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Dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari given life sentence and over $15M in penalties

Margot Moss, left, and her co-counsel, David Oscar Markus, exit the federal courthouse after a judge handed down a sentence of life in prison and more than $15 million in penalties to their client, Larry Rudolph, the wealthy owner of a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, for killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia, during a sentencing hearing Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in the federal courthouse in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

David Oscar Markus, left, and his co-counsel, Margot Moss, speak after a judge handed down a sentence of life in prison and more than $15 million in penalties to their client, Larry Rudolph, the wealthy owner of a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, for killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia, during a sentencing hearing Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in the federal courthouse in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

FILE - The son, left, and daughter, back right, of Pittsburgh dentist Lawrence “Larry” Rudolph head into federal court for the afternoon session of the trial, July 13, 2022, in Denver. Rudolph, a wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife during an African safari so he could be with his girlfriend, is expected to be sentenced to life in prison Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, for a murder prosecutors say capped off a lifetime “spent seeking domination and control over others through wealth and power.” The couple’s two adult children, Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph, have so far opted not to to speak publicly about the death. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

U.S. Attorney for Colorado, Cole Finegan, front, speaks as Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI bureau in Denver, back, looks on after a judge handed down a sentence of life in prison and more than $15 million in penalties to Larry Rudolph, the wealthy owner of a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, for killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia, during a sentencing hearing Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in the federal courthouse in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

U.S. Attorney for Colorado, Cole Finegan, front, speaks as Mark Michalek, special agent in charge of the FBI bureau in Denver, looks on after a judge handed down a sentence of life in prison and more than $15 million in penalties to Larry Rudolph, the wealthy owner of a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, for killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia, during a sentencing hearing Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in the federal courthouse in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Mark Michalek, front, special agent in charge of the FBI’s bureau in Denver, speaks as U.S. Attorney for Colorado, Cole Finegan, back, looks on after a judge handed down a sentence of life in prison and more than $15 million in penalties to Larry Rudolph, the wealthy owner of a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, for killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia, during a sentencing hearing Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, in the federal courthouse in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

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DENVER (AP) — As a wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife at the end of an African safari listened in court, her brother vowed on Monday to move her remains to a place that Larry Rudolph would never discover.

Shortly before a judge sentenced Rudolph to life in prison in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph, Vincent Finizio also predicted Larry Rudolph would “die alone and unmourned” and that his future grandchildren will never know he existed.

“Even Judas would be afraid to be in your company,” Finizio said, referencing the home of Jesus’ traitor — the worst circle of hell imagined by Dante.

U.S. District Judge William Martinez also imposed over an estimated $15 million in financial penalties against Rudolph, who was also convicted of mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife as he began a new life with his longtime girlfriend.

Rudolph has claimed throughout the case that his wife’s death in the southern African nation of Zambia was an accident. His lawyer, David Oscar Markus, said he and fellow defense lawyer, Margot Moss, were hopeful they would win an appeal.

“And we’ll be back to get a fair trial and then Larry can walk out of here a free man,” Markus said.

Prosecutors say Rudolph, who owned a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, shot his wife of 34 years in the heart with a shotgun on her last morning in Zambia, and then put the gun in its soft case to make it look like she had accidentally shot herself while packing. The couple had been hunting game during their trip.

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

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

The penalties for Rudolph include a combination of restitution, fines and property forfeiture. Rudolph also got a 20-year prison term to be served at the same time as his life sentence for his mail fraud conviction. Martinez ordered Rudolph serve his sentence at a prison with health care facilities because of his unspecified heart problems.

With a life sentence required under federal sentencing rules, Monday’s hearing focused mostly on the the financial penalties facing Rudolph, with pages after pages of financial charts tracking the movement of the insurance payouts discussed. Some was used to build two homes, one in Arizona and another in Pennsylvania, as well as for two luxury cars, an Aston Martin DB-11 and a Bentley Bentayga.

Martinez ordered Rudolph pay $4.9 million in restitution to the insurance companies and a $2 million fine. He also approved the forfeiture of the homes and cars as well other assets linked to the insurance proceeds, which the defense says totaled over $9 million. The government did not provide an estimate of their worth.

In a case where prosecutors argued that Bianca Rudolph’s murder was a “culmination of a lifetime spent seeking domination and control over others through wealth and power,” prosecutors had urged Martinez to impose a $10 million fine against Rudolph.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Fields argued the steep penalty was necessary to ensure he does not have the ability to seek revenge — whether through frivolous lawsuits or hiring hit men — from behind bars.

But Rudolph’s lawyers argued a fine that high would deny Rudolph’s two adult children, Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph, money they would inherit from their late mother’s estate. They also said Larry Rudolph, who estimated he was worth $27 million when he was arrested in 2021, was now only worth about $3 million. They said he did not have enough money to also pay a fine on top of the resititution to the insurance companies.

Martinez said he was persuaded by a letter from Julian Rudolph that a $10 million fine would further punish him and his sister.

The children have so far opted not to speak much publicly about the death, although AnaBianca Rudolph testified against Milliron, her father’s longtime girlfriend, at her sentencing. They did not appear at their father’s sentencing hearing.

Investigators in Zambia and for the insurers concluded Bianca Rudolph’s death was an accident. The insurance companies, some based in Colorado, then paid out the life insurance, according to the defense in court documents.

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

Prosecutors allege Rudolph built his wealth on fraud. In a document laying out the facts of the case, which is disputed by the defense, they say he shot off his thumb during a previous visit to Zambia to collect millions in disability insurance money; they also allege he cheated his dental patients, creating the need for root canals by not doing fillings or drilling holes in their teeth while they were asleep.

“Today points out that no matter how wealthy you are, no matter how prestigious you are, no matter how well connected you are, the long arm of the law will find you and justice will arrive for you,” Cole Finegan, the U.S. Attorney for Colorado, said after the sentencing.

Pittsburgh dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari set to be sentenced to life in prison

A wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife at the end of an African safari in Zambia is expected to be sentenced to life in prison Monday for a murder prosecutors say capped off a lifetime “spent seeking domination and control over others through wealth and power.”

At the hearing in a Denver federal court, U.S. government prosecutors will also seek to get an estimated $25 million in restitution, seized property and fines from Larry Rudolph. He was also found guilty in federal court last year for mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife, Bianca Rudolph.

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

Prosecutors say Rudolph, who owned a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, shot his wife of 34 years in the heart with a shotgun on her last morning in Zambia, and then put the gun in its soft case to make it look like she had accidentally shot herself while packing. The couple had been hunting game during their trip.

They also claim the setting, 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 his wife cremated and intimidated officials investigating her death.

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

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

Larry Rudolph could also get more time in prison for mail fraud in addition to paying a nearly $10 million fine, forfeiting millions in assets and paying the insurance companies back, according to what the prosecutors are seeking.

It is unclear if any family members or friends of Bianca Rudolph will confront the dentist during the hearing.

The couple's two adult children, Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph, have so far opted not to to speak much publicly about the death, although AnaBianca testified against Miliron at her sentencing. They are fighting for some of the financial penalties the government wants their father to pay, asking the court to treat them, not the insurance companies, as the victims of the insurance fraud. In a court filing, they say they have “suffered considerable financial harm” and are entitled to restitution.

Investigators in Zambia and for the insurers concluded Bianca Rudolph's death was an accident. The insurance companies, some based in Colorado, then had to pay out the life insurance because of her death, according to the defense in court documents.

But Rudolph was arrested nearly five years after her death following an FBI investigation that sent agents traveling 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’s death, said he overheard Rudolph saying “I killed my f---g wife for you!” during an argument they were having in early 2020. However, Brian Lovelace testified that he could not hear the words right before that statement because music was playing. Rudolph testified that he actually said, “Now they’re saying I killed my f---g wife for you!” after learning that the FBI was investigating him.

Prosecutors allege he built his wealth on fraud. They say he shot off his thumb during a previous visit to Zambia to collect millions in disability insurance money, and allege he also cheated his dental patients, creating the need for root canals by not doing fillings or drilling holes in their teeth while they were asleep.

The fine sought by the government is twice the amount that Rudolph received for the life insurance polices as well as insurance for the jewelry Bianca Rudolph was wearing when she was killed. Rudolph reported that the jewelry was lost although officials in Zambia said they gave the items to him. His lawyers say the government did not charge Rudolph for that and never proved the allegation.

Prosecutors want Rudolph to pay $4.9 million in restitution to the insurance companies, forfeit $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.

Rudolph's lawyers say the properties and cars are worth millions and that the combination of penalties totals over $25 million. They say he cannot afford that since he no longer controls his dwindling dental practice, has significant debts and will never be able to earn more money. Rudolph's two adult children control his finances now, according to the defense.

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

The government estimated that Rudolph is worth $15 million, according to the defense in a pre-sentencing report that is not available to the public, but a defense expert during the trial said his worth is now less than $10 million.

Prosecutors argue Rudolph would still have millions of dollars after paying restitution, the fine and having the property seized. Before he went on trial, they say Rudolph claimed to be worth $27 million and argued that he did not need the life insurance money he got after his wife died to demonstrate his innocence.

“The adult children are not being punished, nor are they entitled to unjust enrichment from their father’s criminal scheme,” prosecutors said.

Dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari given life sentence and huge penalties

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A judge has handed down a sentence of life in prison and over $15 million in penalties to a wealthy dentist who killed his wife at the end of an African safari.

Larry Rudolph was sentenced Monday in a Denver federal court for murder in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph as well as for mail fraud. He cashed in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife. Prosecutors say he wanted to live a lavish retirement with his longtime girlfriend using the insurance money.

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

The penalties for Rudolph included a combination of fines and property forfeiture. He also received a 20-year prison term to be served concurrently with his life sentence.

Besides being convicted of killing Bianca Rudolph, he was found guilty in federal court last year of mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife.

With a life sentence required under federal sentencing rules, the hearing focused mostly on the the financial penalties facing Rudolph, with pages after pages of financial transactions discussed.

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The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has not been able to determine whether the death of Beverly Hills dentist Robert Tupac’s wife was an accident or murder, so no charges will be filed in the case.

Oct. 18, 1992

Assistant U.S. Atty. Bryan Fields told U.S. District Judge William Martinez that steep financial penalties for Rudolph were necessary to ensure he does not have the ability to seek revenge — whether through frivolous lawsuits or hiring hit men — from behind bars.

“That is his power, that is his control,” Fields said of Rudolph’s wealth.

But Rudolph’s lawyers said a fine of that amount, much higher than typically allowed, would deny Rudolph’s two adult children, Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph, money they would inherit from their late mother’s estate.

Prosecutors say Rudolph, who owned a Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, shot his wife of 34 years in the heart with a shotgun on her last morning in Zambia, then put the gun in its soft case to make it look like she had accidentally shot herself while packing. The couple had been hunting game during their trip.

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

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

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

Rudolph could also get more time in prison for mail fraud.

The couple’s two adult children have so far opted to not speak much publicly about the death, although AnaBianca Rudolph testified against Milliron at her sentencing. They sought some of the financial penalties the government wants their father to pay, asking the court to treat them, not the insurance companies, as the victims of the insurance fraud.

Investigators in Zambia and for the insurers concluded Bianca Rudolph’s death was an accident. The insurance companies, some based in Colorado, then paid out the proceeds, according to the defense in court documents.

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

Prosecutors allege Rudolph built his wealth on fraud. They say he shot off his thumb during a previous visit to Zambia to collect millions in disability insurance money; they also allege he cheated his dental patients, creating the need for root canals by not doing fillings or drilling holes in their teeth while they were under anesthesia.

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Wealthy dentist sentenced to life in prison for killing wife during african safari.

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A wealthy Pennsylvania dentist was sentenced to life behind bars and forced to fork over millions of dollars in fines Monday for killing his wife during an African safari in 2016 and then cashing in on her death.

Convicted killer Larry Rudolph was hit with the jarring sentence in a Denver federal courthouse after being convicted last year of fatally shooting his wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph, in the heart on their last morning in Zambia, where the couple went hunting.

Rudolph killed his wife in cold blood as part of a plan to receive life insurance payments and begin a new life with longtime mistress Lori Milliron, prosecutors said.

“Even Judas would be afraid to be in your company,” the victim’s brother Vincent Finizio told Rudolph before the judge sentenced him.

Prosecutors said Rudolph took the shotgun used in the heartless crime and placed it back in its soft case to make it appear that his wife shot herself by accident while packing on October 11, 2016. 

“This result shows that no matter how much money, prestige, or power you have, you will be held accountable for your crimes,” US Attorney for the District of Colorado Cole Finegan said in a statement.

Rudolph was also found guilty of mail fraud, which is tied to the massive insurance payouts he received following his wife’s death. He received a 20-year sentence to run along with the life sentence for that conviction.

He’s required to pay nearly $5 million in restitution and another $2 million in fines, the court ruled. He was also ordered to forfeit two homes, his cars, an Aston Martin DB-11 and Bentley Bentayga, and other assets bought with the insurance money.

The defense said all the assets totaled nearly $9 million.

The big game hunter has maintained his innocence with hopes he could be a free man after an appeal is heard.

He claimed Bianca Rudolph shot herself while she was in a rush to pack up for the trip home, but prosecutors argued the gunshot wound couldn’t have been self-inflicted.

Rudolph’s lawyers also insisted their client had no reason to kill his wife for Milliron since the married couple were in an open relationship for more than a decade. They also argued he didn’t need the money from the life insurance payouts.  

Milliron, who was the manager of Rudolph’s Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, was sentenced to 17 years in prison in June after she was convicted of being an accessory.

While Rudolph’s life sentence was guaranteed based on federal guidelines, the defense and prosecutors butted heads over how much money he should be forced to pay.

Assistant US Attorney Bryan Fields said a pricey financial penalty would ensure Rudolph would not be able to file frivolous lawsuits or hire hit men while in jail in a bid for revenge. Prosecutors wanted a $10 million fine imposed.

Rudolph’s legal team said hefty fines would prevent Rudolph’s two grown children from inheriting money from their late mother’s estate. Rudolph was worth $27 million when he was arrested in 2021, but is now worth $3 million, his lawyers said.

US District Judge William Martinez chose a fine on the lower end after receiving a note from son Julian Rudolph that a $10 million fine would further punish him and his sister.

The siblings haven’t spoken much publicly about their mother’s death, though Ana Bianca Rudolph testified against Milliron during her federal trial. They were not at their father’s sentencing. 

With Post wires

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Greensburg-area dentist convicted of killing wife on African safari given life sentence and over $15M penalty

DENVER — As a wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife at the end of an African safari listened in court, her brother vowed on Monday to move her remains to a place that Larry Rudolph would never discover.

Shortly before a judge sentenced Rudolph to life in prison in the 2016 death of Bianca Rudolph, Vincent Finizio also predicted Larry Rudolph would “die alone and unmourned” and that his future grandchildren will never know he existed.

“Even Judas would be afraid to be in your company,” Finizio said, referencing the home of Jesus’ traitor — the worst circle of hell imagined by Dante.

U.S. District Judge William Martinez also imposed over an estimated $15 million in financial penalties against Rudolph, who was also convicted of mail fraud for cashing in nearly $5 million in insurance policies for his wife as he began a new life with his longtime girlfriend.

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

“We still believe strongly in Larry’s innocence. We are looking forward to vindicating him on appeal,” said Rudolph’s lawyers, David Oscar Markus and Margot Moss.

Rudolph founded and once operated Hempfield-­based Three Rivers Dental Group, which has offices in Greensburg, Cranberry, Greentree, Jennerstown and Washington.

The penalties for Rudolph include a combination of restitution, fines and property forfeiture. Rudolph also got a 20-year prison term to be served at the same time as his life sentence for his mail fraud conviction.

With a life sentence required under federal sentencing rules, Monday’s hearing focused mostly on the the financial penalties facing Rudolph, with pages after pages of financial transactions discussed.

• Girlfriend of Greensburg-area dentist convicted of killing his wife on safari sentenced to 17 years • Greensburg-area dentist found guilty in wife's death on 2016 African safari • 'Dateline' profiles murder in Africa of Bianca Rudolph by former Westmoreland dentist

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Fields told Martinez that steep financial penalties for Rudolph were necessary to ensure he does not have the ability to seek revenge — whether through frivolous lawsuits or hiring hit men — from behind bars.

“That is his power, that is his control,” Fields said of Rudolph’s wealth.

But Rudolph’s lawyers said a fine of $10 million, much higher than typically allowed, would deny Rudolph’s two adult children, Julian and AnaBianca Rudolph, money they would inherit from their late mother’s estate.

Prosecutors say Rudolph shot his wife of 34 years in the heart with a shotgun on her last morning in Zambia, and then put the gun in its soft case to make it look like she had accidentally shot herself while packing. The couple had been hunting game during their trip.

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

A wealthy dentist convicted of killing his wife on an African safari was sentenced to life in prison. https://t.co/EV6aJNQtvN — 48 Hours (@48hours) August 21, 2023

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

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

The couple’s two adult children have so far opted not to to speak much publicly about the death, although AnaBianca Rudolph testified against Milliron at her sentencing. They sought some of the financial penalties the government wants their father to pay, asking the court to treat them, not the insurance companies, as the victims of the insurance fraud.

Investigators in Zambia and for the insurers concluded Bianca Rudolph’s death was an accident. The insurance companies, some based in Colorado, then paid out the life insurance, according to the defense in court documents.

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

Prosecutors allege Rudolph built his wealth on fraud. They say he shot off his thumb during a previous visit to Zambia to collect millions in disability insurance money; they also allege he cheated his dental patients, creating the need for root canals by not doing fillings or drilling holes in their teeth while they were asleep.

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Pennsylvania dentist allegedly killed wife on African safari to collect millions in life insurance, FBI says

A Pennsylvania dentist gunned down his wife during an Africa hunting trip so he could collect nearly $5 million in life insurance and start a new life with his longtime mistress, authorities said.

Lawrence Rudolph, 67, was charged last month with mail fraud in connection to the alleged slaying of wife Bianca Rudolph on Oct. 11, 2016 during their safari in Zambia, according to a federal criminal complaint.

Bianca Rudolph died from a single shotgun blast to her heart while the couple was staying on hunting grounds at the Kafue National Park, authorities said.

"Lawrence Rudolph murdered his wife," FBI Special Agent Donald Peterson wrote in an affidavit, "as part of a scheme to defraud life insurance companies and to obtain money and property from them through the false and fraudulent pretense, representation and promise that the death was an accident."

A friend of the wife called the FBI on Oct. 27, 2016, and told agents the death was suspicious because Lawrence had allegedly been in a long-time extramarital affair with the manager of his practice, Three Rivers Dental in Pittsburgh, the complaint said.

The suspect and girlfriend had gone on vacations to Cabo San Lucas in 2010, twice in 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 and July 2016 and "Bianca did not travel on any of those trips," according to business and travel records obtained by the FBI.

"Larry is never going to divorce her because he doesn't want to lose his money, and she's never going to divorce him because of her Catholicism," the friend told agents, according to the complaint.

Both Lawrence and Bianca Rudolph were expert hunters and "Bianca Rudolph's goal during this trip was to kill a leopard," Peterson wrote of that final 2016 safari. And while she didn't kill a leopard, she "did kill numerous other animals during this trip," the federal agent added.

Back in 2011, Rudolph posted Facebook images of himself proudly displaying a ram, elk and hippopotamus he had apparently killed.

Lawrence Rudolph told local police that his wife accidentally shot herself while packing a Browning 12-gauge shotgun into its carrying case, officials said.

He immediately moved to have her remains cremated in Zambia, which drew suspicion of the U.S. consular chief in Zambia, federal authorities said. The diplomat went to the funeral home with "two others from the embassy to take photographs of the body and preserve any potential evidence," according to Peterson.

The consular chief described the wound "as being 'straight to the heart'" and without any "gas burns or obvious tissue expansion" that would be expected from a contact wound, Peterson wrote.

FBI investigators also don't believe the 5-foot-4 wife could have shot herself with the 3.7-foot-long Browning, according to Peterson.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 7 in 2016, Rudolph moved to claim seven different life insurance policies which were all paid out in the first quarter of 2017 for $4,877,744.93, according to records obtained by the FBI.

Lawyers for Rudolph, who split his time between Arizona and Pennsylvania, could not be immediately reached for comment on Friday.

But in a court filing on Tuesday, demanding his release on bail, defense lawyer David Markus said the case has no merit. Markus cited the insurance payouts and Zambian police ruling Bianca Rudolph's death an accident as poof of his client's innocence.

"Refusing to accept this, Colorado-based FBI agents spent five years crisscrossing the country and traveling to Africa to come up with a nefarious narrative," Markus wrote.

The defense is also objecting to the prosecution being based in Colorado, with Rudolph being jailed in Denver — 865 miles from his Phoenix home and thousands of miles from his family and business associated in Miami and Pittsburgh.

Rudolph filed a claim for one of the life insurance policies at a Colorado address, according to the FBI complaint.

The government does not view Bianca Rudolph as a potential victim in this case, but says the injured party is really a "foreign insurance conglomerate with a Colorado office," according to Markus.

"Mrs. Rudolph had no connection to Colorado," the defense lawyer wrote. "The government's dogged concern for a multi-national insurance company belies its contention that confining Mr. Rudolph in Colorado does not unfairly hamper his defense."

Rudolph faces up to 20 years behind bars if convicted.

An arrest warrant was issued for the dentist in December and U.S. Magistrate Judge Kristen L. Mix ordered him held without bail during a hearing on Tuesday of last week.

David K. Li is a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

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He Believed His Father Was Innocent of Murdering His 'Amazing' Mom on African Safari. Then the Trial Started

Larry Rudolph, a Pennsylvania dentist and big game hunter, was found guilty of killing his wife Bianca on a hunting trip in Africa

In late 2021, Larry Rudolph , a Pennsylvania dentist and big game hunter, was arrested for the 2016 shooting death of Bianca Rudolph , his wife of 34 years, while they were on a hunting trip in Zambia.

When Rudolph requested that a judge release him from custody pending trial, the couple’s son Julian, now 33, and his sister, AnaBianca, in sworn affidavits, wrote: "[We] know him better than anyone else, and we know that he is innocent," according to ABC News .

Now, in an exclusive interview with ABC News, Julian has revealed he no longer feels this way.

“I can't stand by that original statement, because that was before we saw the evidence in the trial," he said.

Asked by ABC News' Eva Pilgrim if he believed his father murdered his mother, he responded: “It's incomprehensible to me.”

Rudolph and Bianca traveled to Zambia in late September 2016 so that Bianca, also a big-game hunter, could hunt a leopard. They were getting ready to leave their hunting camp in Kafue National Park on the morning of Oct. 11, 2016, when Bianca was shot in the chest with a Browning shotgun.

Rudolph told the local police that he heard the gunshot while he was taking a shower and that he found his wife on the bedroom floor bleeding from the chest. He said he suspected that the shotgun had been left loaded from the hunt the previous day, and that the gun went off while Bianca was trying to pack it into its case, according to a federal complaint obtained by PEOPLE.

Although Zambia law enforcement ruled her death as an accidental discharge , federal authorities in the U.S. were not convinced, ultimately accusing Rudolph of killing his wife so he could collect millions of dollars in life insurance benefits. Rudolph was charged with foreign murder and mail fraud.

AP Photo/David Zalubowski

He denied the allegation, telling his children that "the evidence is going to prove [it],” Julian said, per ABC. "Of course you want to believe that what you're hearing is the truth.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bishop Grewell told a jury during the trial's opening statements that Rudolph confessed to the crime to his longtime girlfriend, Lori Milliron, telling her, "I killed my f-----g wife for you," the Associated Press reported.

The trial, which was held in U.S. District Court in Denver, included testimony by Rudolph himself, who claimed his wife’s death was an accident. "I did not kill my wife. I could not murder my wife. I would not murder my wife," he told the jury.

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However, the jury didn’t buy his claims.

He was found guilty and later sentenced to life in prison. Milliron was sentenced in June to 17 years for being an accessory to murder.

"She was an amazing mother," Julian told ABC through tears. "I loved her. She was my best friend."

Watch CBS News

Wealthy dentist Lawrence Rudolph found guilty in wife's death on 2016 African safari

August 1, 2022 / 8:35 PM EDT / CBS/AP

A wealthy dentist accused of fatally shooting his wife at the end of an African safari was found guilty of murder and mail fraud Monday. The verdict for Lawrence "Larry" Rudolph'  came from a jury in a Denver federal court following a trial that lasted three weeks.

Rudolph was charged with murder and mail fraud for cashing in $4.8 million in life insurance claims in what prosecutors describe as a premeditated crime.

Rudolph maintained his innocence. His attorney suggested his wife of 34 years, Bianca Rudolph, shot herself while trying to pack a shotgun in a hurry as they prepared to return from Zambia to the United States in 2016. Larry Rudolph previously said he was in the bathroom, heard a gunshot, and found his wife bleeding, dead on the bedroom floor, "48 Hours" reported earlier this year. 

But prosecutors countered that evidence showed that was impossible because the wound to her heart came from a shot fired from 2 to 3.5 feet away.

As "48 Hours" previously reported, Larry had his wife's body quickly cremated in Zambia, which led a friend of Bianca's to doubt this was an accident. Soon after Bianca's death, the friend called the FBI. According to an FBI complaint cited by "48 Hours," she also said Lawrence was having an affair and had been verbally abusive to Bianca. The friend also told the FBI that the couple fought over money.

Prosecutors also accused Rudolph's girlfriend and manager of his Pittsburgh-area dental franchise, Lori Milliron, of lying to a federal grand jury about the case and her relationship with Rudolph.

She was found guilty by the same jury of being an accessory after the fact to murder, obstruction of a grand jury and two counts of perjury before a grand jury. She was found not guilty on two other counts of perjury.

Prosecutors alleged that Rudolph decided to kill his wife to regain control over his life after Bianca Rudolph asked for more say in the couple's finances and demanded that Milliron be fired. Rudolph's attorneys called that a false narrative.

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Animals Around the Globe

10 Best African Countries for Safari

Posted: December 19, 2023 | Last updated: December 19, 2023

#1 Botswana

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Thus, poachers are seen as enemies of the people. As a result, Botswana has come into view as Africa's most sought-after ecotourism destination. Starting from the Chobe National Park to the Moremi Nature Reserve, you'll be able to witness numerous gems all around the country.

Back in 2014, Botswana widely banned the hunting of wild animals and implemented strict laws which are still in practice. The country resumes its zero-tolerance for poaching and their very own environmental minister, Tshekedi Khama, has even launched a shoot-to-kill policy for poachers.

Botswana, with its wildlife conservation and natural parks, is a haven for nature lovers. It is currently in the top 5, as its approach to the protection and conservation of wildlife is worth the praise. As a country, it is very forward-thinking, some may even call it aggressively forward-thinking when it comes to its preservation and anti-poaching laws.

Its fertile land provides a safe and comforting home to around 200 mammal species. This includes elephants, hippos, monkeys and so much more. Along with 650 bird species and 5,500 plants. Even though the country is still underdeveloped and most of the population live in rural households, its national parks, and sight-seeing destinations are on the top 10 of our lists.

Even though many would face some difficulties in locating Malawi on a map, given how tiny it is, the country is home to the world-renowned Lake Malawi National Park. This is practically one-third of the country and is the most biodiverse lake in the world.

Most of the land in Namibia is occupied by the Kalahari and Namib Deserts. Along with that, the country also has 12 national parks and many other areas which are protected. So, if you go there for a safari, you'll have many rich areas to see and explore.

When it comes to countries with the least amount of population, Namibia is one of them. Which proves to be a good thing for nature. This is because most of the land in Namibia is still unspoiled by human filth or any sort of development, giving nature a chance to breathe.

In the country's Volcanoes National Park, you'll find 10 habituated gorilla families. Groups of 8 trekkers can visit them for one hour per day. But that's enough to get the best African safari experience. And as a nature lover, you'll enjoy the experience to the max.

If you've been around for some time, you'll be familiar with Rwanda's mountain gorillas. They were famously broadcasted and their fight for survival was shown on  National Geographic . This was all thanks to the late  Dian Fossey  back in the 1970s who advocated for the rights of these mountain gorillas throughout her life.

Considering the tragic history surrounding the mass genocide of the people of Rwanda back in 1994, it's truly a blessing what the country has achieved in the past 25 years. There have been countless investments in infrastructure. This has resulted in the country being a very fast-growing destination for ecotourism.

#6 South Africa

But given all the advantages, it's safe to conclude that South Africa also suffers from over-tourism. I mean, if you have so many great attractions, people will flock towards it. Chances are that you'll find yourself in the middle of dozens of unruly visitors who are not too keen on obeying the rules. This occurs mostly during the peak seasons.

Annually, the country has one million visitors. Its biggest attraction is the Kruger National Park with its enrichment in biodiversity. Visitors there also have the liberty to self-drive, thus, getting a first-person private but superb experience. 

For some time now, South Africa has been climbing the charts to become one of the most popular destinations for African safaris. Given its location, South Africa is a very convenient and cheap destination for people from the United States. Besides that, the country also boasts a well-developed infrastructure which makes it perfect for luxury travelers as well.

#7 Tanzania

One of the most popular locations would be the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. The country is also a haven for 1100 different bird species. It's no wonder that Tanzania gets this much rep. Especially when the country boasts so many wonders.

We talked about Kenya being the top destination for Safari. Now Tanzania here takes second place in being the continent's most popular safari destination. And why shouldn't it? The country has 16 national parks and an extraordinary amount of wealth and wildlife wonders for the people to witness.

Some of its natural attractions include housing the highest mountain range in Africa. It also has the world's largest free-standing volcano and the second-largest freshwater lake. With its 30 national parks and other wildlife reserves, Uganda boasts many more sanctuaries which are worth the visit. Especially if you're a lover of nature and wildlife.

Often called "The Pearl of Africa", Uganda is certainly a great pick for an African safari. Its reputation as being one of the best ecotourism destinations comes from the country's natural attractions and wildlife.

Out of its 20 national parks, the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is home to many wildlife animals such as African elephants, Angolan giraffes, Cape buffalo, etc. Other than that, there are many private ownerships of National parks, notably the Kasanka National Park which is near the basin of Lake Bangweulu. It's a safe place where visitors can see 400 different avian species.

Zambia may be a bit far down the list of popular destinations for your African safari, but many consider it to be a destination for diversified and immersive safari experiences, and making a notable feature on our 10 Best African Countries for Safari guide. The country is steadily focusing on conservation as their president has shown a keen interest and is working on building the nation's economy as well as the infrastructure.

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