Jennifer Keiper, WLS-AM 890 News
A former northwest suburban lawyer and school board member has been found guilty of killing his wife decades ago.
Prosecutors say Donnie Rudd killed his wife in 1973 in a staged traffic crash in Barrington Hills so that he could collect more than $100,000 dollars in insurance.
Noreen Kumeta Rudd was 19-years old and died a month after the two married.
Rudd’s lawyer told jurors the woman died in a “tragic accident” and said there was no evidence that his client knew about his wife’s insurance policies.
Authorities initially ruled the death accidental. It was classified as a homicide after the remains were exhumed in 2013 and an autopsy was performed.
Rudd was charged with first-degree murder in 2015 when he was living in Sugar Land, Texas. He was found guilty on Monday afternoon and asked if they’ll appeal Rudd’s lawyer Tim Grace says, “Absolutely. There are some rulings that happened in this case that absolutely should be appealed.”
Donnie Rudd is 76-years old now and faces at least 14 years in prison.
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[picture credit: Fort Bend County, TX Sheriff’s Office]
