A month before the tragic deaths of Juri “Julie” Kibuishi and Samuel Herr, Rachel Buffett was in the midst of planning her bachelorette party. Her friend Audrey, who later shared insights in the Investigation Discovery series “A Killer Among Friends,” recalled an unsettling exchange. Buffett allegedly suggested slipping ecstasy into Audrey’s drink without her knowledge. This marked a breaking point for Audrey, leading her to end their friendship.
Rachel Buffett was once engaged to Daniel Wozniak, a man later convicted of double murder. In a tense Orange County Superior Court session in 2018, Buffet listened as Junko Kibuishi, the mother of one of the victims, spoke. Despite being convicted as an accessory after the fact, Buffett was not involved in the murders themselves. Her sentence included over two years in jail for misleading investigators.
Audrey’s recollections of time spent with Buffett reveal a contrast between their sober interactions and the aggression that surfaced when alcohol was involved. Tensions ran high during a gathering when a comment about drug use signaled the end of a friendship. Audrey believed sincerely that Buffett might have drugged her, particularly after witnessing the couple’s volatile behavior towards her and others while intoxicated.
“When Rachel and [her fiancé] would get mad at each other, and they were drunk, they’d yell at everyone,” Audrey shared.
Despite their falling out, Buffett reached out to Audrey, inviting her to be a bridesmaid. Audrey declined, feeling it best to walk away. Shortly after this, Kibuishi was found shot in Herr’s apartment, and Herr was missing. Prosecutors charged Buffett with being an accessory to the murders after learning she misled authorities.
The tragic incident involved a financial motive. Wozniak attempted to cover his tracks by framing Herr for Kibuishi’s murder. His confession revealed a desperate quest for money.
A close friend from college, Audrey described Buffett initially as sociable and lively. Yet, relationships frayed when plans for marriage with Wozniak became fraught with tension; this was compounded by the financial stress he faced.
Police investigations pivoted when ATM withdrawals linked a reported missing Herr to the actual crimes. Teenager Wesley Freilich’s involvement in this discovery, at Wozniak’s behest, led investigators to arrest Wozniak. During interrogation, Wozniak’s repeated lies culminated in a confession driven by apparent financial desperation.
Despite Wozniak’s sentencing to death in 2016 for his premeditated acts and subsequent framing, the reverberations of his actions were felt by those connected. This included Buffett, who maintained her innocence throughout. Her arrest and subsequent conviction centered on her obstructive actions post-murder.
This chilling case underscores the intersection of loyalty, deception, and choice amidst tragedy, illustrating a cautionary tale of trust and relationships.