Rudi Apelt
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- Gender
- male
- Country
- USA
- Location
- Pinal County, Arizona, USA
- Date of birth
- February 28, 1960
- Age at first offence
- 28
- Characteristics
- attempt to collect insurance money
- Victim profile
- Cynthia Monkman, 30 (his sister-in-law)
- Method of murder
- St abbing with knife
- Date(s) of murder
- December 23, 1988
- Years active
- 1988
- Date of arrest
- —
- Status
-
Sentenced to death
Sentenced to death on January 8, 1991
Defendant
Rudi Apelt
Victims
Cynthia Monkman
- Cynthia Monkman was killed.
Background
Rudi Apelt and his brother, Michael, came to Arizona from West Germany and began “courting” numerous women. Michael eventually met Cynthia Monkman and married her in October 1988. One month later, Michael applied for $400,000 in life insurance on Cynthia. The policies became effective on December 22, 1988.
The offence
On the night of December 23, Michael and Rudi took Cynthia into the desert near Apache Junction and killed her by stabbing her numerous times in the chest and back and cutting her throat.
Investigation and discovery
Michael and Rudi returned to Mesa and, in the early morning hours of December 24, Michael called the police and reported that Cynthia had disappeared. A citizen found the body in the desert later that day.
Trial
Michael Apelt was tried separately and was convicted of first degree murder, and sentenced to death.
Sentencing
Rudi Apelt was sentenced to death on January 8, 1991. Aggravating Circumstances included pecuniary gain and especially heinous/cruel/depraved. Mitigating Circumstances were none sufficient to call for leniency.
Appeals
State v. Apelt (Rudi), 176 Ariz. 369, 861 P.2d 654 (1993).
Other details
- Defendant: Caucasian
- Victim: Caucasian
- Start of Trial: August 15, 1990
- Verdict: August 29, 1990
- Sentencing date: January 8, 1991
- Presiding Judge: G. Thomas Meehan
- Prosecutors: Catherine Hughes (trial), Joseph Maziarz (sentencing)
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