Remains might be Christine Rudy's

By Matt Ollwerther- Marshfield News-Herald

Human remains found in the Chippewa River on Tuesday are believed to be those of 21-year-old Christine Rudy, whose husband, Shaun, has been charged in her death.

Christine Rudy was fatally shot, dismembered and dropped into the waters by her husband in November, authorities said.

The remains and other recovered items were taken to the crime lab in Madison for an autopsy and DNA testing to confirm the identify, according to the Chippewa County Sheriff's Department.

The agency received information from a resident who observed some "suspicious items" near Jim Falls by the Cobban Bridge, the department said.

While they're not definitely saying the remains are Christine Rudy's, a tattoo found on the torso matches one she had, said Clark County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Jim Backus.

The remains were found north of the Cobban Bridge, where Shaun Rudy was believed to have disposed Christine's remains, he said.

The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department's investigation division and the state's Department of Justice's Division of Criminal Investigation conducted a search of the riverbank and found the corpse at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday.

The remains and bone fragments were taken to Madison on Wednesday morning and were scheduled for an autopsy, Chippewa County Sheriff's Department Capt. Eugene Gutsch said.

The corpse was found in ice built up along the riverbank, Gutsch said.

A garbage can that investigators say Christine was put into after being dismembered has not been located, Backus said.

Gutsch declined to release more information, citing the "open and active investigation."

Authorities are moving carefully with the case because several jurisdictions are involved in the investigation, Gutsch said.

Shaun Rudy, 23, of Thorp was charged with two counts of first-degree homicide of his wife and unborn child, along with one charge of mutilating a corpse.

He faces a mandatory life sentence in prison if convicted on the homicide charges. Rudy made an initial appearance on the homicide and mutilation charges March 23 in Clark County Circuit Court.

Also charged was Heather S. Teschler, 18, of Thorp, who was involved in a love triangle with the Rudys, court documents say. She faces a felony charge of harboring or aiding a felon and a misdemeanor charge of resisting or obstructing an officer.

Both Shaun Rudy and Teschler have pre-trial and status conferences scheduled in April.

Rudy also faces unrelated charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a firearm as a felon.

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