48 Hours: Death on Safari - A complete timeline of Bianca Rudolph's murder, revisited

Bianca Rudolph’s tragic death was aired on the program, 48 Hours. This coverage shed new light on the facts of the case. It is a story about a wealthy dentist whose death started as a shooting accident but was later ruled a murder. Now, this is a look at the events that led to a murder conviction years later. The 48 Hours episode about the case is titled “Death on Safari.”

The show detailed the entire criminal investigation. The program also featured key evidence from the trial, including testimony from FBI agents and prosecutors. Audiences learned about the murder charge and the insurance fraud scheme. The episode gave depth to the story of Bianca Rudolph. It showed her life as a successful dentist and mother of two.

Then it showed the unraveling of her death. The show also shared details of Dr. Rudolph’s long-term affair. This information provided a possible motive for the crime.

48 Hours: Death on Safari - Bianca Rudolph's murder, revisited

The safari and the shot: October 2016

Dr. Lawrence Rudolph and his wife, Bianca Rudolph, traveled on an African safari in Zambia. Then, the couple went to Kafue National Park in October 2016. Both were experienced big-game hunters.

On their final day, a gunshot rang out from their cabin. Larry Rudolph claimed Bianca Rudolph was packing a shotgun into its case. He said the weapon fired by accident, and the shot hit her in the heart. The program, 48 Hours later investigated this claim.

Local police in Zambia initially ruled the death an accident. They decided that no crime had been committed. Cremation was arranged shortly after, which raised suspicion later. Some people noted that cremation went against Bianca’s strict Catholic faith. At the time, however, the case seemed closed.

Suspicion begins to build

An official from the U.S. Embassy went to the funeral home. This former Marine had decades of weapons experience. He inspected Bianca's body before the cremation. He measured the wound and took photographs. This step became key evidence for later analysis.

A friend of Bianca's then spoke to the FBI. The friend said that Larry Rudolph had been having an affair. She told the FBI that Larry did not want a divorce because of the money. Within one month of returning home, Larry Rudolph filed for nearly $5 million in life insurance claims. 48 Hours explored this financial motive.

The FBI investigation and trial

The FBI investigation continued for several years. They looked at the logistics of the shotgun firing inside the case. They also considered the money, the mistress, and the cremation. They determined the shooting was not an accident.

Larry Rudolph was arrested in December 2021. This was more than five years after his wife’s death. He was charged with murder and mail fraud. His mistress, Lori Milliron, faced charges for being an accessory and for perjury. The trial began in the Denver federal court.

The verdict and sentencing

Jurors heard testimony about the murder for weeks. Larry Rudolph denied shooting his wife for the money or to be with Lori Milliron. His attorneys argued that the Zambian police and insurance companies found no evidence of a crime.

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The Denver jury found Larry Rudolph guilty for murdering a U.S. national in a foreign country. He was also convicted of mail fraud for the life insurance money. Lori Milliron faced conviction as an accessory after the fact. She was also convicted of obstruction of justice.

Lori Milliron received a 17-year prison sentence in June 2023. Larry Rudolph faced a life sentence for the murder charge. The program 48 Hours chronicled the investigation and trial process, detailing the path from a single shot in Africa to a US murder conviction. It continues to follow new case developments.

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