got out of the van, fists balled, arms flailing. Wade walked toward her and jabbed a kitchen knife into her left shoulder, then pulled it out and thrust it into Ludemann's heart.
The outcome: A judge refused to drop second-degree murder charge. Wade was convicted at trial and sentenced to 27 years in prison.
Investigating agency: Pinellas Park Police
Case decision made by: Jury
Trayvon Martin’s death became controversial because circumstances leading up to the shooting cast doubt on who was to blame. The Tampa Bay Times reviewed other “stand your ground” cases for similar circumstances. The Times relied on available information, some of which may not tell the whole story. When the situation was unclear, that was noted.
| Yes | No | Unclear/ disputed |
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|---|---|---|---|
Did the victim initiate the confrontation? |
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Was the victim armed? |
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Was the victim committing a crime that led to the confrontation? |
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Did the defendant pursue the victim? |
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Could the defendant have retreated to avoid the conflict? |
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Was the defendant on his or her property? |
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Did someone witness the attack? |
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Was there physical evidence? |
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Source: Tampa Bay Times, April 18, 2009. Link to original source
Source: Tampa Bay Times, July 18, 2010. Link to original source
Source: Tampa Bay Times, July 23, 2010.
Source: Tampa Bay Times, Sept. 3, 2010. Link to original source
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Case last updated: July 3, 2012
