To the AZ State Parole Board,
My name is Kathy Monkman Higham, and I am the sister of the victim in this case, Cindy Monkman. She was my only sister, 14 months older than me and her life was taken on December 23, 1988, by Rudi Apelt and his brother Michael, in the Arizona desert for one motive: money. Specifically, $400,000 in life insurance taken out on her in the weeks before her murder. Her body was discovered on Christmas Eve day. She was killed the day after the insurance papers arrived in the mail.
I’d like to offer my opinions on this murderer Rudi Apelt, and perhaps give you some information about him, as you evaluate the options related to parole for this convicted murderer.
In 2009, Rudi Apelt was deemed “mentally retarded” by one finder of fact: Judge Silvia Arellano after a lengthy death penalty appeal. He was removed from Death Row at that time, vacating the death sentence and replacing it with a grandfathered in Life WITH Parole sentence which she ordered to be run consecutively with his other Life WITH parole sentence for the conspiracy to commit murder conviction. Life WITHOUT parole was not an option in Arizona when this killer was sentenced in 1990, which is why he is even being considered for parole now.
Judge Arellano, in making her decision, deemed that no information related to Apelt beyond the age of 18 would be considered by her in the final outcome of that appeal. This means that the crimes for which he was convicted–first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder–were not considered in the determination of sentences for said crimes. Both brothers were in their late 20s at the time they slaughtered my sister in a sophisticated scheme for $400,000 in life insurance proceeds. They had been plotting this murder for about two months at least.
For purposes of this hearing, I will focus on this murderer, Rudi and the life he lived past the age of 18, and up to, and including the murder of my sister Cindy.
I have seen police reports on Rudi Apelt from Germany, which include burglary, assault, insurance fraud, and rape. Rudi served 5 years in a German prison for a violent gang rape of a woman before coming to the United States and murdering my sister. Not only did he and his cohorts rape and brutalize their victim, but they left her outside the city limits for dead, much like my sister, although he made sure Cindy was actually dead before leaving her in the desert that December night. Rudi stole the car they drove to the airport in to come to the US, and warrants were out for their arrest in Germany shortly after they left in the summer of 1988.
It was proven in court by Rudi’s own expert, famous pathologist Vincent DiMaio, that it was, in fact, Rudi himself who inflicted the majority of the stab wounds to my sister’s chest, severing her aorta, piercing her lung and then nearly decapitating her by slashing her throat. She was also severely beaten, but it was not proven who committed those blows. The knife wounds were easily established because Rudi is right handed, and his brother Michael is left-handed, and the majority of her wounds were clearly committed by a right handed individual, according to his own expert. Michael’s footprint was found on her forehead and it was presented in court that he stood on her head, as Rudi slashed Cindy’s throat as she lay helpless on the desert floor. Rudi and his brother went to the nightclub/restaurant, Bobby McGees and used Cindy’s credit card for a celebratory dinner after they killed her.
I met Rudi the very night that Cindy met the men who would kill her in a few short months. We were at a night club, and Rudi was supposed to be the date of one of our friends who had met this pair of brothers there the night before. But what I witnessed was Rudi blowing kisses and winking at me, which was highly inappropriate and distasteful. He was also meandering around the bar hitting on other women and kissing them on the dance floor. Although this behavior was rude, it does not rise to a level to prove mental retardation, in my opinion. That’s just common sense. He obviously possessed the savvy and bravado, as well as the confidence to be able to pursue multiple women at once. I do not find this behavior evident in mentally retarded people. You might ask yourselves the same question.
In the weeks leading up to murdering my sister, Rudi spent his time, with his brother, lining up other women to date, asking them to marry him, pursuing them and borrowing their cars, staying in their homes alone without his brother, lying to them, while stealing money from their purses and blank checks from their homes. He was able to convince luxury car dealers, Rolex watch distributors, and a custom home realtor that he was anything from a professional athlete (he is tall and at the time quite stocky), to an international banker to a pilot. Along with his brother, these schemes were believed, as they test drove Jaguars, BMW’s and signed a contract on a custom home, presumably pre-spending the life insurance money before they murdered my sister, as they had no other source of income other than illegal activities and schemes. All of these people came forward to testify about their experiences with these German con artists and how they believed their lies, including consistent claims of wealth.
Rudi, along with his brother, attended Cindy’s funeral and got up and spoke. I witnessed both of them driving away from the grave site laughing in their rental car. Their accomplice, Anke Dorn, testified that that very night they confessed to her that they had murdered Cindy.
Now with all of this information (which I have well documented in police reports and court records, if you would like me to provide supporting documentation), I encourage you to ask yourselves if you would assess this violent man as mentally retarded and give him any leniency for this or any other reason. If for some reason, you give him the benefit of the doubt that Judge Arellano did, then I implore you to realize, clearly, that he is a danger to any society and should never be released from prison.
Rudi Apelt is a sophisticated con artist and violent man, of this there is no doubt, whatever label one wants to put on him.
Please make sure he remains in prison for the rest of his life, however long that will be.
Thank you for your consideration.
Kathy Monkman Higham
the face of a monster
two innocents 
Absolutely beautiful and powerful.
WOW. JUST WATCHED TRUE CONVICTION, SEASON 1 EPISODE 6 ON Discovery+. HOLY CRAP. I AM SHOCKED That these two have yet to be executed to make an example out of them. Also, the one that is actually mentally retarded is clearly the judge that thinks they are mentally retarded. Sorry that this all happened and I hope you take solace in knowing they are unable to do this to anyone else.
Our Dear Kathy,
I am so sorry that you have to go through this every year.
For some reason that slipped by me these past years. I so hope the parole board realize that you carry a life sentence that will get NO release until you meet Cindy in Heaven some day. Your entire family (including all of us who know and love you through your writing), care deeply. I know you will share with us when his parole is denied.
God Bless You & Sweet Hubby & Precious Daughter ♥ ♥ ♥
Hugs from Paula
Very well written. ❤️
Your letter was very difficult to read because it is hard to imagine someone going through such suffering. I am very sorry. I pray the parole board listens to every word you have said. God bless.
I hate that you have to constantly keep going over this, time after time. This is written so perfectly and surely will have a big impact on the deciding judge here. I just wish this could be the end of these court scenes for you. much love, my dear. My heart and prayers go out to you.
Very well written!
So sorry you have to continue to deal with this every year nut thank you for doing so!! This animal should never see the light of day!!
Thinking of you and your family as this hearing is coming up tomorrow. It’s so awful that you have to go through this because of that terrible judge!
Please keep us updated when you can about his status. Sending love, light and prayers your way!
I knew your words would be powerful. Dear lady, you never cease to hit home runs. This was so hard to read, and feel the pain and anguish coming through your words. But you did it once again, and will as many times as is necessary to keep this monster behind those bars. May Cindy be smiling down at you with thanks and love. ❤
Hi, Cindy. Every now and then when I get your emails and then read the latest on this life’s journey of yours, I am so saddened that the murder of your sister is something that will never, ever go away for you. I hope Rudi rots to a ripe old age in prison, where he can think every day and night about why he is there, why he has no freedom, why he has no money, no car, no home, no one who loves him. I’m just so very sorry that you and your family still must go through this. It’s almost as if it is happening again and again and again, a nightmare from which you can never escape. That right there is reason enough for him and all murderers to stay locked up till they rot.
I wish for you more love and peace and joy for every day for the rest of your life, that somehow all the extra love and joy and peace can fill in the giant emptiness of your dear sister’s missing life.
Your writing on this subject is so overwhelmingly sad, and yet I know it must not even touch the depth of the sadness that you’ve endured every day since Cindy’s tragic death. Keep writing, girl. She’s proud of you, I just know it.
Is there anything we can do by writing or calling a government agency or representative?
Right now, his latest appeal was denied, so he’s on a track now toward execution. I’m ok with him still being on death row for however long that is, and Rudi being where he is. I’ve made peace with it all, as long as they both remain incarcerated. Ironically, in the “win” of the mental retardation argument for Rudi, he was moved to another prison altogether. So the evil brothers will never have the contact they did, through prison vents, for 18 years. That was an unintended bit of poetic justice. Oh and once the celebrity status of Rudi’s death row status was removed, no one even showed up for his last parole hearing, just like I predicted. He is now on “lock him up and throw away the key” status, which is fine with me.
This true NIGHTMARE-story was on the TV tonigt in Sweden. I am stonishd over this cruel case.
I love my own sister so deeply and felt enormously sorry about what happend to you and your beatiful and chaming sister.
What a wonderful photo of the two of you, one as baby and the other one standning nearby. So humble, so full of love, so full of trust. So beatiful. My eyes burst into tears when I see you two sisters together.
Love and best regards
Lena P. from Sweden / Stockholm
Oh Lena, thank you for writing all the way from Sweden. What a wonderful connective tool the internet is. Thank you for your heartfelt sentiments. It means a lot.
Dear Kathy.
I am so very sorry that you lost your beloved sister. Her spirit is with you in everything you do and she is smiling.
I just watched her story on Investigation Discovery.
If you see a red bird it will be Cindy paying you a visit. I have a red bird who comes to my backyard often and I believe it is the spirt of my mom who died when I was 12.
Let me first say your letter was factual, on point and VERY well written. I hope this animal was denied parole and is denied parole the remainder of his despicable pathetic life.
Never give up even if it takes you going to every single parole hearing and staring him down to keep him locked up then do it for Cindy. If he ever gets out he will flee to Germany and continue conning and killing other innocent lives. This disgusting excuse for a human being does not deserve anything better than death.
Mentally retarded? Give a break! I used to work as a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney and trust me many of them lie lie lie and will do anything to win freedom for the animals they represent.
Keep up your hard work, Kathy. I am so proud of you! God Bless You. – – Linda, N. Carolina
Dear Kathy.
I am so very sorry that you lost your beloved sister. Her spirit is with you in everything you do and she is smiling.
I just watched her story on Investigation Discovery.
If you see a red bird it will be Cindy paying you a visit. I have a red bird who comes to my backyard often and I believe it is the spirt of my mom who died when I was 12.
Let me first say your letter was factual, on point and VERY well written. I hope this animal was denied parole and is denied parole the remainder of his despicable pathetic life.
Never give up Kathy even if it takes you going to every single parole hearing and staring him down to keep him locked up. You will be doing it for Cindy.
If he ever gets out he will flee to Germany and continue conning and killing other innocent lives. This disgusting excuse for a human being does not deserve anything better than death.
Mentally retarded? Give a break! I used to work as a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney and trust me many of them lie lie lie and will do anything to win freedom for the animals they represent.
Keep up your hard work, Kathy. I am so proud of you! God Bless You. – – Linda, N. Carolina
Your father came up in my conversation with John yesterday. Of course that led to you wondering about how you and John are. I hope you are well. We still think of this time with such great sadness.
Our very best to your family.
M. Domagala
Thank you for keeping other people safe and being so strong to stand for what is right in a time when justice is hidden by lies and revolving paperwork. You have no idea the lives you have saved by keeping those two locked up. God bless you in Jesus name.