Can All In the Staudte Family Include Murder?

Diane Staudte, 51, of Springfield, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault and one count of armed criminal action. Diane's daughter, Rachel Staudte, 22, was also charged with the same counts.  Does the family that poisions together stay together?

Allegedly both women confessed to fatally poisoning two relatives with antifreeze and attempting to kill a third over a 14-month period.  Needless to say, both women are jailed without bond. Why such inappropriate conduct?

According to probable cause affidavits and local police, Diane Staudte initially told law enforcement that her husband, Mark Staudte, 61, hadn't been feeling well before his April 2012 death.  Not so coincidnetally, Diane's son, Shawn Staudte, 26, allegedly also had flu-like symptoms before his death in September.  Initially the Greene County medical examiner said Mark died of natural causes and Shawn as a result of prior medical issues.  However, after an anonymous tip, a re-examination led to a different conclusion.

Another daughter, Sarah Staudte, was hospitalized with a potentially fatal condition; however, Diane Staudte only visited a couple of times and did not stay long for any one visit.  Diane Staudte also allegedly joked and laughed with hospital personnel during her visit. Diane Staudte allegedly told a nurse that she planned to go on an upcoming vacation to Florida regardless of her daughter's condition.

Diane Staudte has allegedly admitted to poisoning her family by putting antifreeze in their soda and Gatorade.  She allegedly told a detective that she killed her husband because she "hated him" and her son because he was "worse than a pest." Diane allegedly wanted to kill her daughter, Sarah, because the young woman "would not get a job and had student loans that had to be paid."
 Rachel Staudte allegedly has also admitted to taking part in the poisionings. 

All suspects are to be presumed to be innocent!