A multi-millionaire dentist is facing the death penalty after being found guilty of killing his wife while on a big game hunting trip in Africa.
Lawrence Rudolph, 67, was found guilty of the 2016 murder of wife Bianca Rudolph - he was also found guilty of mail fraud for cashing in Bianca's $4.8 million life insurance.
Bianca died from a single gunshot wound to the heart while the couple were on holiday in Zambia in October 2016.
Rudolph, from Pennsylvania, claimed his wife accidentally shot and killed herself.
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However, following a three week long trial in Denver, a jury of six men and six women yesterday found him guilty and he now faces life in prison or the death penalty, Associated Press reports.
The court heard that the couple, who had been married for 34 years, had an open marriage since 2000.
Rudolph’s girlfriend Lori Milliron was found guilty by the same jury on charges of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of perjury before the grand jury.
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During opening arguments, prosecutors claimed Rudolph had admitted to the murder during an argument with Milliron.
They claimed that Rudolph was overheard blurting out: “I killed my f***ing wife for you!” while the couple were sat in a restaurant in 2020.
In an affidavit, FBI Special Agent Donald Peterson said: "Lawrence Rudolph murdered his wife as part of a scheme to defraud life insurance companies and to obtain money and property from them through the false and fraudulent pretence, representation and promise that the death was an accident."
In a statement Colorado's US Attorney Cole Finegan thanked the jury and the FBI for securing the conviction.
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He said: “We are thankful for the jury’s diligence looking at all the evidence in this case. Bianca Rudolph deserved justice. This case was an exceptional example of the entire U.S. Attorney’s Office pulling together with our law enforcement partners to uncover the truth and seek justice for a victim who had no other voice.
“I also want to specifically thank the efforts of the FBI, which worked to obtain justice by literally going around the world to interview witnesses and collect evidence. Their efforts were exemplary, and we are grateful to them.”
After the verdict was announced, Rudolph’s attorneys said they plan to appeal the conviction.
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In a statement to Law & Crime, they said: “We are obviously extremely disappointed. We believe in Larry and his children.
“There are lots of really strong appellate issues, which we will be pursuing after we have had a chance to regroup.”
Rudolph is set to be sentenced in February.
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Claire Reid