On June 28, Chris Bridenthal and Randi Rud were arrested in connection with Donald Cole’s death. There have been multiple stories floating around about what happened that day. The probable cause affidavit sheds light on the events that unfolded.
Sgt. Morris with the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a shooting occurred in his jurisdiction and that shooting resulted in a deceased individual. Dispatch advised Morris that a female had called to inform them that her neighbor just shot someone in the head in his front yard. Morris was also told a second female, who identified herself as Rud, called dispatch and informed themthatherboyfriend,later identified as Bridenthal, just shot somebody for 'breaking intotheirhouseandwasdead in the front yard.”
Morris already had units on scene to investigate, so he contactedSheriffDonaldYow to obtain a search warrant. While waiting on the judge to sign the search warrant, Morris observed Bridenthal being booked into the jail.
Morris then went to the crime scene and waited for OSBI to complete their investigation. While waiting, Morris witnessed Rud being placed in the rear of his patrol vehicle. While Morris was trying to gather information, Rud allegedly continually beat on Morris’s patrol car window with her head and handcuffs. Morris had to halt his investigation several times to instruct Rud to stop.
KXIIreportedthatJeremy Bishop said that Rud called him two nights in a row, saying that she and Bridenthal were fighting. On the second night, Bishop and Cole went to Rud’s residence.
Bishop also noted that when they arrived at the residence, Bridenthal exited the house and shot Cole in the head.
According to KXII’s report, Bishop overheard Rud telling Bridenthal that she would tell the police that she shot Cole in self defense. The report also alleges that Bridenthal said that Bishop had called and threatened him prior to arriving at the residence. It also alleges that Bridenthal said a strange car showed up to his house, so he went outside with his pistol.
Allegedly, Bridenthal stated that Cole jumped out of the shadows, punched him in the head, then there was a “scuffle”. Bridenthal alleges that during the scuffle is when the gun went off.
Even though Rud claimed that Cole was shot during a burglary, the evidence suggests otherwise. Cole was located in the yard nowhere near the residence entry and he had a single gunshot wound to the head behind the area of his right ear. Because of the location of the deceased, the area of the wound, where the shell casings were and witness statements, it was determined that Bridenthal exited the residence and shot Cole shortly after he arrived.
Officials arrested Rud for Obstruction and while transporting her to the jail, she allegedly said that she had “second amendment rights and had to kill Cole to protect” herself. Apparently, she was not aware that witnesses and Bridenthal already informed the officers that he was the shooter.
Once OSBI crime scene techs finished their investigation, Morris and other deputies searchedtheresidencefor any evidence of the shooting. Morris located a second firearm in plain sight in the master bedroom where Rud and Bridenthal stayed. They also located a bag of white powder that later tested presumptive positive for cocaine. The baggie weighed three grams.
Rud was arrested for Transferring a Firearm to a Felon, Possession of CDS and Obstruction.
Bridenthal is currently facing charges for Possession of a Firearm After the Formal Conviction of a Felony. Officials said that Murder charges for Bridenthal are imminent and Rud might be facing more charges.