Former NHL player charged with murdder www.privateofficer.com

STALLINGS, N.C. (Charlotte metro) Dec 27 2009– A former Charlotte Checkers hockey player is facing charges in connection with a murder in Stallings.

It was the first murder in the small town in two years.

Bogdan Rudenko, 32, was arrested Christmas morning after a standoff with police in Colorado. He is being held in a Colorado jail without bond.

Rudenko is accused of shooting a man last weekend in Stallings. The man’s body was found behind a car repair shop off Independence Boulevard early Sunday morning.

Early Friday morning, Colorado police say they found the hockey player hiding out in a Howard Johnson motel in Colorado Springs.

“There was a standoff. It did last for a short time,” said Capt. L.C. Morgan with Colorado Springs Police Department.

Rudenko played for the Checkers during the 2004-2005 season and has played for a number of other teams, including a Colorado team.

“There was a reason for him to come to Colorado Springs for a short visit after the homicide occurred. Apparently, he wound up here for a short time and was headed elsewhere,” Morgan said.

Morgan said a woman tipped them off that Rudenko was hiding there.

Rudenko has been married twice — most recently to a woman in Charlotte. Stallings police say there’s still a lot they don’t know.

Stalling Police Chief Lark Plyler says, “Although motive has not been established in this case, it is somewhat of a relief that we have a big piece of that puzzle put together now, and at least have the perpetrator behind bars.”

Plyler is not releasing the victim’s name, saying he is not a U.S. citizen and they can’t be sure that they know his identity.

The chief did say there are probably more people involved in the killing, and the investigation is far from over.

Rudenko will likely be transferred to Stallings to face the murder charge after a court appearance early next week.

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