Former R-J reporter traces murder case

The title of Glenn Puit's latest book sounds ironic, but it's really not.

Bill Rundle, who in 2003 was convicted of the brutal murder of his wife and mother, once was named Las Vegas father of the year.

"Father of the Year," subtitled "Bill Rundle: All-American Jekyll and Hyde" (Berkley, $7.99), explores a bizarre, high-profile Las Vegas murder case Puit originally covered as a Review-Journal reporter.

Puit -- whose previous two books explored the similarly bizarre tales of Brookey Lee West and bodybuilders Craig Titus and Kelly Ryan -- calls Rundle "one of the most interesting individuals you'll ever come across," and "a con man of the highest order."

What's particularly scary about Rundle, Puit adds, is that he is, in so many respects, so normal.

"A lot of people want to view him as a monster hiding in the closet," he says. "But this case shows how someone can be next to you and there's a side of their life you never get to see. That, to me, is the most intriguing part of this case."

Making Rundle's story even more bizarre is that his 11-year-old son, Richie, who nominated him for that father of the year award, was killed by a drunken driver while saving the life of another boy.

"This shows the other side of Bill Rundle that cannot be denied," Puit says: "Bill Rundle cared about that child and was good to him and took care of him. So he had a part of him that wasn't all bad."

Puit now lives on Michigan's Upper Peninsula and works as a policy specialist and environmental journalist for the Michigan Land Use Institute. But, he says, "I was always a deadline reporter and I love the criminal justice system. I'm completely and totally fascinated by it."

Exhibit A: Puit's next book, about the death of former state controller Kathy Augustine, is scheduled to hit bookshelves Nov. 3.

He's also in discussions about two more books that will deal with subjects of special interest to Southern Nevadans.

"Las Vegas has a special place in my heart," Puit says. But, beyond that, "as far as the criminal justice system, I consider it the most interesting place in America. There's never a dull moment."

Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.