A chilling new true-crime docuseries from ABC News Studios, Trophy Wife: Murder on Safari, examines the case of wealthy Pittsburgh dentist Larry Rudolph, who was convicted of killing his wife, Bianca.

The murder took place during a 2016 African hunting trip. It was made into a docuseries produced by Dani Sloane. The series delves into allegations that Rudolph murdered his wife of 34 years to collect millions in life insurance and live lavishly with his dental hygienist-turned-lover, Lori Milliron.
IMDB link | MSN coverage | Yahoo News article

The Fatal Morning in Zambia

Prosecutors said that on the couple’s last morning in Zambia, Rudolph shot Bianca in the heart with a shotgun. He then staged it to look like an accident while she was packing.

Friends, skeptical of the explanation, contacted the FBI, providing specific details that reignited the investigation. The Zambian authorities made a quick initial ruling that the death was accidental.

“The friends were crucial in getting it on the FBI’s radar,” Sloane explained. “They were the engine.”

A Pattern of Greed and Control

The documentary paints Rudolph as a “Jekyll and Hyde” personality claiming he is charming yet dangerous. And his life revolved around money.

Former colleagues recalled past accusations of embezzlement, questionable disability insurance claims, and intimidating behavior toward employees.

“Money was always the thing that mattered to him most,” Sloane said. “Losing any of his net worth to a divorce was unacceptable to him.”

Lavish Lifestyle and Sudden Arrest

Following Bianca’s death, Rudolph and Milliron bought a $3.5 million Arizona home in cash and took luxury vacations.

By 2021, federal investigators uncovered that Rudolph collected $4.9 million from nine separate life insurance policies. He was arrested in December of that year while traveling to Mexico with Milliron.

Convictions and Sentences

In 2023, Rudolph was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to pay heavy penalties for insurance fraud. Milliron received a 17-year sentence for being an accessory. Both maintain their innocence and are appealing their convictions.

“They had an answer to every question,” Sloane noted. “They stuck to their side of the story.”

Murder on Safari Still Raises Questions

The docuseries features interviews with FBI agents, former business partners, Safari Club members, and even Rudolph and Milliron from prison. Viewers are left to decide whether this was a tragic accident or a calculated murder driven by greed.

“I think the most prevalent way people look at it,” Sloane concluded, “is that they were united in a desire to make money at any cost.”