Denver – The United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces a federal jury found Lawrence Rudolph, age 67, guilty of murdering his wife, Bianca Rudolph, and of defrauding multiple life insurance companies. The same jury found Lori Milliron, age 64, guilty of being an accessory after the fact to the murder, obstruction of justice, and two counts of perjury before the grand jury.
The evidence presented at trial proved Lawrence Rudolph murdered his wife Bianca while the two were on a hunting trip in Zambia on October 11, 2016, in such a manner that he could falsely claim the death was the result of an accident. The defendant devised a scheme to defraud and obtain a total of $4,877,744.93 from nine life insurance policies with seven different life insurance companies, one located in Colorado. He did this by representing Bianca died as the result of the accidental discharge of a firearm when, in fact, she had been murdered. She was shot once in the heart with a 12 gauge shotgun.
The evidence also proved on January 5, 2022, the defendant Lori Milliron provided false and misleading testimony to a grand jury sitting in the District of Colorado regarding cash payments made to her by Lawrence Rudolph, and the nature of her relationship with Rudolph. She testified before the grand jury the reason for the cash payments was because he was generous; it was actually because she was his girlfriend. When asked about what Rudolph told her when he relayed to her he was under FBI investigation. She told the grand jury that Rudolph said he was irritated by the investigation because he was “probably innocent;” actually, Rudolph had told her in the Spring 2020 that he had killed his (expletive) wife for her.
“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,” said U.S. Attorney Cole Finegan. “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.”
“The murder of Bianca Rudolph was not an easy case to investigate and prosecute, but it was the right thing to do to seek justice for this victim, her family, and her friends,” said FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Michael Schneider. “Lawrence Rudolph thought he could murder his wife overseas and get away with it. His actions raised red flags, and the FBI was ready to step in to investigate this murder of a U.S. citizen by another U.S. citizen in a foreign country.”
Judge William J. Martinez presided over the 14-day trial. Rudolph will be sentenced on February 1, 2023. Milliron will be sentenced on February 8, 2023.
The case was investigated by the FBI Denver Division. Prosecution was handled by Assistant United States Attorneys Bryan Fields, Garreth Winstead, and Bishop Grewell.
Case number: 22-cr-00012