Missing pregnant woman's dismembered body found

By Matt Ollwerther

NEILLSVILLE — Shaun W. Rudy was named a suspect in his pregnant wife’s disappearance Thursday morning by authorities, who said he allegedly shot, dismembered and disposed of Christine M. Rudy’s body before reporting her as missing to police.

Authorities said Thursday their investigation revealed that Shaun Rudy, 23, allegedly shot his wife Christine, 21, on Roger Creek Avenue in the town of Butler and removed her body to another location where he dismembered it.

He later disposed of her remains in the Chippewa River near the Cobban Bridge in Chippewa County, they said. Christine Rudy was six months pregnant when she was reported as missing.

Authorities searched the Chippewa River on Jan. 3, but no evidence was recovered, said Chief Deputy Jim Backus. Divers plan to return when weather and ice conditions allow.

Shaun Rudy has not been charged in Christine’s disappearance.

Authorities provided a timeline of the days leading to Christine’s disappearance.

The couple left Clark County the evening of Nov. 8 and traveled to Crawford and Grant counties, as well as Iowa, they said.

They are suspected of participating in a burglary in Iowa where three guns were stolen, according to the department.

Authorities would not disclose the Rudys’ activities in Crawford and Grant counties.

Shaun and Christine Rudy returned to Clark County on Nov. 12, where they had an argument along Roger Creek Avenue and Shaun allegedly shot his wife.

Shaun Rudy has said he let Christine out of their vehicle during the argument and reported his wife missing to the Thorp Police on Nov. 14.

Investigators found her partial remains along Roger Creek Avenue near County MM in the town of Butler.

A DNA match was made with evidence recovered at the scene with Christine’s medical records, Backus said. Officials would not release what evidence was found there.

However, no body has been found, said Clark County Sheriff Louis Rosandich.

Shaun Rudy sold a 20-gauge shotgun to a friend on Nov. 18, according to police records. He was later pulled over by Thorp police because his rear window was covered with snow.

That traffic stop lead to the current charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and firearm as a felon.

He remains in the Clark County Jail on those charges.

William Poss, Shaun Rudy’s public defender, said there are more questions than answers in the case, and he has found no evidence that directly ties his client to Christine’s death.

"If charges are filed, we look forward to our day in court," he said after the press conference. "He was very upset when he found out his wife was deceased."

He planned to meet Thursday with Shaun Rudy.

Authorities have had little contact with Shaun Rudy since he requested counsel on Nov. 20, Backus said.

Christine Rudy had no criminal record.

No information was released about the second woman in the vehicle when Shaun Rudy picked up his wife in southwest Wisconsin or a second vehicle authorities impounded.

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