Murder suspect hears charges

By Matt Ollwerther

NEILLSVILLE -- A Thorp man accused of killing his wife made his first court appearance on murder charges Thursday in Clark County Circuit Court.

According to a criminal complaint, Shaun Rudy, 23, shot his 21-year-old wife, Christine, on Nov. 12 and threw her body parts in the Chippewa River one or two days later.

She was six months pregnant at the time.

David Grace, a Wisconsin Rapids attorney appointed to defend Rudy, asked for at least another week to review the "lengthy complaint" against his client before giving a recommendation on a preliminary hearing.

Rudy already has signed a form waiving the time limits on the hearing.

A scheduling and status conference is scheduled for April 7.

Rudy has been charged with two counts of first-degree homicide, mutilating a corpse and possession of drug paraphernalia and a firearm as a felon.

His eyes dropped to the floor as Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell read a detailed description of the charges against him. The only words he spoke to the judge were "yes" and "no."

Counsell married the couple in August.

Several members of Christine Rudy's family attended the appearance, sitting in the front row. Christine's mother blotted tears from her eyes as Counsell read the charges against Rudy.

Meanwhile, a jury trial on unrelated charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a firearm as a felon is scheduled for June 6.

Rudy remains in the Clark County Jail.

Heather Teschler, 18, of Thorp, who also is implicated in Christine's death, is charged with harboring or aiding a felon, being party to a crime, a felony, and resisting or obstructing an officer, a misdemeanor.

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