Suspect pleads 'no contest' in slaying of wife, unborn child

By Matt Ollwerther- For the Wausau Daily Herald

NEILLSVILLE -- Shaun W. Rudy calmly replied "no contest" three times Thursday when asked for a plea on charges of killing his wife and unborn child and then dismembering his wife's 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 say.

She was six months pregnant at the time.

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

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 conducted, and sentencing was scheduled for Aug. 3.

Members of Christine Rudy's family read a brief statement after the plea hearing. The family had hoped for a guilty plea, so the hearing was bittersweet, family members said.

Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg said that though he understands the symbolic effect of a guilty plea, a no contest plea carries the same consequences. A charge of first-degree homicide carries a life term in prison. Wisconsin does not have the death penalty.

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.

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