Margaret Rudin was born on May 31, 1943, in Memphis, Tennessee. She was the middle child in a family with three daughters. Growing up, Margaret's family moved a lot, which meant she experienced life in different places. Before she graduated from high school, she had lived in 15 different states across the country.

As a young adult, Margaret got married four times. Each marriage ended, but she continued to seek companionship. In Las Vegas, she met Ronald Rudin at the First Church of Religious Science. The two wed on September 11, 1987. Their marriage would be significant in Margaret's life, marking a point of stability after many transitions.

On December 18, 1994, Ronald Rudin disappeared after visiting his wife Margaret's antique shop in Las Vegas. He was last seen walking to the shop from his real estate office. More than a month later, on January 21, 1995, police discovered his charred and dismembered remains near Lake Mojave. They also found the remnants of an antique steamer trunk. It was determined that Ronald had been shot in the head multiple times with a .22 caliber gun.

As the investigation continued, authorities searched the Rudin's home. They found evidence including blood spatter in the bedroom and semen on the floor. A handgun linked to Ronald Rudin was discovered in Lake Mead on July 21, 1996. This gun was confirmed as the murder weapon after being reported missing in 1988, shortly after Ronald married Margaret.

On April 18, 1997, a grand jury indicted Margaret for her husband's murder. By this time, she had already left Nevada and spent over two years in hiding before her arrest in Massachusetts in November 1999. She was extradited back to Nevada to face charges.

Margaret's trial began on March 2, 2001. The prosecution argued that she killed Ronald to stop a divorce and secure his estate. Her defense claimed he was involved in illegal activities that led to his death. On May 2, 2001, she was found guilty of murder. The judge sentenced her to life in prison with the chance for parole after 20 years.

In the years that followed, Margaret's legal team fought against her conviction. In 2002, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld her conviction. However, a new trial was granted in 2008 based on claims that her previous lawyers were not prepared. This trial was later denied, leading to further legal battles.

In May 2022, a judge finally vacated Margaret's conviction, citing ineffective legal representation. She was released on parole on January 10, 2020, after spending nearly two decades in prison. However, the possibility of retrial for Ronald's murder remained open for a time. Charges against her were ultimately dismissed on December 9, 2024.