As always, thank you for hanging out and remembering Mark Staudte, Shaun Staudte, and Sarah Staudte with me today.
In 2012, the Staudte family of Springfield, Missouri, suffered two mysterious deaths. First, 61-year-old Mark Staudte passed away unexpectedly, followed five months later by his 26-year-old autistic son, Shaun, both ruled at the time as medical-related incidents. In 2013, their daughter Sarah collapsed with organ failure, sparking a police investigation after an anonymous tip.
As investigators dug deeper, horrifying secrets surfaced: Diane Staudte, the family matriarch, had been poisoning her husband and son with antifreeze. Her 24-year-old daughter, Rachel, eventually admitted to assisting, under her mother’s direction. Their plan reportedly targeted family members they deemed as burdens.
Convictions followed:
Diane Staudte took a plea deal and is serving life in prison without parole.
Rachel Staudte pleaded guilty in exchange for testifying against her mother; she received two life sentences plus 20 years, with parole eligibility after around 42½ years.
Meanwhile, Sarah Staudte survived, but with lasting neurological and physical damage. In court, she read a powerful statement: “I prefer to be a survivor rather than a victim.”
