Date Archives 2017

Doug and Gina Dahlen sentenced tomorrow for role in disappearance of Rucki sisters

May 1, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

Doug and Gina Dahlen will be sentenced tomorrow at 9AM at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings for their role in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville, Minnesota. On April 19, 2013, Samantha and Gianna Rucki disappeared during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

The sisters were taken near their home in Lakeville by their mother in violation of a court order and were later driven to the Dahlen’s ranch in northern Minnesota by their mother, Grazzini-Rucki and her friend, Dede Evavold on April 21, 2013.

Doug and Gina Dahlen, who pleaded guilty in January, admitted in court that they knew David Rucki had been awarded custody of his children and that they failed to contact to David Rucki or law enforcement that the missing Rucki kids were living on their ranch. The Dahlens had each been charged with six felony counts for their role in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters.

By pleading guilty to one count, the remaining counts against the Dahlens were dismissed. Continue reading →

Dahlens accuse Grazzini-Rucki and Evavold of lying

April 27, 2017 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

Days before they are sentenced for their role in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville, Minnesota, Doug and Gina Dahlen accuse both Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and Dede Evavold of lying.

Court documents filed earlier this week by attorneys Travis Keil and Kyle White allege Doug and Gina Dahlen were misled by Grazzini-Rucki and Evavold about the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

On April 19, 2013, the sisters disappeared during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. The girls were taken by their mother near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota, in violation of a court order.

DougGinaDahlen — Doug Dahlen, Gina Dahlen. Picture source: Dakota County Sheriff’s Office

The Rucki sisters were later driven to the Dahlen’s residence at the White Horse Ranch in Herman, Minnesota on April 21, 2013.

According to the criminal complaint and court testimony, the girls were driven to the ranch by Grazzini-Rucki and Evavold.

The Dahlens pleaded guilty in January and admitted in court that they knew David Rucki had been awarded custody of his children and that they failed to contact to David Rucki and law enforcement that the missing Rucki kids were living on their ranch.

The Dahlens will both be sentenced on May 2, 2017, at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings.

Continue reading →

Short-changed: Dede Evavold has paid only $375 of $12K owed for restitution, fines, & fees

April 24, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold has only paid $375 of the $12,317 in restitution, fines, and fees assessed by Dakota County after she was convicted last year for her role in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls. Evavold is appealing her conviction. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold posts picture of Rucki home on social media

April 14, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold, who was released from jail in January after being found guilty for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, posted a picture of the Rucki’s home on social media earlier today – a violation of the conditions of her probation.

Evavold was charged in December 2015 related to her involvement in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters, who were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls.

A representative of the Rucki family said today Evavold’s behavior shows she does not comprehend the severity of her crimes, and that Evavold still poses a direct threat to the Rucki family and the general public.

The picture of the Rucki home posted by Evavold appears above, but I have digitally altered the picture to ensure privacy and safety for the Rucki family.

Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki announces lawsuit against ABC’s ’20/20′, Elizabeth Vargas

April 11, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Legal Developments, Media

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki announced last evening that she will be filing a defamation lawsuit against ABC, Inc, ABC’s “20/20”, and Elizabeth Vargas, the co-anchor of “20/20”.

Grazzini-Rucki’s announcement of the lawsuit comes one year after ABC’s “20/20” first broadcast of “Footprints in the Snow”, which focused on the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. On March 25, 2017, ABC’s “20/20” rebroadcast the episode with updated information.

The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Grazzini-Rucki had tried to stop the rebroadcast of the episode which found no documentation to verify Grazzini-Rucki’s claim that she was abused by David Rucki. Grazzini-Rucki had taken to Facebook, calling the show “rank propaganda”and encouraging people to register complaints.

Public court records show that in the last ten years, Grazzini-Rucki has filed over 20 unsuccessful lawsuits in district, state, and federal court, including two petitions to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Grazzini-Rucki said last evening that she would be seeking “an ungodly amount” of money in her latest lawsuit. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold continues to flout conditions of her probation

April 5, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold, who was released from jail in January after being found guilty for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki from Lakeville, continues to reference the Rucki family on social media – a likely violation of her probation.

She was convicted in September on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of the girls. Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki critical of proclamation designating April as National Child Abuse Prevention Month

April 4, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, David Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, who was convicted last year on six felony counts related to the disappearance of her daughters, strongly criticized the proclamation designating April 2017 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month by President Donald Trump.

In violation of a court order, Samantha and Gianna Rucki were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

On November 18, 2015 – 944 days after they disappeared – the girls were found living on a ranch in northern Minnesota by law enforcement, headed by the Lakeville Police Department.

Grazzini-Rucki critical that Trump’s proclamation honored child protective workers, law enforcement officials

In his proclamation issued on March 31, 2017, Trump listed groups of professionals “whose tireless work every day protects children”:

“We also honor foster and adoptive parents, child protective workers, faith leaders, community mentors, teachers, and law enforcement officials, whose tireless work every day protects children who have been tragically abused or neglected. Their often thankless service in these difficult and painful situations helps restore the safety and dignity of these wounded children and, in many cases, dramatically improves the course of their precious lives. As a Nation, we pledge to honor our commitment to protecting the vulnerable among us, not just this month, but every day of the year.”

After reading Trump’s entire proclamation during her interview, Grazzini-Rucki said the groups recognized by Trump “have single-handedly destroyed our children, and the future of America”:

“I think it is our obligation to inform our president, who I believe can make some changes, that all these people that he is giving credit to don’t deserve the credit and in fact, expect for a very few individuals… they’ve done nothing but harm children more, and I’m including CPS, foster parents, government workers, police departments, lawyers and judges. They have single-handedly destroyed our children, and the future of America.”

April has been designated National Child Abuse Prevention Month by every president since 1983. Continue reading →

ABC’s ’20/20′ episode: One year later

March 27, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Media, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

On April 8, 2016, ABC’s “20/20” first broadcast “Footprints in the Snow”, which focused on the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Last Saturday, ABC’s “20/20” rebroadcast the episode with updated information.

Since the episode first aired last April, there have been multiple developments involving many of the people interviewed. Continue reading →

Tonight: ABC’s ’20/20′ encore presentation of episode about Grazzini-Rucki

March 25, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Media

Tonight at 9PM, ABC’s “20/20” is rebroadcasting their episode which focused on the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki.

Grazzini-Rucki has tried to stop the rebroadcast of the episode of ABC’s “20/20” which found no documentation to verify Grazzini-Rucki’s claim that she was abused by David Rucki. Grazzini-Rucki has taken to Facebook, calling the show “rank propaganda” and encouraging people to register complaints. Continue reading →

For sale: infamous ranch where missing Lakeville sisters were held

March 20, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

UPDATE: This post has been update to include the current sale price for the White Horse Ranch.

While they await sentencing for their role in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville, the owners of a rural ranch in northern Minnesota where the two missing sisters were held for over two years are selling the infamous property.

The White Horse Ranch, located in Herman, Minnesota is being sold by Doug and Gina Dahlen, who pleaded guilty in January for their involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken by their mother near their home on the night of April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki announces her next targets: children, spouses, and family members

March 15, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis

UPDATE: This story has been updated with new statements from Grazzini-Rucki targeting children.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, who is currently on probation for her role in the disappearance of her children, announced that she and others will be targeting the family members of judges, attorneys, and county staff, including their children.

The alarming comments from Grazzini-Rucki were made during her podcast last week, which she hosted with a man convicted of threatening to shoot a judge.

In an enraged tirade, Grazzini-Rucki said on her podcast:

“When we start exposing that, then we’ve made it personal. We are not gonna sit back and let you destroy our families because now, what you’ve done to us and our children and our families, we are now going to transpose it onto you.

We are going to start exposing your children, your spouses, your families, your parents. We are coming at you with exposing what’s truly going on in your own home.”

Click here to listen to Grazzini-Rucki’s comments.

As previously documented, Grazzini-Rucki’s disdain for law enforcement and the court system has become more flagrant, her rhetoric more incendiary, and her behavior increasingly dangerous, since being released from jail last October.

But the recently discovered statements from Grazzini-Rucki in which she angrily declares “we are going to start exposing your children” are more troubling and concerning than any previous public comments made by Grazzini-Rucki.

Authorities in Dakota County have been notified about the latest comments from Grazzini-Rucki targeting children. Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki aligns herself with man convicted of threatening to shoot a judge

March 13, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki took her documented threats toward law enforcement, judges, and court staff in Minnesota to a dangerous level joining forces with a Connecticut man convicted of threatening to shoot a judge.

Grazzini-Rucki hosted a podcast with Edward Taupier, who was convicted in October 2015 of threatening to shoot Hartford Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Bozzuto.

Since being released from jail last October, Grazzini-Rucki’s disdain for law enforcement and the court system has become more flagrant, her rhetoric more incendiary, and her behavior increasingly dangerous.

But Grazzini-Rucki’s association with Taupier provides additional evidence that Grazzini-Rucki continues to escalate her threatening behavior toward law enforcement, judges, court staff, and now their family members. Continue reading →

On This Date: Michelle MacDonald makes her first appearance in court for Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

February 27, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald made her first appearance in family court on behalf of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki on February 26, 2013. MacDonald’s work on behalf of Grazzini-Rucki created controversy and turmoil in court, and MacDonald’s law license may be suspended for her conduct while serving as Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney.

Minutes into the court hearing, the judge said “this is not the way that I expected to start off this hearing.”

According to court documents from February 23, 2013, MacDonald requested the court take a roll call to determine the names of everyone in the courtroom, including members of the public. The court documents also show that MacDonald repeatedly interrupted the court proceedings, with MacDonald later apologizing for comments she made during the court hearing. Continue reading →

Michelle MacDonald discloses law enforcement considered her a ‘suspect’

February 21, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis, Media, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald has disclosed law enforcement considered her a “suspect” in the disappearance of the two sisters from Lakeville, according to a publication co-authored by MacDonald.

MacDonald serves as Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney. Grazzini-Rucki was convicted last July on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her two daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

In the publication, MacDonald provides details on a phone conversation she had with Lieutenant Jason Polinski of the Lakeville Police Department. According to MacDonald, Polinski said she was no longer considered a suspect:

“Finally, he said I was no longer a suspect unless someone came in with evidence I participated in the girls’ disappearance and I appeared on early on with eighteen others.”

MacDonald also admits in her publication that she “suspected the only evidence they have is that I’ve been Sandra’s attorney throughout her ordeal.” Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s dangerous quest

February 13, 2017 Comments Off read Analysis

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki walked out of jail last October looking to pick a fight after she finished the first portion of her jail sentence for her role in the disappearance of her daughters.

I doubt anyone believed Grazzini-Rucki was going to be reformed after serving just over 30 days in jail.

But even I was surprised, when hours after being released from jail, I found Grazzini-Rucki standing by my car as I left the Dakota County Northern Service Center in West St. Paul. Grazzini-Rucki momentarily blocked my exit, as she stood behind my car as I attempted to back out of my parking spot. I stepped out of my car and asked her, “can I help you with something?” Grazzini-Rucki said no and she walked back to a waiting vehicle.

Since October, Grazzini-Rucki’s disdain for law enforcement and the court system has become more flagrant, her rhetoric more incendiary, and her behavior increasingly dangerous.

Grazzini-Rucki has started down a very dangerous road. She thrives off of chaos and the attention it brings. Not satisfied with the damage and pain she has already inflicted, Grazzini-Rucki is working to create more lawlessness in society. Continue reading →