Rudin found guilty of murdering millionaire husband

Wednesday, May 2, 2001 | 12:22 p.m.

Rudin, now 57, was accused of shooting 64-year-old Ron Rudin, a well-known Las Vegas real estate developer, four times in the head as he slept the night of Dec. 18, 1994.

Rudin showed no emotion as the verdict was read.

She did not testify.

The jury of eight women and four men spent a contentious 25 hours deliberating after seven weeks of testimony. Twice, the judge suspended deliberations to hear allegations of misconduct about a female juror who reported she was the lone holdout for acquittal.

Rudin's conviction for first-degree murder carries a possible sentence of 10 years to life in a Nevada state prison.

She was found guilty of use of a deadly weapon, which carries an additional possible penalty of 10 years to life.

The jury also found Rudin guilty of a felony wiretapping charge that carries a possible sentence of up to six years in prison and a $5,000 fine.

Sentencing was scheduled June 8 before Clark County District Judge Joseph Bonaventure.

The case mixed elements of greed, wealth, jealousy, infidelity, a gruesome murder and fugitive flight - all played out in a courtroom drama featuring a plainspoken judge and lawyerly theatrics.

It drew gavel-to-gavel coverage on Las Vegas television and the national cable show "Court TV."

Ron Rudin's bullet-riddled skull and some of his charred bones were found Jan. 21, 1995, amid the ashes of an antique steamer trunk near Lake Mohave, 45 miles from Las Vegas.

His distinctive bracelet, with the name "Ron" encrusted in diamonds, was nearby.

Divers found the murder weapon in July 1996 at the bottom of Lake Mead. Ron Rudin had reported the silencer-equipped .22-caliber Ruger pistol missing during short-lived divorce proceedings with Margaret Rudin in 1988. They had married a year earlier. It was the fifth marriage for each.

Prosecutors said Margaret Rudin killed her husband to get her hands on her 60 percent share of his $11 million fortune - about $6 million.