‘Dateline NBC’: Who killed Ken Juedes? Wisconsin pharmacist’s brutal murder followed by 15 years hunt to track killer-wife
WISCONSIN, GREAT LAKES REGION: The murder of Ken (Kenneth) Juedes, a Wisconsin pharmacist, remains a haunting mystery that captivated public attention for years. In 2006, Ken was found dead in his home, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds from a .20-gauge shotgun. His wife, Cindy Schulz-Juedes, became a central figure in the case, accused of orchestrating his murder.
Despite her insistence on innocence and a lack of direct evidence tying her to the crime scene, Cindy's life took a dramatic turn with her arrest in 2019, over a decade after the crime. The case involved allegations of financial motives, with suspicions raised over Cindy's substantial debts and the substantial life insurance policies held by Ken. Ultimately, the legal saga concluded with Cindy being sentenced to life in prison, a verdict that deeply affected her. The case of Ken Juedes' murder continues to intrigue due to its complex web of financial entanglements, conflicting testimonies, and unanswered questions about what truly transpired on that fateful day in 2006, which will be featured on the new episode of 'Dateline NBC'.
Who was Ken Juedes?
Ken Juedes was a 58-year-old pharmacist from Unity, Wisconsin, who became widely known due to his tragic and mysterious murder in 2006. Ken was a well-respected pharmacist in his community. He lived in Unity, Wisconsin, in a house with significant hunting land that had been in his family for years.
Ken was married to Cindy Schulz-Juedes. The couple had foster children, though none were home on the night of the murder. Notably, Ken was found dead on August 30, 2006. He was shot twice with a .20-gauge shotgun, once in the back and once in the chest.
His wife, Cindy, claimed to have found his body and went to a neighbor's house to report it. She did not seek immediate help for him, which raised suspicions. There was no direct, smoking gun evidence linking Cindy to the crime. However, inconsistencies in her story and her behavior raised doubts.
Cindy Schulz-Juedes allegedly married wealthy Ken Juedes to clear off debts
Cindy Schulz-Juedes allegedly married the wealthy pharmacist Ken Juedes in 2004 to clear off her substantial debts. Before their marriage, Cindy had amassed a significant amount of credit card debt, estimated to be around $75,000. Prosecutors argued that Cindy saw Ken as "the goose that laid the golden egg," given his financial stability and valuable assets, including life insurance policies worth over $950,000 and a property valued at nearly $350,000.
Her financial difficulties and the potential for financial gain were key motives presented in the case against her for Ken's murder. Cindy's intent to marry Ken for his wealth and subsequently benefit from his death was a central theme in the prosecution's narrative, which ultimately led to her conviction and life sentence.
Ken Juedes’ body had multiple gun shot wounds
Ken Juedes was found dead in his Unity, Wisconsin home on August 30, 2006, with multiple gunshot wounds. The 58-year-old pharmacist had sustained two blasts from a .20-gauge shotgun, one in the back and another in the chest. His body was discovered by investigators, who determined that the fatal shots had been fired while he was in his bed.
The discovery of these gunshot wounds was crucial evidence in the case against Cindy Schulz-Juedes, who was ultimately convicted of his murder based on the circumstances surrounding his death and other compelling evidence presented during her trial.
Cindy Schulz-Juedes maintained innocence throughout trials
Throughout the trials related to the murder of her husband, Ken Juedes, Cindy Schulz-Juedes consistently maintained her innocence. Despite being convicted of the crime, Cindy asserted that she had no involvement in her husband's death. Her defense during the trial centered on various claims, including that she was not present at the scene when the murder occurred and that she had no motive to harm her husband.
Cindy's stance remained steadfast even during sentencing and subsequent legal proceedings, where she continued to assert her innocence despite the jury's verdict and the evidence presented against her.
Cindy Schulz-Juedes’ ex husband gifted her a shot gun
Cindy Schulz-Juedes, during the investigation and trial for the murder of her husband Ken Juedes, revealed that her ex-husband had gifted her a shotgun. This detail became significant in the case because a similar shotgun was used in the murder of Ken Juedes. Cindy claimed that the shotgun had been stolen before the murder, though she never reported the theft to law enforcement. This raised questions during the trial about the potential connection between the weapon and the crime, although no direct evidence linking the shotgun to the murder was found.
How much debt did Cindy Schulz-Juedes had?
Cindy Schulz-Juedes accumulated a substantial amount of debt, reportedly totaling around $75,000. This debt emerged as a significant financial burden during the investigation and trial following the murder of her husband, Ken Juedes, in 2006. Prosecutors suggested that Cindy's financial troubles could have been a motive for the crime, as she stood to gain financially from Ken Juedes' life insurance policies and other assets upon his death. The debt she accrued became part of the broader narrative surrounding the case, illustrating potential financial pressures and motives that may have influenced her actions.
Cindy Schulz-Juedes said life imprisonment sentencing ‘hurt her soul’
During Cindy Schulz-Juedes' sentencing for the murder of her husband, Ken Juedes, she expressed deep emotional distress, stating that the life imprisonment sentence "hurt her soul." This remark came as she maintained her innocence throughout the trial and sentencing proceedings. Despite being convicted by a jury, Cindy consistently denied any involvement in her husband's death, which occurred in 2006.
'Dateline NBC' airs Fridays at 10 pm ET.
