Rachel Wade gets 27 years in love-triangle slaying

Rachel Wade could have been set free this afternoon. Or she could have been put behind bars for the rest of her life for stabbing to death a rival for her boyfriend's affections.

Instead, Pinellas Circuit Judge Joseph Bulone sentenced Wade, 20, to prison for 27 years.

The punishment didn't entirely satisfy Wade's family nor that of Sarah Ludemann.

"It could have been worse," said Rachel's father, Barry Wade Jr. "We're not happy with it, but some of us are relieved."

"There's not much I can do about it," said Sarah's father, Charlie Ludemann, outside court. "I always wanted it to go toward life in prison."

Jay Hebert, Wade's attorney, suggested Bulone might sentence Wade as a youthful offender and put her in prison for 15 years, to be followed by 15 years of probation. As an adult, however, Wade's punishment under sentencing guidelines ranged from 20.5 years to life after she was convicted in July of second-degree murder.

Wade stabbed Ludemann, 18, in the heart on April 15, 2009, killing her. Prosecutors and Hebert alike agreed that the confrontation capped months of bad blood between the teens over the affections of the same man, Josh Camacho.

Hebert said Wade would receive credit for the time she has been in jail since the murder, or about 16 months, so that would be subtracted from the 27 years. Wade could be released after serving 85 percent of the remaining sentence, or roughly 21 years, so she could be freed in her early 40s.

Wade wasn't interested in cutting a deal with prosecutors to avoid going to trial, as is sometimes done. Instead, she insisted on a trial, and she insisted on taking the stand in her own defense, Hebert said.

"I think Rachel right now is somewhat relieved," Hebert said. "At least now she knows and has some direction."

Wade's friends and family members, in an attempt to sway the judge, described her as a decent person, one who once gave her leftovers to a homeless man. Hebert said that, even while behind bars, Wade might attempt to educate others about the mistakes she made, possibly by posting a YouTube video.

One friend of hers invoked the name of Mahatma Gandhi while describing her plight. Her defense team tried to argue both she and Lundemann were manipulated by Camacho.

Prosecutors and Ludemann's family painted a different picture, one of a teenager with imaginary lovers, uncontrollable impulses, and little or no remorse for what she did. Wade was said to have smirked as Lundemann was dying.