Should Rachel Wade Be Released?

Rachel Wade was 19 when she committed the unthinkable crime over a guy. Wade had a feud with another teen Sarah Ludemann over a boy who played the both of them. If you want to read the whole story about Rachel Wade:

Or if you want me to recall the story of Rachel Wade. This story involves Rachel Wade, a high school dropout who was dating a teen bad boy Joshua Cumacho who has known him since grade school. The two were seeing each other and started sleeping with each other. While Joshua was in a relationship with Rachel Wade, Joshua was seeing another woman named Sarah. After the two girls found out that they were dating the same guy, the two girls went on an all out war with each other. Until April 2009, the two girls fought each other outside. Wade had a knife during the fight leading to Sarah’s death. Wade stabbed her to death and claims she used the knife for self-defense.

The question of whether Rachel Wade should be released from prison before the end of her sentence is complex, emotionally charged, and deeply rooted in one of Florida’s most tragic and widely publicized teen-on-teen homicide cases. Wade, convicted in 2010 for the second-degree murder of 18-year-old Sarah Ludemann, remains a subject of public debate more than fifteen years after the crime. Understanding whether early release is appropriate requires a careful, balanced review of the crime itself, the legal process, Wade’s behavior and status in prison, and the broader moral and societal issues surrounding punishment, rehabilitation, and justice.Whether Wade should be released early depends in part on her behavior and development in prison, but this is where public information becomes thin. While some secondary sources suggest she has expressed regret and reflected on the immaturity that shaped her teenage years, there is no confirmed documentation of rehabilitation programs completed, psychological evaluations, disciplinary records, or official reports pointing to significant behavioral improvement. Florida’s Department of Corrections does not routinely publish such records, and no accredited news outlet has reported evidence of extraordinary progress that might make her a candidate for early release, clemency, or sentence review. There are also no records of her initiating such legal processes.

Considering arguments that might support release, some may point to Wade’s young age at the time of the crime and the possibility that, after more than fifteen years incarcerated, she has grown, matured, and perhaps demonstrated sustained remorse. Supporters of rehabilitation argue that long-term incarceration, while necessary for serious crimes, should still leave space for redemption. If Wade has genuinely transformed, a compassionate or rehabilitative justice viewpoint might consider this meaningful.

However, the arguments against early release remain significantly stronger. The crime was undeniably violent, deliberate, and life-ending. The court found her responsible despite claims of self-defense, and the victim’s family continues to bear irreplaceable loss. Given the severity of the murder and the context of prior threats, many legal experts believe that completing the full sentence is consistent with public safety, accountability, and the principles of justice. Additionally, without transparent evidence of rehabilitation, the rationale for shortening a sentence of this magnitude weakens considerably.

Honestly, Rachel made a huge mistake stabbing Sarah both those girls should’ve gone at Josh after all he played the both of them. I had experience with my love triangle and Situation ships wanting to win my boyfriends in life but then I realized boys ain’t sh*t.

If Gypsy Rose and Brigitte Harris can get release then she should as well. Sarah’s family should be upset with Josh because he was the cause of both girls fighting over him and cussing at each other. Both of them could have done was dump him and moved on with their lives. Sarah would have found a new boyfriend despite that Joshua being a threat and she and her family should have threaten to leave Sarah alone plus Sarah would have been a veterinarian. That is why I believe she deserved a another chance to be released.

Ultimately, based on publicly available information, there is no substantive legal or ethical foundation for Rachel Wade’s early release at this time. Unless new and compelling evidence of rehabilitation emerges, or unless she pursues and is granted clemency. In the meantime, she will be released in 2032 (Wade will be 42 by the time she will be released.)

What do you think? Does Rachel Wade deserve to be released?