Posts by Michael Brodkorb

Book event on Saturday at Barnes & Noble in St. Cloud

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will be signing their new book, The Girls Are Gone at Barnes & Noble in St. Cloud, Minnesota on Saturday from 2 PM – 4 PM.

Since being released in October, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone is currently listed on Amazon’s Best Sellers for True Crime Biographies.

St. Cloud, Minnesota is a significant location in The Girls Are Gone. On the night Sandra Grazzini-Rucki abducted her daughters, she later drove them to St. Cloud where they stayed for two nights at the home of Dede Evavold. Evavold was later convicted of six felonies for her role in the disappearance of the sisters.

Evavold’s St. Cloud home was the location of a police search that eventually led to the discovery of the Rucki sisters in Herman, Minnesota at the White Horse Ranch.

In March 2018, Evavold was arrested at her home in St. Cloud on an outstanding warrant for contempt of court related to her repeated violations of a Harassment Restraining Order.

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.

Seven-month investigation by lawyers board into MacDonald continues

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 seventh month, according to a letter from the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

The seven-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.

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

Book event at Once Upon A Crime on Saturday

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have an event for their book The Girls Are Gone at Once Upon A Crime in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Saturday, January 19, 2019, from 12 PM – 2 PM. Click here to view a list of upcoming book events.

Since being released in October, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone is currently listed on Amazon’s Best Sellers for True Crime Biographies.

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

‘The Girls Are Gone’ book event in Herman on Thursday

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will be signing their book The Girls Are Gone on Thursday from 4 PM – 6 PM at American Legion Post 378 in Herman, Minnesota.

The Girls Are Gone details the events which led to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki abducting her daughters – Samantha and Gianna Rucki – on April 19, 2013, during a custody dispute with her ex-husband, David Rucki. Continue reading

Trish Van Pilsum and missing children: how one reporter failed

On Thursday evening, news broke that 13-year old Jayme Closs had been found alive 88 days after she vanished from her home after her parents were murdered.

For 88 days, people wondered if Closs would ever be seen alive again. On the 88th day, the prayers of many were answered when Closs was found alive. A suspect in the kidnapping of Closs and the murder of her parents was also arrested.

We celebrate the return of Jayme Closs to her family and we pray for their healing and peace, as well as justice for those involved in the murder of her parents and in keeping Jayme hidden for 88 days.

The morning after Jayme was found, law enforcement had a press conference to provide updates to the public on the miraculous news. In his remarks, Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald thanked the media for their role in helping the public remember that a 13-year-old girl was missing. Continue reading

‘The Girls Are Gone’ book event scheduled in Herman

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have an event next week for their new book – The Girls Are Gone – in a key location featured in the book. Brodkorb and Mann will travel to Herman, Minnesota next week for an event on Thursday, January 17, 2019.

The Girls Are Gone details the events which led to Sandra Grazzini-Rucki abducting her daughters – Samantha and Gianna Rucki – on April 19, 2013, during a custody dispute with her ex-husband, David Rucki. Continue reading

In the news: The Matt McNeil Show

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann appeared on The Matt McNeil Show on AM950 to discuss their new best-selling book, The Girls Are Gone.

Brodkorb and Mann have announced a series of book events scheduled for later this month and February. Click here to find an event in your area.

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

Book event tonight: Barnes & Noble in Burnsville

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann will have a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville, Minnesota, TONIGHT from 7 PM – 9 PM. Click here to view a list of upcoming book events.

Since being released in October, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone is currently listed on Amazon’s Best Sellers for True Crime Biographies.

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

‘The Girls Are Gone’ podcast roundup

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann have been interviewed on numerous podcasts over the last month to discuss their new best-selling book, The Girls Are Gone.

Below are links to the interviews, which provide insight into the writing of The Girls Are Gone.

Since being released in October, The Girls Are Gone has been a commercial and critical success. The Kindle Edition of The Girls Are Gone is currently listed on Amazon’s Best Sellers for True Crime Biographies.

Less than one month after being released, Brodkorb and Mann ordered a second printing of their book.

Brodkorb and Mann will have a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville, Minnesota on January 3, 2018, from 7 PM – 9 PM. Click here to view a list of upcoming book events.

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

UPDATE: Facebook Event During Broadcast of ABC’s “20/20” Episode

UPDATE (5:31 PM, Thursday, December 27, 2018) – Our Facebook event has ended. Thank you to all that participated in the discussion. To read more about the ABC “20/20” episode broadcast today on The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), please buy the new best-selling true crime book, The Girls Are Gone. Continue reading

In the news: “A Dark Turn” with Kevin Deutsch

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann appeared on a recent podcast episode of “A Dark Turn” with Kevin Deutsch to discuss their new best-selling book, The Girls Are Gone.

Brodkorb and Mann announced last week that they will have a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville, Minnesota on January 3, 2018, from 7 PM – 9 PM.

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

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

On Thursday, December 27, 2018, at 4 PM (CST), The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) will be broadcasting the episode of ABC’s “20/20” discussed in the new best-selling true crime book,  The Girls Are Gone. Starting at 3:45 PM (CST), we’ll be answering questions and discussing the broadcast live on Facebook.

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

In the news: Corpus Delicti podcast

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann appeared on a recent podcast episode of Corpus Delicti to discuss their new best-selling book, The Girls Are Gone.

Listen to “71: The Girls Are Gone ft. Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann” on Spreaker.

Brodkorb and Mann announced yesterday that they will have a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Burnsville, Minnesota on January 3, 2018, from 7 PM – 9 PM.

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

Michelle MacDonald’s lawyer facing additional discipline

Karlowba R. Adams Powell, who serves as Michelle MacDonald’s attorney in her lawsuit against Michael Brodkorb and Missing in Minnesota, is facing new sanctions from the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Adams Powell’s law license was suspended last year for 45 days. As with MacDonald, Adams Powell is currently on probation for 2 years. Minnesota Lawyer was the first to report on the new petition filed against Adams Powell.

In the petition filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court, the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility is requesting a court order revoking Adams Powell’s probation, suspending her law license, or “imposing otherwise appropriate discipline…” based on “unprofessional conduct” by Adams Powell. Continue reading