When the World Series of Poker introduced online bracelet events years ago, many people scoffed at the idea, decrying the step away from traditional, live, poker. But like most things, people got used to it and now the online events are a normal part of the WSOP. And, of course, the great thing about them is that you don’t have to go Las Vegas to have a shot at a title and can just play from the comfort of your own home.
If your home is a prison cell, however, that might be a different story.
Last week, 36-year-old Rudy Gavaldon won the $500 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo 6-Max on Michigan’s WSOP.com platform and we would normally offer him a hearty congratulations, but in this case, maybe not. Gavaldon is awaiting trial in Grand Traverse County for allegedly beating his wife nearly to death.
According to the police report, officers arrived on the scene just after midnight on July 30, 2022 to find Rudy Galvadon carrying one of their children in the street. He told them his wife was dying; she was hurried to the hospital and then rushed to Grand Rapids Hospital via helicopter because of the severity of her injuries.
Lara Gavaldon has had multiple surgeries since, including nasal reconstruction and the removal of her right eye. It does sound like she will recover as much as anyone can from such traumatic injuries, both physical and psychological.
Rudy was arrested for assault “with intent to commit murder.”
As mentioned, he is still awaiting trial – he has been out of jail since August of last year. He also has a criminal history. In 2011, he pleaded guilty to larceny in a building and third-degree home invasion. For that, he got 11 months behind bars and 36 months of probation.
Rudy Gavaldon pleaded not guilty to the current charges earlier this month.
For those who would like to help Lara, her friend, Brittany Haskin setup a GoFundMe to help pay for her medical bills and lost income. She set a goal of $50,000 and to date has raised $29,136, most of which was from the couple months after the violent attack. Since the media has connected the dots between the bracelet winner and the attack, the GoFundMe has received four more donations for a total of $320.
