dentist has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife in the high-profile case, larry rudolph was convicted of shooting bianca rudolph during a trip in 2016 to africa his girlfriend also got prison time for being an accessory in the crime that netted the couple millions in life insurance payments >> reporter: a life sentence for larry rudolph, a wealthy dentist, convicted of murdering his wife while on an african safari his attorney telling nbc news in a statement, larry is innocent he did not murder his wife we looking forward to the appeal rudolph learning his fate in a federal courthouse in colorado bianca rudolph was shot in the heart at the end of the couple's trip to zambia on a big game hunt in 2016 >> we hear the gunfire and the voice. >> reporter: at the time, local authorities ruling her death an accident >> there's no proof that larry rudolph pulled the trigger >> reporter: but a friend telling nbc's "dateline," the experienced hunter would not have made that mistake >> she was way too comfortable with firearms, how to clean them, thousandhow to put them ay >> repor

. >> reporter: a life sentence for larry rudolph. urder his wife. we are looking forward to his appeal. bianca rudolph was shot in the heart at the end of the couple's trip to zambia. >> we heard the gun and the yelling voice. >> reporter: at the time local authorities ruling her death an accident. >> there's no proof that larry rudolph pulled the trigger. >> reporter: but a friend telling nbc's "dateline" the experienced hunter wouldn't have made that mistake. >> she was way too comfortable with firearms and how to handle them, how to clean them, how to put them away. for her to put a gun away, and get shot by accident, i don't think that could ever happen. >> reporter: rudolph's quick cremation of his wife's remains, as well as cashing in on nearly $5 million in life insurance benefits got the attention of federal investigators, which federal prosecutors said was part of a plan to set up a comfortable retirement alongside his girlfriend laurie milliron, she was also convicted in the case, charged with being an accessory to the crime

. >> prosecutors also seeking $25 million in restitution from larry rudolph.was also convicted of mail fraud after cashing in $5 million in life insurance policies on bianca rudolph. he claims she accidentally shot herself during the trip back in 2016. >> we're learning more about a california woman allegedly killed because she displayed a pride flag outside of her store. abc's derek dennis has the latest. >> this morning, authorities in california are investigating what they say could be a hate crime. a california store owner in lake arrowhead, a mountain community east of la, was shot and killed, allegedly by a man who took issue with a pride flag hanging in her store. california's governor saying this is absolutely horrific. this disgusting hate has no place in california. >> new folks moving into town, new couples, new lgbtq families. they were concerned about moving up here. and we hear stories about them driving by her store and seeing the flags and feeling so welcome. they immediately felt the acceptance and were no longer afraid to be up here. and lori

larry rudolph was a successful dentist in pennsylvania, but now he's a convicted murderer, found guilty of killing his wife. and today he will learn if he will spend the rest of his life behind bars . >> it's judgment day for an american dentist found guilty of murdering his wife and mail fraud for cashing out nearly $5 million worth of life insurance in her name. >> it's a mandatory life sentence for the counts of conviction that larry receives larry rudolph and his wife of 34 years, bianca, were on a hunting trip in zambia in october 2016, just as they were getting ready to return home. >> rudolph says his wife accidentally shot herself, packing her shotgun. >> he was standing near to her body crying. >> what am i going to tell my children? what am i going to tell my children? let me just kill myself because my wife, she has committed suicide. >> rudolph's behavior furthering suspicions within a month of his wife's death, he cashed out nine separate life insurance policies in her name. >> and then investigators discovered he had a girlfriend and had for the last ten years, a bartender