Dateline: Safari Story- 5 harrowing details about Biana Rudolph's murder, explored

In the Dateline: Unforegettable episode "Safari Story," the creators dig deep into the murder of Bianca Rudolph, which was first considered an accident. From her peers to the police, everyone made an effort to figure out if it was murder.

As seen in the Dateline program, Bianca Rudolph and her husband, Larry Rudolph were a happy-looking couple. They had two children— a son named Julian and a daughter named AnaBianca.

Bianca was killed by a shotgun in 20216; her husband said she shot herself in the chest. Years later, the FBI opened a case that uncovered a disturbing scheme to murder for money.

Subsequently, the gunshot had been discharged at 1 to 3 feet away, and Larry had been uncoherent in his narration. He even started a new life with his girlfriend after cashing Bianca's life insurance money.

All the indications pointed to Larry being the murderer. The jury declared Larry Rudolph the killer at the end of his trial. But that's not all of it.

Keep going to uncover some of the scariest facts regarding the case covered on Dateline: Unforgettable.

Five harrowing details about the Bianca Rudolph murder on Dateline

The murder of Bianca Rudolph on Dateline goes back to October 2016, when the woman's family and friends were shocked to learn about her untimely demise due to a shotgun wound to her chest.

Initially, Julian and AnaBianca trusted their father's claim and believed their mother died in an accident while packing the shotgun. However, when the prosecutors presented the evidence and testimonies, the tables turned, and Larry Rudolph couldn't escape a life sentence.

Here are the five harrowing details about Bianca Rudolph's murder:

1) Bianca's unexpected cremation raised instant red flags

Bianca and Larry Rudolph (Image Source: NBC)

As exposed in the Dateline show, Larry Rudolph cremated his wife's lifeless body within a few days. Cremation was not consistent with Bianca's beliefs since she was a devout Catholic.

Larry's unsettling behaviour didn't sit well with the U.S. consulate general in Zambia, who rushed to take pictures before it was too late. If Larry had not cremated Bianca's body then the cause of her death would have easily been ascertained. This action meant that there was a cover-up being attempted because vital forensic evidence could have indicated a criminal act.

2) Larry Rudolph's mistress imposed a deadline

Another chilling detail about this case on Dateline is how Larry Rudolph's mistress Lori Milliron, played a part in Bianca's murder. She allegedly gave him a year to "get rid" of his wife—or she would walk away from their relationship.

Per CNN US, the motion read:

"Lori Milliron encouraged Lawrence Rudolph to kill his wife for her. She told him to divorce Bianca Rudolph."

It continues:

"When he said he couldn’t afford to do that, Milliron responded by helping Rudolph procure propofol – a lethal anesthetic drug that could be used as a poison – before he took the trip where he did what she had wanted: get rid of Bianca."

This suggested that Larry wasn't happy with his wife and planned to eliminate Bianca. By removing her from their lives Larry aimed to live a luxurious life using his wife's life insurance claim.

3) A bartender heard Larry Rudolph's shocking confession

The Dateline episode uncovered another crucial detail found during the investigation of Bianca's murder. It's revealed that a bartender heard Larry reminding his mistress that he killed Bianca to stay with her.

The man was heard saying, "I killed my f--king wife for you" which emerged as one of the biggest evidence to prove Larry was guilty. Even though Larry kept denying it for years, prosecutors highlighted every evidence to solve the case.

4) The crime scene didn’t match Larry Rudolph’s story

The weapon at the crime scene (Image Source: ABC)

Initially, Larry Rudolph claimed that he was inside the shower when Bianca accidentally took her life. According to him, it was the last day of their trip, and Bianca was packing things up.

During this time, she accidentally triggered the shotgun which went straight into her chest. However, when the investigation began, inconsistencies in Larry's story emerged.

As shown in the Dateline episode, Bianca has gone hunting several times and knew how to keep the weapons safe. It's quite unsettling to learn that an experienced hunter couldn't properly pack her shotgun and pulled the trigger by mistake.

Additionally, the game scout arrived at the crime scene soon after hearing a gunshot. He found that Larry Rudolph was well-dressed, with his belt and shoes on. So, if he was in the shower, how could he dress up so fast after witnessing his wife's body drenched in blood?

5) Larry Rudolph claimed a whopping amount of money after Bianca's death

Bianca Rudolph has a life insurance policy (Image Source: NBC)

One of the most important evidence against Larry Rudolph was Bianca's life insurance policy which he had immediately claimed. Not only this, the man even started to live a happy life with Lori Milliron and it looked like they were living the best life.

Per the Dateline: Unforgettable episode, Larry cashed in $4.8 million, and it seemed like nothing tragic happened in his life. In the end, Larry's arrogance and lies led to his ultimate downfall.

He, along with his girlfriend, was given prison sentences. While Larry Rudolph will spend his entire life behind bars, Lori Milliron is punished for 17 years along with a fine.