Wealthy dentist Lawrence Rudolph found guilty in wife’s death on 2016 African safari

A rich dentist accused of fatally capturing his spouse on the finish of an African safari was found guilty of homicide and mail fraud Monday. The verdict for Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph’ got here from a jury in a Denver federal court docket following a trial that lasted three weeks.

Rudolph was charged with homicide and mail fraud for cashing in $4.8 million in life insurance coverage claims in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated crime.

Rudolph maintained his innocence. His lawyer urged his spouse of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph, shot herself whereas making an attempt to pack a shotgun in a rush as they ready to return from Zambia to the United States in 2016. Larry Rudolph beforehand mentioned he was in the lavatory, heard a gunshot, and found his spouse bleeding, useless on the bed room ground, “48 Hours” reported earlier this 12 months. 

But prosecutors countered that proof confirmed that was unimaginable as a result of the wound to her coronary heart got here from a shot fired from 2 to three.5 toes away.

As “48 Hours” beforehand reported, Larry had his wife’s physique rapidly cremated in Zambia, which led a good friend of Bianca’s to doubt this was an accident. Soon after Bianca’s death, the good friend known as the FBI. According to an FBI grievance cited by “48 Hours,” she additionally mentioned Lawrence was having an affair and had been verbally abusive to Bianca. The good friend additionally instructed the FBI that the couple fought over cash.

Prosecutors additionally accused Rudolph’s girlfriend and supervisor of his Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, Lori Milliron, of mendacity to a federal grand jury in regards to the case and her relationship with Rudolph.

She was found guilty by the identical jury of being an adjunct after the actual fact to homicide, obstruction of a grand jury and two counts of perjury earlier than a grand jury. She was found not guilty on two different counts of perjury.

Prosecutors alleged that Rudolph determined to kill his spouse to regain management over his life after Bianca Rudolph requested for extra say in the couple’s funds and demanded that Milliron be fired. Rudolph’s attorneys known as {that a} false narrative.