Wealthy Dentist Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder of Wife on Hunting Trip in Zambia
A wealthy dentist, Lawrence Rudolph, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife while on a hunting trip in Zambia in 2016, according to the Justice Department. The dentist, aged 68, was also given a concurrent sentence of 20 years for filing fraudulent life insurance claims. In addition to serving time in prison, Rudolph has been ordered to pay over $4.8 million in restitution and a fine of $2 million.
Lawyers for Dr. Rudolph have expressed their intention to appeal the sentencing, maintaining his innocence. In a statement, his attorneys, David O. Markus and Margot Moss, said, “Larry is innocent. He did not murder his wife.”
Dr. Rudolph, formerly of Paradise Valley, Ariz., collected nearly $4.9 million in life insurance benefits after his wife, Bianca Rudolph, died during the hunting trip. Reports indicate that Mrs. Rudolph, a big game hunter, was hoping to add a leopard to her trophy collection. However, court documents revealed that she died from a fatal shotgun blast to her heart. Witnesses, including a hunting guide and a game scout, testified that they found Mrs. Rudolph bleeding from the left side of her chest shortly after hearing the shot.
During the investigation, Dr. Rudolph claimed that his wife must have accidentally discharged the shotgun while attempting to put it in its case. Authorities in Zambia determined that the firearm was loaded and safety precautions had not been followed. However, the FBI and U.S. consular officials concluded that Ms. Rudolph had been shot from a distance of six and a half to eight feet, making it highly improbable that it was an accidental discharge.
At trial, prosecutors argued that Dr. Rudolph murdered his wife for financial reasons and because of an extramarital affair with another woman, Lori Milliron. In 2022, Dr. Rudolph was found guilty on one count of murder of a U.S. national in a foreign country and one count of mail fraud. Lori Milliron was also sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for her role as an accessory in the murder.
Dr. Rudolph has consistently maintained his innocence throughout the trial, stating, “I absolutely did not shoot my wife.” His lawyer, David O. Markus, has emphasized the lack of evidence to prove Dr. Rudolph’s guilt.
Federal prosecutors, on the other hand, contend that the evidence presented at trial proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Lawrence Rudolph murdered his wife. They allege that Dr. Rudolph used a 12-gauge shotgun to shoot his wife through the heart with the intention of making the murder look like an accident. Following the incident, Dr. Rudolph filed nine separate fraudulent life insurance claims upon returning to the United States.
Cole Finegan, the U.S. attorney for Colorado, expressed satisfaction with the sentencing, stating, “This result shows that no matter how much money, prestige, or power you have, you will be held accountable for your crimes. The fact that justice arrived today is no accident.”