Wealthy dentist sentenced to life in prison for killing wife during African safari

A rich Pennsylvania dentist was sentenced to life behind bars and compelled to fork over thousands and thousands of {dollars} in fines Monday for killing his spouse throughout an African safari in 2016 after which cashing in on her demise.

Convicted killer Larry Rudolph was hit with the jarring sentence in a Denver federal courthouse after being convicted final 12 months of fatally capturing his spouse of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph, within the coronary heart on their final morning in Zambia the place the couple went looking.

Rudolph killed his spouse in chilly blood as a part of a plan to obtain life insurance coverage funds and start a brand new life with longtime mistress Lori Milliron, prosecutors mentioned.

“Even Judas can be afraid to be in your organization,” the sufferer’s brother Vincent Finizio advised Rudolph earlier than the choose sentenced him.

Prosecutors mentioned Rudolph took the shotgun used within the heartless crime and positioned it again in its smooth case to make it seem that his spouse shot herself accidentally whereas packing on October 11, 2016. 

“This outcome exhibits that regardless of how a lot cash, status, or energy you could have, you can be held accountable on your crimes,” US Lawyer for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan mentioned in an announcement.

Rudolph was additionally discovered responsible of mail fraud, which is tied to the large insurance coverage payouts he acquired following his spouse’s demise. He acquired a 20-year sentence to run alongside the life sentence for that conviction.

He’s required to pay almost $5 million in restitution and one other $2 million in fines, the court docket dominated. He was additionally ordered to forfeit two houses, his automobiles, an Aston Martin DB-11 and Bentley Bentayga, and different property purchased with the insurance coverage cash.

The protection mentioned all of the property totaled almost $9 million.

The large recreation hunter has maintained his innocence with hopes he might be a free man after an attraction is heard.

He claimed Bianca Rudolph shot herself whereas she was in a rush to pack up for the journey residence, however prosecutors argued the gunshot wound couldn’t have been self-inflicted.

Rudolph’s attorneys additionally insisted their shopper had no motive to kill his spouse for Milliron for the reason that married couple have been in an open relationship for greater than a decade. In addition they argued he didn’t want the cash from the life insurance coverage payouts.  

Milliron, who was the supervisor of Rudolph’s Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, was sentenced to 17 years in jail in June after she was convicted of being an adjunct.

Whereas Rudolph’s life sentence was assured based mostly on federal pointers, the protection and prosecutors butted heads over how a lot cash he ought to be pressured to pay.

Assistant US Lawyer Bryan Fields mentioned a dear monetary penalty would guarantee Rudolph wouldn’t be capable to file frivolous lawsuits or rent hit males whereas in jail in a bid for revenge. Prosecutors wished a $10 million positive imposed.

Rudolph’s authorized group mentioned that hefty fines would forestall Rudolph’s two grown kids from inheriting cash from their late mom’s property. Rudolph was price $27 million when he was arrested in 2021, however is now price $3 million, his attorneys mentioned.

US District Choose William Martinez selected a positive on the decrease finish after receiving a notice from son Julian Rudolph {that a} $10 million positive would additional punish him and his sister.

The siblings haven’t spoken a lot publicly about their mom’s demise, although Ana Bianca Rudolph testified towards Milliron throughout her federal trial. They weren’t at their father’s sentencing. 

With Put up wires