A month before Juri “Julie” Kibuishi and Samuel Herr were murdered, Rachel Buffett, planning her bachelorette party, suggested a former friend, Audrey, take ecstasy. According to Audrey, Buffett even joked about slipping it into her drink without her knowledge. This conversation was recounted in the Investigation Discovery series “A Killer Among Friends.”
Rachel Buffett, once engaged to convicted killer Daniel Wozniak, was sentenced to two years and eight months in jail in 2018 for accessory after the fact. Audrey, reflecting on their past, recalled incidents where Buffett and Wozniak argued aggressively, particularly under the influence of alcohol. Audrey decided to walk away from the friendship after the drug comment.
A month later, Julie Kibuishi was found murdered in Samuel Herr’s apartment, while Herr was missing. Despite not being accused of committing the murders, Buffett was found guilty of misleading investigators. The victims were known for their kindness; Herr was a U.S. Army veteran, and Kibuishi was a dancer.
The wedding of Buffett and Wozniak was set for May 28, 2010, but the murders of Herr and Kibuishi occurred just a week prior. Herr’s father discovered Kibuishi’s body after his son failed to answer calls. Initially, police suspected Herr killed Kibuishi, but further investigation revealed Wozniak’s involvement.
Wozniak was arrested after money was withdrawn from Herr’s account using his ATM card, which Wozniak had given to a teenager named Wesley Freilich. Wozniak confessed, citing financial motives. Audrey, despite her falling out with Buffett, reached out after Wozniak’s arrest with sympathy but was met with accusations of seeking attention.
The case against Wozniak involved detailed testimonies and evidence, including suspicious Google searches on his computer. In 2016, Wozniak was sentenced to death, and Buffett maintained her innocence on national television, denying any advance knowledge of the murders.
The case profoundly affected Audrey’s approach to friendships, reminding her to be cautious. Her story serves as a cautionary tale about the complexities of personal relationships and the unforeseen paths they may take.