"48 Hours" – Murder in Las Vegas

Air date: December 18, 2025
Podcast: 48 Hours
Host: CBS News

Episode Overview

This deeply reported episode of CBS’s 48 Hours examines the mysterious 1994 murder of Las Vegas real estate mogul Ron Rudin and the subsequent arrest, trial, and conviction of his wife, Margaret Rudin. Through immersive storytelling, interviews with family, investigators, and legal teams, as well as dramatic courtroom moments, the podcast explores themes of marital discord, circumstantial justice, flawed investigations, and the lasting trauma of violent crime. The case, with its twists, international flight, and claims of wrongful conviction, has fascinated and divided the public for decades.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Margaret Rudin’s Double Life & Arrest

• Margaret Rudin was living under an alias ("Lee Brown") in Revere, Massachusetts, while wanted for the murder of her husband. Neighbors describe her as a quiet, soft-spoken woman—"like a grandmother."
• Arrest involved a ruse: "One of his officers disguised as a pizza delivery man..." ([02:00])
• On arrest:
  Margaret: "Yeah. This is about Las Vegas, isn't it?" ([03:00])

2. The Disappearance & Discovery

• Ron Rudin vanished in December 1994. He was worth an estimated $12 million.
• Friends and employees quickly became concerned when he missed work—a behavior they say was out of character.
  Bookkeeper, Sharon Melton: "He would just not, not show up and let anyone know." ([09:30])
• Charred remains and part of an antique trunk were found in the desert 40 miles from Las Vegas. The skull bore bullet wounds; decapitation was suspected.

3. Strain in the Marriage

• Both Margaret and Ron had several past marriages; Margaret acknowledged marital problems but insisted, "I have a history of divorcing them. And so did Ron." ([06:30])
• Margaret admits Ron had affairs:
  Margaret: "99% of the men that I've ever had in my life had affairs. I believe about 90% of the men do." ([07:30])

4. Police Investigation & Early Suspicions

• Detectives focused on Margaret due to her supposed lack of concern and for remodeling their bedroom soon after Ron disappeared.
• Handyman Augustine Lovato indicated he saw apparent blood stains on the carpet and a portrait.
  Lovato: "It looked like dried blood... a creepy feeling..." ([22:00–24:00])
• Police failed to find Ron’s DNA; only minute traces were left after the remodel.

5. The Murder Weapon & Grand Jury Proceedings

• The gun used to kill Ron Rudin was found in a lake ("looked like trash") and traced to Ron himself—it had been reported missing years prior.
• First grand jury failed to indict Margaret due to lack of hard evidence.
• After finding the gun and forensic linking, a second grand jury indicted her. Before arrest, she fled the country.

6. Margaret on the Run: Life in Hiding

• Margaret lived in Mexico, Phoenix, and Massachusetts under multiple aliases, working menial jobs.
• Margaret: "I was terrified at that point. I had no attorney. I had no money. It didn’t seem like anybody was going to help me." ([37:50])
• Her daughter and mother express deep anguish over her plight.

7. The Defense: Police 'Tunnel Vision' and Alternative Suspects

• Defense attorney Michael Amador argued police focused prematurely on Margaret:
  Amador: "They immediately targeted Margaret as the perpetrator. You’re saying law enforcement in this case used tunnel vision? Absolutely." ([45:40])
• Alternate motives suggested among estate trustees (Sharon Cooper and Harold Boscutti), who benefited financially.
• Margaret claims she remodeled the bedroom because of prior trauma, not to clean up a crime scene.

8. The Trial: Star Witnesses and Shocking Testimony

• Prosecution alleged jealousy (Margaret suspected Ron’s mistress) as a motive.
• Explosive testimony came from Margaret’s own sister, Donna Cantrell: Cantrell: "I thought you were going to divorce him. And she said to me that he's not in very good health... I think I will wait." ([64:40])
• Defense's attempt to discredit Cantrell fell flat, further straining Margaret’s confidence in her lawyers.
• Margaret attempted to seek a mistrial due to ineffective counsel, but the judge denied it.

9. Alleged Accomplice: Yehuda Sharon

• Yehuda Sharon, former Israeli intelligence officer, suspected of involvement but granted immunity.
  Prosecutor: “Isn’t it true... you went to Nelson’s Landing?”
  Sharon: “No. You are sure of that? I’m very sure.” ([81:00])
• He denied all involvement, and defense insisted Margaret couldn't have committed the crime alone.

10. Forensic Evidence Scrutinized

• Debate over bloodstains: Defense argued less than a drop was found; prosecution countered that the scene had been cleaned.
• The defense reconstructed the bedroom in court to demonstrate their alternative theory.

11. The Money Trail & Benefit of the Doubt

• Defense argued estate trustees, not Margaret, had the most to gain.
• Interview:
  Amador: “How much did you get?”
  Trustee: “A million and a quarter. Million and a half.” ([97:20])

12. Jury Deliberations, Verdict, and Controversy

• Jury deliberated for five days; Margaret did not testify.
• Jury foreman Ron Vest: “To me, this was a slam dunk with a stepladder.” ([110:00])
• Juror Corrine Kovacs, the lone holdout, says she was bullied into a guilty vote: Kovacs: “I changed my vote. I never changed my mind... I will have to live with that for the rest of my life.” ([113:30])
• The conviction closes a chapter for Ron’s family but leaves lingering doubts for Margaret’s supporters.

13. Aftermath: Appeals and Exoneration

• In 2020, Margaret Rudin was paroled after serving 20 years.
• In 2022, a federal judge vacated the conviction due to ineffective counsel at her trial.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Is Margaret Rudin capable of murder? Is she capable of murder? Without a doubt.” – Detective Phil Ramos ([17:20])
• “When you’re helpless and you’re totally alone, you do tend to maybe panic.” – Margaret Rudin, on running ([18:30])
• “The death of Ron Rudin made some people millionaires. One of them was not Margaret Rudin, his wife.” – Narrator ([99:30])
• “I think I've read these notes a total of 16 times from start to finish.” – Juror Corrine Kovacs ([114:20])
• “I was numb. I was totally numb.” – Margaret Rudin, after the guilty verdict ([111:30])
• “I'm too old to cry and it hurts too much to laugh.” – Defense counsel Tom Potaro ([112:00])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment | Timestamp | |-------------------------------------------|------------| | Arrest of Margaret Rudin | 02:00–03:00| | Discovery of Ron's Remains | 10:00–11:30| | Marital Problems Overview | 06:30–07:30| | Handyman’s Blood Testimony | 22:00–24:00| | Gun Discovery & Grand Jury | 26:50–29:30| | Margaret on the Run | 34:50–40:00| | Police Tunnel Vision / Alternate Suspects | 45:40–49:30| | Trial: Donna Cantrell’s Testimony | 64:40–68:30| | Yehuda Sharon Questioned | 81:00–84:00| | Defense Forensic Expert | 89:30–92:00| | Estate Finances and Mistrust | 97:20–99:30| | Jury Deliberations and Kovacs’ Doubt | 110:00–115:00| | Aftermath and Exoneration | 117:30–End |

Episode Tone

The episode is methodical and somber, blending procedural facts with emotional testimonies from family and legal participants. It underscores the enduring agony of unsolved mysteries, the challenges of circumstantial justice, and the devastation wrought on families—regardless of which side receives the verdict.

Summary

This haunting episode of 48 Hours offers a panoramic—and at times heart-wrenching—look at the Ron Rudin murder and the labyrinthine investigation and trial that followed. Through careful exploration of forensic evidence, courtroom drama, and the voices of those closest to the case, it emerges not merely as a whodunit, but a meditation on justice, due process, and the long shadow of suspicion. The story ultimately concludes with Margaret Rudin’s release and the vacating of her conviction—leaving listeners to weigh the true cost of one of Las Vegas’s most infamous murders.