Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of murder. Reader discretion is advised.
ABC 20/20‘s “The Last Hunt” looks into Bianca Rudolph’s shooting death while on a Zambia safari with her husband Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph. The upcoming episode will air on the network this Friday, July 12, 2024, at 9 p.m. ET. A synopsis for the episode reads, “Two go on safari, one returns; an exclusive interview with a man who says he heard a shocking confession.”
In 2016, Bianca Rudolph and her husband of 30 years, Larry Rudolph, traveled to Zambia, Africa, for a hunting trip. However, Bianca died after suffering a fatal gunshot wound from a 12-gauge shotgun in their hunting cabin at Kafue National Park. Larry claimed she died while packing the firearm as it accidentally discharged. He claimed to have been in the bathroom at the time of the incident and found Bianca bleeding on the floor.
Authorities initially ruled Bianca’s death to be an accident, but a subsequent investigation revealed otherwise. They found that her husband, Larry, was having an affair with a woman named Lori Milliron. Investigators believed that Larry’s motive was also money, as he filed for fraudulent life insurance claims worth $4 million. The case eventually resulted in his conviction on murder and other related charges.
Who killed Bianca Rudolp & what was her cause of death?
CNN stated that Bianca Rudolph’s husband of three decades, Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph, killed her. Bianca’s cause of death was a fatal gunshot wound through the heart. The incident occurred in Zambia, Africa, while the couple were on a hunting trip in October 2016. Larry was a renowned Pittsburgh-area dentist whose dental empire was once valued at $10 million.
According to Larry Rudolph’s claims, Bianca Rudolph died while packing the firearms during their safari vacation. He claimed Bianca was preparing for their return home when she died of the fatal gunshot wound from a 12-gauge shotgun in their hunting cabin at Kafue National Park. Larry alleged he was in the bathroom when he heard the gunshot and found his wife bleeding on the cabin floor.
Reportedly, the Zambian authorities declared Bianca’s death was an accident, which occurred because of her failure to adhere to safety protocols. Moreover, Larry’s claims supported the theory that her death was accidental. He was also rushing to have her body cremated and leave Africa soon.
However, a former U.S. Marine who inspected Bianca Rudolph’s body believed the firearm did not accidentally discharge. He determined from her wounds that someone had fired the gun from a distance of several feet, reported Sportskeeda. The FBI later examined the body and claimed they had “reason to believe” that Bianca Rudolph’s death was not from “an accidental discharge.”
A subsequent investigation into Bianca’s death revealed that her husband Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph was having a long-term affair. The woman in question was Lori Milliron, his assistant. Additionally, after returning to the U.S., Larry tried to acquire $4 million in life insurance claims. He filed multiple claims a month after Bianca’s death. In 2017, he started living with Milliron.
Then, in 2021, authorities arrested Larry Rudolph on suspicion of his involvement in Bianca’s Rudolph’s murder. Prosecutors charged him with murder and also for defrauding insurance companies. They claimed he murdered his wife to be with his lover and to receive millions in life insurance claims. However, he maintained his innocence.
Lawrence Rudolph stood trial in 2022 for murdering Bianca Rudolph, and a jury returned with a guilty verdict. Jurors believed he shot Bianca on the last day of their trip and then made it look like an accident. The accused was also convicted of defrauding insurance companies. He received a life sentence on the murder charge with a concurrent 20-year term on the second fraud count.
ABC 20/20’s The Last Hunt will air on Friday, July 12, with Bianca Rudolph’s murder case.
