Rachel Mae Buffett Age & Current Life: 5 Shocking Facts About The Ex-Fiancée Of A Death Row Inmate

Rachel Mae Buffett, whose name became infamous in connection with one of Orange County’s most shocking murder cases, is currently 38 years old as of December 2025. Born on July 20, 1987, the former community theater actress and one-time Disney Princess performer has largely vanished from the public eye since her release from jail in 2019, following her conviction as an accessory to the horrific double murder committed by her former fiancé, Daniel Wozniak. Her life has been marked by a dramatic shift from the aspiring lights of the stage to the shadows of a high-profile criminal case, leaving many to wonder about her current whereabouts and career path. The intense public curiosity surrounding Rachel Mae Buffett is driven by the sheer brutality of the crimes she was connected to, her unusual former occupation, and the lingering question of how much she truly knew about the murders of Samuel Herr and Juri "Julie" Kibuishi. This deep dive explores her confirmed biography, the timeline of the case, and the surprising details of her life today, including her reported pursuit of a master's degree in psychology.

Rachel Mae Buffett: Confirmed Biography and Profile

The life of Rachel Mae Buffett, prior to the 2010 double murder case, was centered on performance and the arts in Southern California. Her biographical details paint a picture of an ambitious young woman whose life took a catastrophic turn.

• Full Name: Rachel Mae Buffett
• Date of Birth: July 20, 1987
• Current Age (as of December 2025): 38 years old
• Place of Birth: United States
• Primary Residence (Pre-Conviction): Costa Mesa, California / Long Beach, California
• Former Occupation: Actress, Community Theater Performer, Disney Princess Performer (specifically as a character at Disneyland, though the exact role is unconfirmed in public records)
• Education: Reportedly pursuing a Master's Degree in Psychology (as of 2018 sentencing)
• Marital Status: Single (Former fiancée of convicted murderer Daniel Wozniak)
• Criminal Conviction: Accessory After the Fact to Murder (Guilty verdict in September 2018)
• Sentence: 32 months (2 years and 8 months) in jail
• Release Status: Released from custody in 2019, followed by a period of supervised release.

The Shocking Timeline: From Disney Princess to Accessory to Murder

The timeline of events that connected Rachel Mae Buffett to a double murder is a critical component of her public profile and the reason for sustained interest in her story. The details reveal a descent from a life of aspiring normalcy to one entangled in a capital crime.

The 2010 Double Murder and Wozniak’s Arrest

The tragedy began in May 2010 with the murders of 26-year-old Army veteran Samuel Herr and his friend, 23-year-old college student Juri "Julie" Kibuishi, in Costa Mesa, California.

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Rachel Mae Buffett’s fiancé at the time, Daniel Wozniak, a fellow community theater actor, was the perpetrator. Wozniak, who was deeply in debt and desperate for money to fund his upcoming wedding and honeymoon with Buffett, shot Herr to steal his savings. He then lured Kibuishi to Herr’s apartment, staged the scene to make it look like Herr had sexually assaulted and murdered Kibuishi, and later dismembered Herr’s body.

Wozniak was arrested shortly after the crimes. The public was immediately captivated by the shocking nature of the crime, the killer's cold-blooded planning, and the involvement of two aspiring actors.

Buffett’s Role and the Accessory Charge

Rachel Mae Buffett was not charged with murder, but with being an accessory after the fact. The prosecution argued that she lied to and misled investigators to protect Wozniak, even after he had confessed to the murders. She was accused of telling police a false story about Wozniak’s whereabouts and helping him with a key that was part of the cover-up.

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For years, she maintained her innocence, stating that she was unaware of Wozniak's actions and that her family believed she was not involved in the crime. However, in September 2018, an Orange County jury found her guilty of two counts of accessory after the fact.

Where Is Rachel Mae Buffett Now? Life After Prison and New Career Path

After her conviction, Rachel Mae Buffett was sentenced in November 2018 to 32 months in jail. With credit for time served and good behavior, her actual time behind bars was significantly reduced. She was reportedly released from prison in 2019, having served her time for the accessory charges.

The Pursuit of a Psychology Master's Degree

One of the most surprising and recent pieces of information about Buffett’s life post-conviction emerged during her sentencing. A prosecutor mentioned outside the courtroom that she was studying for a master's degree in psychology. This suggests a complete departure from her former career as an actress and a pivot toward a field focused on the human mind and behavior. The pursuit of a master's degree indicates a serious attempt to rebuild her life and career in a new, less public-facing profession.

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Following her release, she was also subject to a period of supervised release, imposing strict conditions on her freedom. Since 2019, she has successfully stayed out of the media spotlight, and her current whereabouts remain uncertain, which is common for individuals attempting to re-establish a private life after a high-profile criminal case.

Fact Check: Is Rachel Mae Buffett Related to Warren Buffett?

A question that frequently arises due to the uncommon surname is whether Rachel Mae Buffett is related to billionaire investor Warren Buffett. This is a classic case of mistaken identity and a common source of public confusion.

• No Confirmed Connection: There is no credible evidence or confirmed public record linking Rachel Mae Buffett to the family of Warren Buffett, the CEO of Berkshire Hathaway.
• The Coincidence: The name is a coincidence. While there are other individuals with the Buffett surname who are related to the investor (such as his children Howard Buffett, Susie Buffett, and Peter Buffett), Rachel Mae Buffett is not one of them.
• Clarifying the Confusion: The confusion is occasionally fueled by a separate incident involving a step-granddaughter of Warren Buffett who changed her last name to Buffett and appeared in a documentary, but this is a different individual entirely. Rachel Mae Buffett’s family has been primarily associated with the coastal cities of Seal Beach and Long Beach, California, and her life story is entirely separate from that of the famous Omaha-based investment family.

The Lasting Impact of the Case

The Daniel Wozniak double murder case, and Rachel Mae Buffett's role in it, remains a significant part of Orange County's true crime history. Wozniak was convicted and sentenced to death in 2016, and he remains on death row. The families of the victims, Samuel Herr and Juri Kibuishi, have expressed their ongoing pain and the feeling that justice was incomplete, particularly regarding Buffett's accessory conviction and relatively short jail sentence. The case has been covered by numerous true crime programs, including Dateline NBC, ensuring that the details of the crime and the names of all involved continue to be discussed years later. Rachel Mae Buffett's story serves as a stark reminder of how quickly an ordinary life can be irrevocably altered by proximity to a catastrophic crime.