Rudy pleads no contest to homicide, dismemberment charges

By Matt Ollwerther- Marshfield News-Herald

NEILLSVILLE -- Shaun W. Rudy calmly said "no contest" three times when asked for a plea Thursday on charges of killing his unborn child and wife, then dismembering her body.

Christine Rudy, 21, of Thorp was fatally shot Nov. 12, dismembered and dropped into the Chippewa River by her husband near the Cobban Bridge in Chippewa County a day or two later, authorities said.

She was six months pregnant at the time.

Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell exhaustively questioned Rudy on his choice before accepting his pleas. Counsell entered not guilty pleas for Rudy on April 10 when he stood mute.

Before sitting, Rudy made eye contact with his family.

Rudy, 23, of Thorp, also pleaded no contest to a fourth felony in an unrelated case.

He was charged with possession of a firearm as a felon and drug paraphernalia after being arrested during a traffic stop on Nov. 19.

The paraphernalia charge was dismissed but read into the record, and Rudy entered a no contest plea to the firearm charge.

A pre-sentence investigation will be completed, and sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 3.

Christine Rudy's family, whose members remained largely silent during the ordeal, read a brief statement after the plea hearing.

Christine's parents, Ed and Carol Lee, along with Melissa Cox, an older sister, answered several questions.

The family hoped for a guilty plea, so the hearing was bittersweet, the family said.

Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg said while he understands the symbolic effect of a guilty plea, it brings the same consequences as a no contest plea.

Cox said Christine was a fun lover and prankster who will "truly be missed by this family."

Because Christine's remains are still classified as evidence, they have not been released to her family, making it difficult to get a sense of closure, they said.

Cox also said the family is glad to avoid the stress of a trial, and that Christine was a good person, despite some of the reports that were made public.

"She had a wicked smile and a twinkle in her eye for all of us. ... She's not just a story to us," she said. "Teeny is not just a murder victim."

The family has named the unborn child Christopher, which would have been Christine's name if she were a boy, Carol Lee said.

Christine was looking forward to having the child, and the women were planning on shopping while the men were away hunting, the family said.

"We were going to do that," Cox said.

"And that was taken away," Carol Lee said.

Sara Welch, one of Christine's sisters who lives outside Wisconsin, listened to the plea hearing and family speaking with the media via phone.

A charge of first-degree homicide carries a life term in prison. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.

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