Searched For HRO brodkorb

Restraining orders granted for harassing Michael Brodkorb

April 3, 2019 Comments Off read Kimberley and Jay Bukstein, Legal Developments

A judge in Dakota County granted Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) against two supporters of Dede Evavold, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, and Michelle MacDonald for harassing Michael Brodkorb for the past year.

The HROs were filed separately by Brodkorb against Kimberley Bukstein and her husband, Jay Bukstein, who reside together in St. Paul, Minnesota. The HROs remain in effect until March 14, 2021.

Kimberley Bukstein is a self-described “civil-rights advocate” who was fined $10,000 for the unauthorized practice of law in Ohio in 2013. Both Kimberley and Jay Bukstein are also “qualified” Rule 114 ADR Neutrals for the Minnesota State Court Administrator’s Office. The Buksteins are referenced in the new best-selling true crime book, The Girls Are Gone, which was written by Brodkorb and Allison Mann.

In the last year, the Buksteins have repeatedly initiated episodes of unwanted and aggressive contact with Brodkorb via email, text messages, and phone calls. Despite being instructed to cease all contact on countless occasions, the Buksteins continued to contact Brodkorb until they were served with the HROs last month. Twitter accounts connected to both Kimberley and Jay Bukstein were suspended in the last year for engaging in harassment or abusive conduct toward Brodkorb.

Over the last few weeks, the emails, text messages, and phone calls from the Buksteins became more threatening and dangerous. Continue reading →

Restraining orders granted for stalking Brodkorb and Mann

February 8, 2019 Comments Off read Legal Developments, The Girls Are Gone

A judge in Dakota County granted Harassment Restraining Orders (HRO) against a zealous supporter of Dede Evavold, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, and Michelle MacDonald, for harassing and stalking Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann.

The HROs were filed separately by Brodkorb and Mann against Terry Dean Nemmers of Glenwood, Minnesota.

Over the last three years, Nemmers (pictured above during a previous time in jail) has attempted to contact Brodkorb and Mann nearly 400 times, despite being instructed on multiple occasions to cease all contact. Most recently, Nemmers has taking premeditated steps to track and monitor Brodkorb and Mann’s public events to promote their new book, The Girls Are Gone. Nemmers sent harassing and threatening emails to bookstores, trying to have Brodkorb and Mann’s book events canceled.

Nemmers has also posted pictures of Brodkorb’s wife and children – the same pictures that were surreptitiously taken of Brodkorb’s wife and children and distributed online.

The HROs – which remain in effect until February 2021 – note that Nemmers “[f]ollwed, pursued, or stalked” both Brodkorb and Mann. Nemmers is prohibited from having any direct or indirect contact with Brodkorb and Mann. He is also prohibited from attending any of their appearances or book events. Continue reading →

Judge dismisses harassment order filed against Brodkorb

November 30, 2018 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, The Girls Are Gone

A judge in Pinellas County, Florida this morning dismissed the harassment order filed by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki against Michael Brodkorb.

The Temporary Injunction for Protection Against Stalking which was served on Brodkorb in October was dismissed at a court hearing earlier today in Clearwater, Florida by Judge Christopher LaBruzzo. Grazzini-Rucki first alleged Brodkorb was harassing her in Florida just one hour after Brodkorb appeared on the radio in Minnesota with his writing partner, Allison Mann, to announce the release of their new book, The Girls Are Gone.

Brodkorb has never been to Florida, nor did he travel to Florida for the hearing. His attorney, Marie Sartiano Schoeb, filed a motion to dismiss the harassment order and argued today in court that Florida lacked “personal jurisdiction” over Brodkorb and therefore the harassment order should be dismissed.

The court agreed and the Temporary Injunction for Protection Against Stalking was dismissed. Grazzini-Rucki now resides in Clearwater, Florida and she attended today’s hearing. Brodkorb was in Minnesota and would have testified over the phone if required by the court. But the court did not need any testimony from Brodkorb to dismiss the harassment order filed by Grazzini-Rucki.

Brodkorb said today he was happy the harassment order was dismissed. “I’ve never harassed Ms. Grazzini-Rucki in any state and I’m glad the court dismissed her latest efforts to silence the media,” said Brodkorb. “I want to thank my attorney, Ms. Schoeb, for her legal analysis and counsel,” added Brodkorb.

Ms. Sartiano Schoeb is a partner at the Law Offices of Morrison & Schoeb in Tampa, Florida. Continue reading →

Judge: Evavold involved in harassment of Brodkorb’s wife and children

November 19, 2018 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments, Missing in Minnesota

A judge in Dakota County upheld the Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) granted against Dede Evavold by Michael Brodkorb and Sarah Brodkorb for Evavold’s involvement in distributing a photograph of Michael Brodkorb’s wife and minor children.

In an order released today, Judge M. Michael Baxter ruled that Evavold “was involved in the chain of events that led to repeated harassment of [Sarah Brodkorb] and her minor children.” The HRO against Evavold will remain in place until November 19, 2020.

The photograph of Ms. Brodkorb with her minor children was distributed multiple times with false allegations on a social media account connected to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and her supporters. The same social media account had been investigated by law enforcement for publishing threatening, harassing, and defamatory statements targeting judges, law enforcement, court staff, and journalists.

The HROs were filed by Michael Brodkorb and Sarah Brodkorb in August in Dakota County against Diane Ristau of Medford, Carrie Beaudette of St. Joseph, and Dede Evavold of St. Cloud.

In September, Judge Baxter upheld the HRO filed against Ristau after she requested a hearing to contest the HRO. Judge Baxter said Ristau was involved in a “conspiracy to commit harassment” when she took a picture of Ms. Brodkorb and her minor children while shopping and later distributed the picture to people connected to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and Dede Evavold. Continue reading →

Evavold belligerent and unruly in court hearing on HRO

October 29, 2018 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments, Missing in Minnesota

After a lengthy court hearing during which Evavold was continually unruly, Judge M. Michael Baxter ruled that the HRO will temporarily remain in place and he would issue an order finalizing the HRO against Evavold in the next few weeks.

The HROs were filed by Michael Brodkorb and Sarah Brodkorb in August in Dakota County against Diane Ristau of Medford, Carrie Beaudette of St. Joseph, and Dede Evavold of St. Cloud.

Last month, a judge upheld the HRO filed against Ristau after she requested a hearing to contest the HRO. Judge Baxter said Ristau was involved in a “conspiracy to commit harassment” when she took a picture of Ms. Brodkorb and her minor children while shopping and later distributed the picture to people connected to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and Dede Evavold. Continue reading →

Restraining orders granted for distributing photograph of Michael Brodkorb’s family

August 30, 2018 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments, Missing in Minnesota

A judge in Dakota County granted a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) today against three people, including Dede Evavold, for their roles in surreptitiously obtaining and later distributing a photograph of Michael Brodkorb’s wife and minor children online.

The HROs were filed by Michael Brodkorb and Sarah Brodkorb in Dakota County against Diane Ristau of Medford, Carrie Beaudette of St. Joseph, and Dede Evavold of St. Cloud.

The photograph of Ms. Brodkorb with her minor children was distributed multiple times with false allegations on a social media account connected to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and her supporters.

The same social media account had been investigated by law enforcement for publishing threatening, harassing, and defamatory statements targeting judges, law enforcement, court staff, and journalists.

The HROs remain in effect until August 30, 2020. Continue reading →

Evavold violates HRO while at court for hearing on HRO violations

October 17, 2017 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

Dede Evavold violated her probation and a Harassment Restraining Order granted by a court in Dakota County to protect David Rucki and his family from Evavold’s continued harassment when Evavold appeared at a courthouse this morning, where she was arraigned on criminal charges of violating the same Harassment Restraining Order.

Evavold was scheduled to appear at the Dakota County Western Service Center in Apple Valley this morning at 9:00 AM, to be arraigned on three criminal counts of violating a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) which was granted by a court in Dakota County in July.

Before her court hearing this morning, Evavold approached David Rucki in the hallway outside the courtroom and spoke to him.

Rucki did not respond to Evavold’s statements and walked into the courtroom.

The conditions of her probation and the HRO specifically prohibit Evavold from having any direct or indirect contact with David Rucki and other members of his family.

Law enforcement and court staff were notified of Evavold’s latest violation of her probation and HRO.

Evavold later pleaded not guilty at her arraignment and a pre-trial hearing was scheduled for January 9, 2018.

She is currently being charged with three misdemeanors and if convicted, Evavold could be sentenced up to 90 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine on each charge. Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki busted for serving booze to minors

February 2, 2022 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, who was convicted of six felonies in 2016 for her role in the disappearance of her daughters, pleaded no-contest last December to selling alcohol to someone under the age of 21 in Clearwater, Florida.

According to public court documents, Grazzini-Rucki was working at the Brown Boxer – North Beach on November 10, 2021, when she served a White Claw alcoholic beverage to a person under 21. Grazzini-Rucki admitted not to verify that the person was over 21 and was issued an ordinance violation by the Clearwater Police Department. She was ordered to pay fines and costs totaling $500.

Grazzini-Rucki moved back to Florida in 2018 while still on probation related to her criminal conviction. She has maintained a low profile, aside from random threats through social media about coming back to Minnesota. Grazzini-Rucki and her supporters have long held that she is homeless and destitute.

Still, public court documents establish her employment and list an active driver’s license, address, and phone number. Continue reading →

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

November 17, 2021 Comments Off read Media, The Girls Are Gone

The riveting episode of ABC’s “20/20” discussed in the award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone, will be broadcast tonight at 6 PM (CST) on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

The episode about Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, “Footprints in the Snow,” was first broadcast on April 8, 2016, and was later rebroadcast on March 25, 2017. The episode has since been broadcast on multiple television networks over the last three years.

Grazzini-Rucki had tried to stop the rebroadcasts 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.

In April 2017, Grazzini-Rucki announced she would be filing a defamation lawsuit against ABC, Inc, ABC’s “20/20”, and Elizabeth Vargas, the co-anchor of “20/20”. Grazzini-Rucki claimed she would be seeking “an ungodly amount” of money in her latest lawsuit, but the lawsuit was never filed. Continue reading →

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

October 24, 2021 Comments Off read Media, The Girls Are Gone

The riveting episode of ABC’s “20/20” discussed in the award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone, will be broadcast tonight at 7 PM (CST) on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN).

Michelle MacDonald’s law license ‘indefinitely’ suspended

June 30, 2021 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald’s law license was “indefinitely” suspended today by the Minnesota Supreme Court for violating rules governing licensed attorneys.

Still, she will be required to retake the portion of the bar exam on professional responsibility, pay costs of $900, and an investigation will be conducted before MacDonald’s law license is reinstated.

Today’s order suspending MacDonald’s license is a direct result of a complaint filed against MacDonald in June 2018 by Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann in response to MacDonald filing a lawsuit against Brodkorb and Missing in Minnesota. The lawsuit filed by MacDonald was dismissed in March 2019 by a judge in Ramsey County.

The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility investigated MacDonald for 21 months and requested her license be suspended.

MacDonald, who was labeled a “person of interest” in the disappearance of missing children announced in January that she will be a candidate again for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2022. Continue reading →

MacDonald announces fifth campaign for Supreme Court

January 28, 2021 Comments Off read 2022 Elections, Michelle MacDonald

Michelle MacDonald, who was labeled a “person of interest” in the disappearance of missing children and is facing discipline by the Minnesota Supreme Court, said she will be a candidate again for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2022.

MacDonald announced her campaign earlier this month during a worship service at Shiloh Temple International Ministries in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

This is MacDonald’s fifth campaign for the Minnesota Supreme Court. MacDonald was an unsuccessful candidate in 2020, having previously lost three bids for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2014, 2018, and 2018. Since 2014, MacDonald has maintained an active campaign committee and website to promote her candidacy.

MacDonald will likely face Associate Justice Gordon Moore, who was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2020. Moore has not made a formal announcement that he will seek election to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2022.

Aside from being a repeat candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court, MacDonald notes on the website for her law firm that she “aspires to be a United States Supreme Court Justice.” MacDonald asked then-President Donald Trump to nominate her to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in late-September 2020. Trump later nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ginsburg

In October 2020, a judicial referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court determined MacDonald “caused harm to both the public and legal profession” that warrant MacDonald being placed on supervised probation. Continue reading →

Court: Evavold liable for nearly $6 million in damages

January 21, 2021 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

A court in Dakota County has ruled that Dede Evavold is liable for nearly six million dollars in damages to David Rucki, and his daughters Samantha Rucki and Gianna Rucki, for Evavold’s involvement in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna.

Evavold was convicted in September 2016 of six felonies for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and her sister Gianna, who were abducted near their home in Lakeville, Minnesota, by their mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, during a custody and divorce proceeding.

In November 2017, Evavold was sued in civil court in Dakota County by David, Samantha, and Gianna, for numerous damages related to her crimes.

Judge Jerome Abrams ordered last week that Evavold “negligently and intentionally inflicted emotional distress on David Rucki, Samantha Rucki, and Gianna Rucki.” As a result, Judge Abrams awarded David, Samantha, and Gianna damages against Evavold, totaling $5,760,927.

Evavold, Grazzini-Rucki, and Doug, and Gina Dahlen were each criminally charged and convicted for their roles in Samantha and Gianna’s disappearance. A civil lawsuit filed by David, Samantha, and Gianna, against the Dahlens and their church was settled in September 2018. The terms of the settlement were not made public.

David Rucki awarded $1 million in damages for defamation by Evavold

After being released from jail, Evavold repeatedly violated the explicit terms of her probation and the HRO by continuing to reference the Rucki family in her use of social media. Evavold’s blog posted pictures of the Rucki family, their home in Lakeville, and the address to the home, in violation of the HRO and the conditions of her probation.

Judge Abrams ruled that Evavold’s post “meet the definition of defamation…” and that she wrote “or re-posted articles by others making vicious and untrue statements about David Rucki…”

David was awarded $3,379,019 in damages, of which $1 million was allocated for defamation by Evavold.

Evavold’s criminal trial scheduled for February

Aside from now being liable for over $5.7 million in damages to the Rucki family, Evavold will also be in criminal court next month.

Evavold criminal trial for violating a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) filed against her by Michael Brodkorb is scheduled for February. She was charged in May 2019 after she attempted to contact Brodkorb to restart her blog after WordPress suspended it for violating their terms of service.

Evavold is currently on probation related to her criminal conviction in 2016. A conviction in this criminal case would likely trigger a probation violation and jail time for Evavold.

The harassment by Evavold and others is detailed in the award-winning true crime book The Girls Are Gone, which was written by Brodkorb and Allison Mann.

Please follow Missing in Minnesota on Twitter and Facebook for updates on the legal developments.

Evavold’s criminal trial scheduled for February

December 17, 2020 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Legal Developments

A judge in Dakota County scheduled Dede Evavold’s criminal trial for February 22, 2021, on a criminal charge of violating a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) filed against her by Michael Brodkorb. Evavold was charged in May 2019 after she attempted to contact Brodkorb for assistance in restarting her blog after WordPress suspended it for violating their terms of service.

Judge Dannia L. Edwards denied an attempt by Evavold to have the criminal charge dismissed. In an order issued on December 2, Judge Edwards wrote: “that there is probable cause to believe that [Evavold] committed the offense and that it is fair and reasonable for [Evavold] to stand trial on the charge…”

Brodkorb was granted an HRO against Evavold in August 2018 for her involvement in surreptitiously obtaining and later distributing a photograph of Brodkorb’s wife and minor children online. Continue reading →

Sales of ‘The Girls Are Gone’ pass 30,000 copies

November 25, 2020 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann announced total sales for their award-winning book The Girls Are Gone have passed 30,000 copies across all platforms.

The best-selling true-crime book provides new details about the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki and the adults – including their mother Sandra Grazzini-Rucki – who conspired to keep the missing sisters and the truth hidden.

“As an author, knowing your words are traveling far and wide is truly incredible,” said Mann. “The Girls Are Gone is a powerful story – it is clear in the numbers that readers are connecting with this story,” added Mann.

The book examines the events which led to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki abducting her daughters on April 19, 2013, during a custody dispute with her ex-husband, 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.

Brodkorb and Mann analyzed court documents, reviewed investigative files, and conducted numerous interviews to provide a completed story about how and why two children vanished from their family and friends for 944 days. The Girls Are Gone includes interviews with members of the Rucki family, including exclusive interviews with Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

Criminal charges were filed against four people, including the girls’ mother, for their role in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters. The Girls Are Gone chronicles key events during the criminal trials of the people who were later convicted or pleaded guilty for their involvement in this heinous crime. The book examines the other adults who aided in the conspiracy to hide the truth and the Rucki sisters.

The book also discusses the connection between Michelle MacDonald, who was a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2020, and two people convicted for their roles in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters: Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and Dede Evavold. MacDonald was labeled a “person of interest” by the Lakeville Police Department in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki but did not cooperate in the investigation.

“One of our goals in writing The Girls Are Gone was to raise public awareness of the danger of children being abducted by family members,” said Brodkorb. “By methodically explaining how a deranged parent worked with strangers to hide her children from their family and friends, we hope to reduce the number of children that go missing each year,” added Brodkorb.

Since being released in October 2018, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success, with seven printings being ordered. In April 2019, Brodkorb and Allison Mann were awarded a 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award. The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone has appeared on multiple “best seller” lists by Amazon. The Girls Are Gone is published by Wise Ink Creative Publishing.

In October 2019, Brodkorb and Mann released an audiobook of The Girls Are Gone, which was produced at Studio Americana. The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in audiobook, paperback, and ebook.