A Deadly Thanksgiving Walk

On Thanksgiving weekend in 1992, 35-year-old Judy Moilanen took her dogs for a walk in the serene wilderness of Ontonagon, Michigan—a decision that cost her life. When she failed to return, her distraught mother began searching and stumbled upon a scene out of a nightmare. Judy’s lifeless body lay in the woods, a gunshot wound the cause of death.

Initially, the tragedy was chalked up to a hunting mishap, a plausible explanation given the timing. In Michigan’s hunting season, wearing blaze orange is practically a law of survival, but Judy wasn’t wearing any. That peculiarity—and the absence of witnesses or reported accidents—prompted deeper scrutiny. As investigators peeled back the layers, a sinister truth came to light, with Judy’s husband, Bruce, at the center.

A Husband's Chilling Demeanor

Bruce Moilanen’s reaction to his wife’s death immediately raised suspicions. Rather than grieving, he criticized Judy for not adhering to hunting safety protocols by wearing orange. “You’d expect sorrow or disbelief, not cold judgment,” remarked retired Detective Bob Ball. To those around him, Bruce’s detachment and quickness to shift blame seemed eerily out of place.

A Trail of ‘Accidents’

Judy’s life in the months leading up to her death was riddled with near-fatal “accidents” that cast a shadow over Bruce.

• The Falling Cinder Block: While Bruce worked on the roof of their home, an 86-pound cinder block allegedly “slipped” and struck Judy as she stood below. The incident left her with severe injuries requiring hospitalization. Bruce’s story? Judy had been on the roof herself and fell. Investigators later confirmed Bruce’s account was entirely fabricated.
• The Suspicious Fire: Just weeks later, a fire engulfed the couple’s home while Judy and their young daughter were inside. Investigators found the blaze was sparked by woodstove ashes improperly disposed of near a firewood pile. Though initially ruled accidental, questions lingered about Bruce’s involvement, particularly after Judy expressed fears about her safety.

The Unraveling Marriage

Behind closed doors, Judy and Bruce’s marriage was crumbling. Financial troubles, largely stemming from Bruce’s recklessness, strained their relationship. Judy confided to close friends about considering divorce, a revelation that could have dire consequences for Bruce. Divorce would mean a loss of financial security, custody battles, and the division of assets—a risk Bruce seemed unwilling to take.

Then came the revelation of Judy’s $321,000 life insurance policy, which doubled for accidental deaths. To investigators, the payout offered Bruce a motive too glaring to ignore.

Infidelity and Manipulation

Adding to the tangled web was Bruce’s extramarital pursuit of a coworker, Gayle Lampinen. He lavished her with flowers, unannounced visits, and even a box of Judy’s clothing after her death. Tucked inside was a bizarre letter, allegedly from Judy, encouraging Gayle to pursue a relationship with Bruce.

The letter’s vulgar and outlandish closing line—praising Bruce’s sexual prowess—was so absurd that police immediately suspected forgery. Handwriting analysis confirmed their suspicions: Bruce had penned the note himself.

The Confession That Exposed the Monster

When confronted with mounting evidence, Bruce’s alibi unraveled. Investigators discovered he wasn’t hunting with family as claimed. Instead, Bruce confessed to lying in wait for Judy in the woods. He knew her routine, her path, and the perfect time to strike.

In his confession, Bruce admitted he couldn’t bring himself to shoot her on her first pass. But when she returned, he closed his eyes and pulled the trigger, leaving her to die alone in the wilderness. His motives? A mix of petty grievances—complaints about her cooking, her demeanor—and a desperate fear of financial ruin from a looming divorce.

Justice Delivered

In 1993, Bruce Moilanen was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. His callous admission and the sheer premeditation behind the crime left the courtroom and the community stunned. Judy’s family was granted custody of her young daughter, ensuring her safety from the father who orchestrated her mother’s death.

This haunting case, filled with twisted motives and macabre details, remains a stark reminder of how far some will go to bury their secrets—literally and figuratively. Bruce Moilanen’s betrayal not only shattered lives but exposed a depth of cold-blooded cruelty few could imagine.