Millionaire Denver dentist, Larry Rudolph 67, is sentenced to life in jail and fined $15M for blasting his wife to death with a shotgun on African safari

A wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife on safari in Zambia so he could collect millions in life insurance has been sentenced to life in prison for murder and fined $15 million.

Larry Rudolph, who prosecutors say spent his life “seeking dominance and control over others through wealth and power”, fatally shot his wife Bianca Rudolph in October 2016.

The 57-year-old wife and mother of two grown children was touched to the heart by her husband as the couple went on a hunting trip in the African savannah. He claimed his wife accidentally killed herself while packing for home.

His girlfriend Lori Milliron, 65, faces 17 years in prison after being convicted in June of abetting the murder.

Rudolph was convicted Monday in federal court in Denver of murder in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph as well as mail fraud.

He cashed in nearly $5million in insurance policies for his wife, prosecutors allege who say he wanted to live out a lavish retirement with his longtime girlfriend using the money.

“We still strongly believe in Larry’s innocence. We look forward to proving him right on appeal,” Rudolph’s attorneys David Oscar Markus and Margot Moss said.

Rudolph has claimed throughout the case that his wife’s death in the southern African country in 2016 was an accident. His lawyers plan to appeal the conviction.

Prosecutors say that after shooting his wife, Rudolph, who owned a dental franchise in the Pittsburgh area, put the gun in its soft holster to make it look like she had accidentally shot herself while doing her suitcases.

They also claim the scene of the murder, about 80 miles (129 kilometers) from the nearest police station, was the perfect place to try to get away with the crime, where he rushed to have cremated his wife and intimidated officials investigating her death.

They allege the goal was to live out a lavish retirement with his longtime girlfriend Milliron with the help of insurance money. She was sentenced to 17 years in prison in June after being convicted of aiding and abetting. She has since filed an appeal.

“The murder was the culmination of a life spent seeking dominance and control over others through wealth and power,” prosecutors said in a court filing outlining their proposed sentencing.

Rudolph could also get more jail time for mail fraud in addition to paying a nearly $10 million fine, confiscating millions in assets and reimbursing insurance companies, prosecutors say.

Rudolph’s adult children fight for some of the financial penalties the government wants their father to pay, asking the court to treat them, not the insurance companies, as victims of insurance fraud. In a court filing, they say they have “suffered considerable financial harm” and are entitled to restitution.

Investigators in Zambia and for insurers have concluded that Bianca Rudolph’s death was an accident. Insurance companies, some based in Colorado, then had to pay out life insurance due to his death, the defense said in court documents.

But Rudolph was arrested nearly five years after his death following an FBI investigation that sent agents around the world to collect evidence and interview witnesses.

A bartender at a steakhouse in Phoenix, where Milliron moved to be with Rudolph after Bianca died, said he heard Rudolph say “I killed my fucking wife for you!” during a falling out they had in early 2020.

However, Brian Lovelace testified that he could not hear the words just before this statement because the music was playing. Rudolph testified that he actually said “now they say I killed my fucking wife for you!” after learning that the FBI was investigating him.

Prosecutors allege he built his wealth on fraud. They say he shot himself in the thumb during a previous visit to Zambia to raise millions in disability insurance money, and allege he also misled his dental patients, creating the need for root canals by not filling or drilling holes in their teeth while they sleep. .

The fine demanded by the government is double the amount Rudolph received for life insurance policies as well as insurance for the jewelry Bianca Rudolph was wearing when she was killed.

Rudolph said the jewelry was lost although Zambian officials said they gave him the items. His lawyers say the government did not charge Rudolph for it and never proved the allegation.

Prosecutors want Rudolph to pay $4.9 million in damages to insurance companies, confiscate $4.8 million from bank accounts, as well as real estate in Arizona and Pennsylvania and two luxury vehicles – an Aston Martin DB-11 and a Bentley Bentayga, according to court filings.

Lawyers for Rudolph say the properties and cars are worth millions and the combined penalties total more than $25 million. They say he can’t afford it since he no longer controls his declining dental practice, he has huge debts and he will never be able to earn more money. Rudolph’s two adult children now control his finances, according to the defense.

“The truth is that such a fine would only serve to punish and bankrupt the Rudolph children, not Rudolph himself,” his lawyers said.

The government estimated Rudolph was worth $15 million, the defense said in a pre-sentencing report that is not publicly available, but a defense expert at trial said his value was now lower. at $10 million.

Prosecutors say Rudolph would still have millions of dollars after paying restitution, the fine and the seizure of the property. Ahead of his trial, they say Rudolph claimed to be worth $27 million and argued that he didn’t need the life insurance money he got after his wife’s death to demonstrate. his innocence.

“Adult children are not punished and are not entitled to the unjust enrichment of their father’s criminal regime,” prosecutors said.