Category Gina Dahlen

Grazzini-Rucki boasts she’s violated court orders, talked with co-defendants

January 9, 2017 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki boasted in a recent radio interview that she has violated court orders by communicating with additional people who have been criminally charged related to the disappearance of her two daughters.

On December 21, 2016, Grazzini-Rucki was interviewed by Fletcher Long for his show, “The Long Version.” During the interview, Grazzini-Rucki was asked if she had communicated with Doug and Gina Dahlen.

According to the criminal complaints filed against the Dahlens, Samantha and Gianna Rucki were delivered to the Dahlen’s residence at the White Horse Ranch in northern Minnesota on April 21, 2013 by their mother, Grazzini-Rucki and her friend, Dede Evavold.

Grazzini-Rucki was convicted in July on six counts of deprivation of parent rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters. Evavold was also found guilty in September on six counts of deprivation of parental rights.

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Additional criminal charges filed in disappearance of missing Lakeville sisters

November 22, 2016 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

The Dakota County Attorney’s Office has filed additional criminal charges against Doug and Gina Dahlen for their involvement in the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville.

Four additional felony charges of deprivation of parental rights have been filed against the Dahlens, who have now been charged with a total of six felony counts for their role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

The girls disappeared on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents.

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

According to the amended criminal complaints, Samantha and Gianna Rucki were delivered to the Dahlen’s residence at the White Horse Ranch in northern Minnesota on April 21, 2013, by the girls’ mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and her friend, Dede Evavold.

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Evavold found guilty for her role in disappearance of Rucki sisters

September 29, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Deirdre (Dede) Evavold was convicted this afternoon on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

It took the jury at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings less than an hour to convict Evavold on all criminal counts she faced.

Evavold showed no emotion when the verdict was announced, but she later broke down and started crying when Judge Karen Asphaug remanded Evavold into immediate custody.

A Dakota County Sheriff’s Deputy needed to help Evavold stand, as she was visibly shaken and distraught. Evavold was removed from the courtroom and booked into jail in Hastings.

Evavold will remain in custody without bail until her sentencing hearing on November 10, 2016.

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Grazzini-Rucki sentenced to jail for role in disappearance of daughters

September 21, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was sentenced by Judge Karen Asphaug to serve 34 days in jail and for the following six years, she will serve 15 days in jail on November 18 for the next six years – the anniversary of the day her daughters were found, for her involvement in the disappearance of her two daughters for over two years.

Grazzini-Rucki, who was immediately taken into custody, will also be on probation for the next six years, and she is prohibited from having contact with any of the victims.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty in July on six counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters ran from their home on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents. Continue reading →

How the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling helped find the Rucki sisters

September 4, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Like many of you, I was saddened to learn the news yesterday that Patty Wetterling had confirmed the body of her long-lost son, 11-year Jacob Wetterling, had been recovered.

According to media reports, Danny Heinrich, who has been labeled a “person of interest” by law enforcement in the disappearance of Jacob, led authorities to the remains of his body.

The Stearns County Sheriff’s Office confirmed last evening that Jacob’s body has been recovered, but it was Patty Wetterling’s statement earlier in the day which ended the search for her son, a search which began over 26 years ago. Continue reading →

Doug and Gina Dahlen want full immunity, testimony sealed

July 13, 2016 Comments Off read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Attorneys for Douglas and Gina Dahlen, who each have been charged with two felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, want their clients to be granted full immunity before they will allow them to testify against the girls’ mother Sandra Grazzini-Rucki in her criminal trial next week.

In a motion filed by Travis Keil, who is the attorney for Douglas Dahlen, and in a similar motion filed by Kyle White, the attorney for Douglas’ wife Gina, both attorneys want their clients to be granted “transactional immunity” instead of the “use immunity” which is currently being offered by the Dakota County Attorney’s Office.

The attorneys also raised an objection to proceeding with “use immunity” as they claim it is a violation of the Dahlens’ statutory privilege to prevent a spouse from testifying against their spouse, and also a violation of the “priest-penitent” privilege. The Dahlens claim they consulted with their pastor before allowing the sisters to stay at their ranch in Herman, Minnesota. Continue reading →

Judge denies another motion to dismiss criminal charges against Doug and Gina Dahlen

June 28, 2016 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

For the second time this month, Judge Karen Asphaug has denied a motion filed by Doug and Gina Dahlen to dismiss the criminal charges filed against them related to disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville who were found living at their ranch in northern Minnesota.

The Dahlens have each been charged with two felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who disappeared during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents on April 19, 2013.

The girls were found on November 15, 2015, and were missing for a total of 944 days.

Last week, Judge Asphaug denied a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against the Dahlen on the basis that the statutes defining deprivation of parental rights are “overbroad.”

Judge Asphaug also denied a motion to dismiss the criminal charges against the Dahlens based on their claim that the statutes defining deprivation of parental rights violates their free exercise of religion. Continue reading →

Judge denies motion to dismiss criminal charges against the Dahlens

June 15, 2016 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

Judge Karen Asphaug has denied a motion filed by Doug and Gina Dahlen to dismiss the criminal charges filed against them related to the disappearance of two sisters from Lakeville who were found living at their ranch in northern Minnesota.

The girls were found on November 15, 2015, and were missing for a total of 944 days.

The girls’ mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, has been charged with six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights. Continue reading →

Doug Dahlen’s refusal to comply with court orders forces hearing

June 8, 2016 Comments Off read Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments

A court hearing has been scheduled for next month about Doug Dahlen’s, refusal to comply with a court order to leave or cooperate in the sale of a property in northern Minnesota where two missing Lakeville sisters lived for over two years after disappearing from their home.

Doug and his third wife, Gina Dahlen, have each been charged with two felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who disappeared during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents on April 19, 2013. Continue reading →

Dahlens make offer to testify against Evavold and Grazzini-Rucki

May 24, 2016 Comments Off read Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Doug and Gina Dahlen, the owners of a ranch in northern Minnesota where two missing Lakeville sisters lived for over two years after disappearing from their home, have offered to testify against Dede Evavold and Sandra Grazzini-Rucki related to girls’ disappearance if they are granted immunity from prosecution.

The Dahlens, who own the White Horse Ranch in northern Minnesota, have each been charged with two felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who disappeared during a custody and divorce dispute involving their parents on April 19, 2013. Continue reading →