Rudy witness faces charges in Iowa burglary

By Matt Ollwerther - Marshfield News-Herald

A woman who police say saw Christine M. Rudy being killed was charged with burglary in Iowa earlier this week.

Heather S. Teschler, 18, of Thorp was charged Tuesday in Clayton County, Iowa, with second-degree burglary, a crime that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, a $10,000 fine or both, said Clayton County Attorney Kevin Clefisch.

Clark County authorities have named Teschler and Christine and Shaun Rudy, 23, as suspects in a burglary in Guttenberg, Iowa, on Nov. 11. Nearly $5,000 in jewelry, electronics and three firearms were stolen from a home.

Teschler remains in Wisconsin in the Taylor County Jail. Clefisch said no extradition proceedings have commenced, but are still under consideration.

Clefisch said he has not made any decision about charging Shaun Rudy in the burglary.

Shaun Rudy reported his wife missing to Thorp Police on Nov. 14. He told Jacy M. Walters, 23, of Thorp that he shot Christine Rudy, 21, in the head with a shotgun Nov. 12 and "cut up the body and left it in the woods so others would find her and give her a proper burial," according to court records.

Christine Rudy was six months pregnant when she went missing. Shaun Rudy told Walters both he and his wife were using meth when she died, the records indicate.

Shaun Rudy has not been charged with any crime related to his wife's death, but is scheduled for a jury trial March 15 for unrelated charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and a firearm as a felon.

Authorities found bone fragments in a burn pit at the home of Shaun Rudy's parents Dec. 1, according to court documents.

Backus said Thursday it was unclear whether the remains were human or if crime lab officials will be able to test the bone fragments for DNA evidence due to heat damage.

"There has been nothing completed yet on that as far as the DNA," he said.

Authorities have said Shaun Rudy disposed of his wife's remains by dropping them off the Cobban Bridge in Chippewa County.

Backus declined to comment on how Shaun Rudy got his wife's remains to the bridge.

The Chippewa County Sheriff's Department has sent divers to search the Chippewa River. Continually changing weather and ice conditions have prevented them from returning to the area, and divers likely will wait until spring to resume the search, Backus said.

Clark County personnel assisted one day, Backus said.

Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg has said he plans to file charges against Shaun Rudy, but declined to say when.

Backus said his department typically recommends charges to the district attorney's office, but said the prosecutor will determine the final charges in this case.

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