A former friend of Rachel Buffett, identified as Audrey, says Buffett made a disturbing remark about secretly drugging her about one month before the California murders of Juri “Julie” Kibuishi and Samuel Herr. Buffett was later convicted of two felony counts of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors said she misled investigators while trying to protect her then-fiancé, Daniel Wozniak, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the killings. The case is being revisited in a true-crime television episode scheduled to air Aug. 10, 2026.
Audrey said the alleged comment ended her relationship with Buffett and Wozniak before their planned May 28, 2010, wedding. Buffett has maintained that she had no advance knowledge of the murders.
| 1) | Former friend describes the alleged remark |
| 2) | Friendship ended before the killings |
| 3) | Murders and investigation revealed a plot |
| 4) | Buffett’s conviction and stated position |
| 5) | Lasting questions for the former friend |
Former friend describes the alleged remark
Audrey said Buffett was planning a bachelorette party when she encouraged Audrey to take ecstasy. According to Audrey, Buffett added, “Well, if I slipped it in your drink, you wouldn’t know about it.” The conversation occurred about a month before Kibuishi and Herr were killed in Orange County.
Audrey said she viewed the statement as serious rather than harmless humor. She said it was the final incident in a friendship strained by arguments involving Buffett and Wozniak when they were drinking. Audrey later recounted the exchange in a televised true-crime program.
“It’s OK to be nice and respectful to people without inviting them into your life,” Audrey said, adding that “nice is different than good.”
Friendship ended before the killings
Audrey met Buffett in college while they were studying theater. Through mutual friends, she also met Kibuishi, a dancer, and Herr, a U.S. Army veteran. Audrey recalled both victims as warm, funny and kind.
After ending the friendship, Audrey said Buffett sent messages inviting her to become a bridesmaid and asking her to visit. Audrey declined and was no longer part of the wedding plans. The couple had been scheduled to marry on May 28, 2010, but Kibuishi and Herr were killed one week before the ceremony.
Murders and investigation revealed a plot
On May 21, 2010, Herr’s father went to his son’s apartment after becoming concerned that Herr was not answering his phone or attending a planned visit. He found Kibuishi’s body in the bedroom. She had been shot in the head, while Herr was missing.
Investigators initially considered whether Herr had killed Kibuishi and fled. That theory weakened when money was withdrawn from Herr’s bank account. Police traced the transactions to teenager Wesley Freilich, who said Wozniak gave him Herr’s ATM card and directed him to withdraw funds.
Prosecutors said Wozniak killed Herr and dismembered him to obtain approximately $62,000 from Herr’s military savings, then killed Kibuishi and attempted to frame Herr. Wozniak was arrested at his bachelor party and eventually confessed after changing his account during questioning. He later said the motive was “money and insanity.”
Buffett’s conviction and stated position
Buffett was not accused of carrying out the murders or assisting Wozniak in committing them. She was arrested in 2012 on suspicion of being an accessory after the fact. In 2018, an Orange County jury convicted her of two felony counts after prosecutors argued that she lied, avoided questions and changed her story while investigators examined Wozniak’s involvement.
An Orange County judge sentenced Buffett to two years and eight months in jail, or 32 months. Wozniak was sentenced to death in 2016. Buffett has continued to say she was innocent and had no prior knowledge of the murders.
“I’m innocent, and that’s what hurts me most in this whole situation is they’re trying to say I’m something I’m not,” Buffett said in a television interview after Wozniak’s arrest.
Lasting questions for the former friend
Audrey said she contacted Buffett after Wozniak’s arrest despite having lost trust in her. She said Buffett responded by accusing her of seeking attention rather than offering genuine concern. Audrey described the reaction as difficult to reconcile with someone who had just learned that her fiancé was a murderer.
Audrey also said she still questions whether later text messages from Buffett’s phone were sent by Buffett or whether Wozniak used the device. She said the experience changed how she evaluates friendships, emphasizing that politeness and warmth do not necessarily establish trustworthiness.
| Number | Key Point |
|---|---|
| 1 | Audrey says Buffett made the alleged drugging remark about one month before the murders. |
| 2 | Kibuishi was found dead in Herr’s apartment, while Herr was missing. |
| 3 | Investigators connected Wozniak to withdrawals from Herr’s bank account. |
| 4 | Buffett was convicted of being an accessory after the fact, not of committing the murders. |
| 5 | Audrey says the case continues to shape her views about trust and friendship. |
Summary
Audrey’s account adds personal context to a case in which Wozniak was convicted of killing Herr and Kibuishi and Buffett was convicted of misleading investigators afterward. The alleged earlier remark is Audrey’s recollection and does not establish that Buffett knew about or participated in the murders. Buffett has denied wrongdoing and maintained that she lacked advance knowledge of the crimes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Audrey allege Rachel Buffett said?
Audrey said Buffett told her that if she secretly put ecstasy in Audrey’s drink, Audrey would not know it.
When were Julie Kibuishi and Samuel Herr killed?
Herr was killed on May 21, 2010, one week before Buffett and Wozniak were scheduled to marry. Kibuishi was also killed during the same episode.
What was Rachel Buffett convicted of?
In 2018, Buffett was convicted of two felony counts of being an accessory after the fact. Prosecutors said she lied to and misled investigators while trying to protect Wozniak.
What sentence did Daniel Wozniak receive?
Wozniak was sentenced to death in 2016 for the double murder of Herr and Kibuishi.
