Posts by Michael Brodkorb

Court: Grazzini-Rucki is ‘voluntarily unemployed’ and can pay child support

June 19, 2019 Comments Off read David Rucki, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

The Minnesota Court of Appeals released an opinion this week affirming previous court orders which determined that Sandra Grazzini-Rucki is “voluntarily unemployed” and she can pay $215 per month to support her minor children. Grazzini-Rucki had appealed multiple court orders from 2018 involving the divorce proceedings with her ex-husband, David Rucki.

Grazzini-Rucki was convicted in 2016 on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters – Samantha and Gianna Rucki. Grazzini-Rucki hasn’t made any child support payments since 2015 to support her other minor children.

The opinion released Monday from the Minnesota Court of Appeals highlighted what other courts have documented: Grazzini-Rucki doesn’t follow court orders, she “wrongfully disseminating [David Rucki’s] financial information,” and she committed “fraud” in other court proceedings.

Continue reading →

Book event on Saturday at Paperbacks and Pieces in Winona

June 19, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will discuss and sign their award-winning book The Girls Are Gone at Paperbacks and Pieces in Winona, Minnesota on Saturday, June 22, 2019, from 12 PM – 2 PM.

Since being released The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. In April, Brodkorb and Allison Mann were awarded a 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award. Brodkorb and Mann announced in March that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 30 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced later in the coming weeks.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

Book event on Friday at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville

June 11, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will discuss and sign their award-winning book The Girls Are Gone at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville, Minnesota on Friday, June 14, 2019, from 3 PM – 6 PM.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 30 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced later this week.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

Book event on Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Roseville

June 5, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will discuss and sign their award-winning book The Girls Are Gone at Barnes & Noble in Roseville, Minnesota on Sunday, June 9, 2019, from 11 PM – 2 PM.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 30 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced later this week.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

Another restraining order granted against Kimberley and Jay Bukstein

May 10, 2019 Comments Off read Kimberley and Jay Bukstein, Legal Developments

A judge in Washington County granted a Harassment Restraining Order (HRO) against two supporters of Dede Evavold, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, and Michelle MacDonald for harassing an attorney for Michael Brodkorb and Missing in Minnesota.

Nathan Hansen filed for HRO against Kimberley Bukstein and her husband, Jay Bukstein, who reside together in St. Paul, Minnesota. Hansen has served as Brodkorb’s attorney regarding numerous HROs, including two filed against Kimberley and Jay Bukstein.

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 award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone, which was written by Brodkorb and Allison Mann. Continue reading →

In the news: ‘The Girls Are Gone’ authors visiting Sweet Reads

May 8, 2019 Comments Off read Media, The Girls Are Gone

Please read this story from the Austin Daily Herald about Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann’s upcoming book event at Sweet Reads Books in Austin, Minnesota on Saturday, May 11, 2019, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM.

“Two girls are abducted from their home

The search drags on for two years as their father never gave up the search for his children. In those years, a conspiracy is unraveled by law enforcement, ultimately ending with the arrest of their mother, along with three other people, after the girls are found alive on a horse ranch in a dramatic turn that could only be found in a New York Times best selling crime-thriller.

But, this isn’t the plot of any work of fiction. Instead, it’s a non-fiction telling of the events surrounding the abduction of Samantha and Gianna Rucki on April 19, 2013.

Allison Mann and Michael Brodkorb, the authors of the book ‘The Girls Are Gone,’ will be talking about the book and the case from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday at Sweet Reads.

Mann and Brodkorb, who come from two different backgrounds, give perspectives of both a participant and reporter involved in the events as they unfolded.

Mann worked as a paralegal in the law firm that represented the father of the two girls, David Rucki, while Brodkorb was an online reporter for the StarTribune, writing several stories between the time the girls went missing to when they were located on Nov. 18, 2015, on a ranch in northern Minnesota.

“What makes it such an important story is unfortunately, it can happen anywhere,” Brodkrob said.

Click here to read the full story from the Austin Daily Herald.

Since being released The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. Earlier this month, Brodkorb and Allison Mann were awarded a 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award. Brodkorb and Mann announced last month that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at nearly 30 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced in the next week.

In the news: Brodkorb and Mann interview on KARE 11

April 28, 2019 Comments Off read Media, Missing in Minnesota, The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann appeared on KARE 11 on Saturday about their award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone. Below is their full interview.

Brodkorb and Mann will discuss and sign their book on Monday at Artisan Gallery in West Des Moines, Iowa from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM. More book events will be announced in the next week.

Brodkorb and Mann on KARE 11 on Saturday morning

April 25, 2019 Comments Off read Media, The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will be on KARE 11 on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at 9:45 AM to discuss their award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone.

After their appearance on KARE 11, Brodkorb and Mann will travel to Duluth, Minnesota for a book event at The Bookstore at Fitger’s from 1 to 4 PM.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at nearly 30 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced in the next week.

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

April 23, 2019 Comments Off read Media, The Girls Are Gone

Tomorrow, April 24, 2019, at 9 AM (CST), Investigative Discovery (ID) will be broadcasting the episode of ABC’s “20/20” discussed in the award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone.

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

Upcoming book events in Minnesota and Iowa

April 22, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have events in the coming week at bookstores in Minnesota and Iowa for their award-winning true crime book, The Girls Are Gone.

Saturday, April 27, 2019, The Bookstore at Fitger’s in Duluth, Minnesota from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM.
Monday, April 29, 2019, Artisan Gallery in West Des Moines, Iowa from 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM.

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.

Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 25 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events will be announced in the next week.

Ten-month investigation by lawyers board into MacDonald continues

April 17, 2019 Comments Off read Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald

The Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility’s investigation into alleged violations by Michelle MacDonald of the Minnesota Rules of Professional Conduct governing licensed attorneys has entered its tenth month, according to a letter from the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

The ten-month investigation into the alleged violations by MacDonald was opened after Missing in Minnesota filed a formal complaint with the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility in June after MacDonald filed a “frivolous and vexatious” lawsuit against Missing in Minnesota, which appears to be in violation of an Order of the Minnesota Supreme Court which details the conditions by which MacDonald is allowed to practice law.

The lawsuit filed by MacDonald against Missing in Minnesota was dismissed last month by a judge in Ramsey County.

MacDonald was an unsuccessful candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2018, having previously lost two bids for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2014 and 2016. Continue reading →

‘The Girls Are Gone’ wins Independent Publisher Book Award

April 11, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann have been awarded a 2019 Independent Publisher Book Award in True Crime for their book The Girls Are Gone. The gold medal win was announced yesterday.

The Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPYs) are one of “the oldest, most established independent book awards in operation” and have been awarded annually for over 20 years. The IPPYs “reward those who exhibit the courage, innovation, and creativity to bring about change in the world of publishing.” The judging criteria for IPPY Awards “is based on quality of content, originality, design, and production with an emphasis on innovation and social relevance.”

Published by Wise Ink Creative Publishing, The Girls Are Gone was released on October 23, 2018. The book provides new details about the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki and the adults who conspired to keep the missing sisters and the truth hidden.

Since being released The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. Brodkorb and Mann announced last month that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone has appeared on multiple “best seller” lists by Amazon. Brodkorb and Mann have appeared at over 25 events for their book in the last few months, and more book events in Minnesota and other states will be announced in the next week.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

The 23rd Annual IPPY Awards ceremony will be held in New York City on May 28, 2019.

Book event on Saturday at Barnes & Noble in Woodbury

April 10, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Woodbury, Minnesota on Saturday, April 13, 2019, from 1 PM – 3 PM.

Since being released last October, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. 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.

Brodkorb and Mann announced last month that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook. Click here to view a list of upcoming book events for Brodkorb and Mann.

Three upcoming book events across Minnesota

April 4, 2019 Comments Off read The Girls Are Gone

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have events in the coming days at bookstores across Minnesota for their new best-selling true crime book, The Girls Are Gone.

Saturday, April 6, 2019, Fair Trade Books in Red Wing, Minnesota from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Sunday, April 7, 2019, Barnes & Noble in Minnetonka, Minnesota from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM.
Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Zenith Bookstore in Duluth, Minnesota from 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM.

Brodkorb and Mann announced last month that the third printing of their book had been ordered.

The Girls Are Gone is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook. Click here to view a list of upcoming book events for Brodkorb and Mann.

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 →