Category Legal Developments

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki released from prison today after serving 240 days

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki released from prison today after serving 240 days

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was released today from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee, after serving a total of 240 days for her 2016 conviction on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters.

Grazzini-Rucki served the final 14 days of her sentence of in Shakopee, but she served the bulk of her sentence at the Ramsey County Jail while awaiting her criminal trial.

According to Stearns County Community Corrections, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki will be living at an address in Stearns County while she is on supervised probation. Her scheduled end date of probation is September 13, 2018, and Grazzini-Rucki will be prohibited from leaving Minnesota to live at her home in Clearwater, Florida.

But in a jailhouse video from April 5, 2018,  Grazzini-Rucki brazenly declared that if she is ordered to stay in Minnesota, she will leave. “It wouldn’t matter anyway; I’d fucking leave anyway,” said Grazzini-Rucki. [WARNING: Video contains strong language.]

Grazzini-Rucki has no known relatives that live in Stearns County, but a small number of her remaining supporters live in the area. Continue reading →

Busted: Grazzini-Rucki reacts to being caught in lie about being homeless

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Busted: Grazzini-Rucki reacts to being caught in lie about being homeless

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki becomes enraged during a jailhouse video call after she learns that she has been caught by Missing in Minnesota in a lie about being homeless.

In the 39-minute video recorded on April 9, 2018, while she was in custody at the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida, Grazzini-Rucki is informed by her friend Dennis Campbell that he just spoke with Missing in Minnesota and confirmed he met Grazzini-Rucki “on the beach” in Florida.

Grazzini-Rucki is visibility upset with Campbell’s admission, and she asks him what he said because “now we need to do damage control.”

As previously reported by Missing in Minnesota, Grazzini-Rucki falsely told law enforcement at Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Clearwater, Florida that she was homeless despite living in a nearby waterfront estate community.

Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki re-sentenced; will serve 14 additional days in prison

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki re-sentenced; will serve 14 additional days in prison

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki executed the remainder of her jail sentence at a court hearing this morning at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, Minnesota. Grazzini-Rucki received credit for serving 226 days in jail and will serve the balance of her sentence – 14 days – at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee.

Grazzini-Rucki will remain on supervised release for an additional 4 1/2 months after she finishes her sentence.

The court hearing was momentarily delayed because Grazzini-Rucki refused to walk from the jail facility to the courtroom. She was placed in a wheelchair and transported to a holding cell near the courtroom.

Nearly 45 minutes after the hearing was scheduled to start, Grazzini-Rucki walked briskly into the courtroom smiling, without the assistance of a wheelchair.

Through her public defender, Scott Baker, Grazzini-Rucki claimed she suffered injuries during her transport from a jail in Florida to Minnesota. Grazzini-Rucki claimed she suffered a broken nose, a concussion, and injured her neck, and back. She also claimed she suffered a spinal cord injury.

Her attorney said he had no records to confirm Grazzini-Rucki’s claims. She requested to be immediately released from custody.

This request was denied, by Judge Terrence E. Conkel.

Assistant Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena said she had no information to validate Grazzini-Rucki’s claims of being injured while en route to Minnesota.

Keena said Grazzini-Rucki did not appear injured when she walked into the courtroom. She added that Grazzini-Rucki is prone to “exaggerating.”

Once Grazzini-Rucki entered the courtroom, the hearing lasted approximately 10 minutes. Grazzini-Rucki declined to make any statement to the court prior to being sentenced.

Unlike previous court hearings, Grazzini-Rucki had no supporters in the courtroom.
Continue reading →

UPDATE: Sandra Grazzini-Rucki back in jail in Minnesota

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UPDATE: Sandra Grazzini-Rucki back in jail in Minnesota

UPDATE (12:30 PM, Monday, April 23, 2018) – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki had a brief court appearance this morning at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, Minnesota. Grazzini-Rucki is being held without bail pending her next court appearance, scheduled for Friday at 9 AM. Grazzini-Rucki has applied to be represented by a public defender, despite living in a waterfront estate community in Clearwater, Florida. Stay tuned for updates. Continue reading →

Dede Evavold creates confusion over jail sentence

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Dede Evavold creates confusion over jail sentence

Dede Evavold was not required to report to jail today, despite Evavold herself publishing documents which claimed she was scheduled to serve 15 days in jail starting on April 19, 2018, and continuing each April 19 until 2023.

Evavold created the confusion last year when she published documents which detailed her scheduled for reporting to jail for the next six years related to her felony convictions for her role in the disappearance of Samantha Rucki and her sister Gianna, who were abducted near their home on Lakeville by their mother Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, during a custody and divorce proceeding.

After reviewing court documents which conflicted with Evavold’s claims, court staff at the Dakota County Judicial Center was able to verify that the information posted by Evavold was incorrect and she was not required to report to jail today.

Dede Evavold (in white) sits in the front row of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee next to Michelle MacDonald (in red) on April 17, 2018.
Dede Evavold (in white) sits in the front row of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee next to Michelle MacDonald (in red) on April 17, 2018.

In a bizarre unrelated development, Evavold attended a public committee hearing of the Minnesota Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this week. Evavold was seen on public television sitting and chatting with Michelle MacDonald, who is Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney.

Evavold served as MacDonald’s campaign chair and manager during MacDonald’s unsuccessful bid for the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2014.

MacDonald’s law license was “conditionally reinstated” in the last few weeks by the Minnesota Supreme Court after her license was suspended related to her conduct while serving as Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney and her legal representation of Joseph Francis D’Costa. Continue reading →

‘Homeless’ and ‘penniless’ Sandra Grazzini-Rucki signed a lease to live at Florida condominium

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‘Homeless’ and ‘penniless’ Sandra Grazzini-Rucki signed a lease to live at Florida condominium

Despite repeated claims that she is “homeless” and “penniless”, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki signed a lease in March 2016 to live at a waterfront estate community in Clearwater, Florida, according to the owner of the condominium where she has been living.

Staff at the office which manages of the waterfront estate community also confirmed yesterday that Grazzini-Rucki was living in a condominium on the property and was seen by staff within the last month.

Missing in Minnesota published information in January based on public records which showed that a person named “Jaclyn Auld” with the same birthday as Grazzini-Rucki was residing with John “Jack” Auld in Clearwater, Florida.

After a warrant was issued for her arrest on March 26, 2018, Grazzini-Rucki turned herself in at approximately 9:00 PM the following evening at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office which is located just seven miles away from her home in Clearwater, Florida.

According to public court documents and staff at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Grazzini-Rucki falsely claimed she was homeless when being booked into custody.

Picture source: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Picture source: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

Over the last few days, Missing in Minnesota worked to provide additional evidence to refute claims made by Grazzini-Rucki and her attorneys and supporters that Grazzini-Rucki is homeless. Supporters of Grazzini-Rucki have gone so far as to claim that Grazzini-Rucki “relies on couch surfing” and eats “cold cans of Spaghetti-O’s in order to survive.”

In fact, yesterday morning while Missing in Minnesota was working to confirm additional details about Grazzini-Rucki’s lease for her condominium in Clearwater, Florida, a supporter of Grazzini-Rucki and self-described “investigative reporter” posted a blog story which falsely claimed she was “rendered homeless” and living “on the street” in Florida.

Michelle MacDonald claimed in an affidavit filed with the Minnesota Supreme Court last September that Grazzini-Rucki was “homeless.” MacDonald’s law license was suspended for 60 days in part for her misrepresenting facts while serving as Grazzini-Rucki’s family court attorney.

For nearly six years Grazzini-Rucki has falsely claimed she is homeless and destitute in an attempt to manipulate public opinion and the legal system.

In reality, Grazzini-Rucki had access to over $2 million from her family in the last eight years, and the total amount of her current net worth is unknown.

Grazzini-Rucki’s false claims of homelessness are part of a documented pattern of lies from Grazzini-Rucki, who admitted during her criminal trial that she had repeatedly been “dishonest” in previous court hearings.

But as Grazzini-Rucki sits in jail in Clearwater, Florida, awaiting transport back to Minnesota, further confirmation that she has not been “homeless” could have serious ramifications when Grazzini-Rucki eventually appears again in a courtroom in Dakota County. Continue reading →

Michelle MacDonald’s law license ‘conditionally reinstated’

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Michelle MacDonald’s law license ‘conditionally reinstated’

Michelle MacDonald’s law license has been “conditionally reinstated” by the Minnesota Supreme Court effective today subject to her completion of the written portion of the Bar exam “on the subject of professional responsibility…”

MacDonald will remain on supervised probation for two years with numerous conditions limiting her practice of law.

MacDonald has until January 17, 2019, to provide verification that she has completed the written portion of the Bar exam “on the subject of professional responsibility…” or she will be automatically re-suspended “pending proof of successful completion of the examination…”

A judicial referee appointed by the Minnesota Supreme Court recommended last year that MacDonald’s law license be suspended for a minimum of 60 days, followed by two years of probation, in response to an attorney complaint filed against MacDonald in August 2016.

The conditions of MacDonald’s two-year probation include that she will be supervised by an attorney appointed by the Director of the Office of Lawyers Professional Responsibility.

MacDonald is prohibited from engaging in “the solo practice of law,” and she must “work in a setting where she is in daily contact with, and under the direct supervision of another Minnesota licensed attorney.” Continue reading →

Grazzini-Rucki falsely claimed she was homeless when jailed in Florida

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Grazzini-Rucki falsely claimed she was homeless when jailed in Florida

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki falsely told law enforcement at Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Clearwater, Florida that she was homeless despite living in a nearby waterfront estate community.

After a warrant was issued for her arrest Monday, Grazzini-Rucki turned herself in at approximately 9:00 PM on Tuesday evening at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office which is located just seven miles away from her home in Clearwater, Florida

Picture source: Pinellas County Sheriff's Office
Picture source: Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

According to public court documents and staff at the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, Grazzini-Rucki claimed she was homeless when being booked into custody.

Grazzini-Rucki had her first appearance yesterday at 1:30 PM at the Pinellas County Justice Center in Clearwater, Florida.

In July 2016, Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters.

The girls’ father, David Rucki, was awarded full custody of all five of his children in November 2013, while two of his daughters remained missing.

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

The Rucki sisters were missing for a total of 944 days and were reunited with their father days after they were found.

They continue to live with their father and other siblings at the family’s home in Lakeville. Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki in custody in Florida

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki in custody in Florida

UPDATE (10:30 AM, Thursday, March 29, 2018) – According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Clearwater, Florida, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki remains in custody. Grazzini-Rucki will be transferred back to Minnesota, but there is no public information at this time as to when she will appear in Minnesota to be re-sentenced. Stay tuned for updates.

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UPDATE (8:44 AM, Wednesday, March 28, 2018) – According to the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office in Clearwater, Florida, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was booked into custody at 9:26 PM EST.

There is no information at this time as to when she will be transported back to Minnesota. Stay tuned for updates.

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UPDATE (5:52 AM, Wednesday, March 28, 2018) – Sandra Grazzini-Rucki is in custody at the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida, after a warrant was issued for her arrest when she failed to appear at her re-sentencing hearing on Monday related to her 2016 conviction on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters.

According to the jail roster, Grazzini-Rucki was booked into the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida late last evening.

No other information is available at this time as to how Grazzini-Rucki was apprehended by law enforcement in Florida.

The girls’ father, David Rucki, was awarded full custody of all five of his children in November 2013, while two of his daughters remained missing.

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

The Rucki sisters were missing for a total of 944 days and were reunited with their father days after they were found.

They continue to live with their father and other siblings at the family’s home in Lakeville.

‘Homeless’ Sandra Grazzini-Rucki using an alias and living in waterfront estate community in Florida

SandraGrazziniRuckiJackAuldIn January, Missing in Minnesota published information based on public records which showed that a person named “Jaclyn Auld” with the same birthday as Grazzini-Rucki was residing with Jack Auld in Clearwater, Florida.

Grazzini-Rucki’s address was also recently updated in the public court file to Auld’s Florida home after court documents sent to Grazzini-Rucki’s previous mailing address were returned to the court by the United States Postal Service (USPS) with Grazzini-Rucki’s new Florida address.

Grazzini-Rucki had been using the residential address of her family court attorney Michelle MacDonald as her mailing address. Based on records with the USPS, the mail forwarding service expired on December 14, 2017.

Auld was with Grazzini-Rucki at the Star Island Resort and Club in Kissimmee, Florida on October 18, 2015, when she was located by the United States Marshals Service a month before Samantha and Gianna Rucki were found.

Mr. Auld had reportedly cooperated with law enforcement and helped lead them to Grazzini-Rucki.

Auld has described Grazzini-Rucki as his “best friend” and “soul mate.”

Follow Missing in Minnesota on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news on Grazzini-Rucki’s next court appearance in Minnesota.

Allison Mann contributed to this story.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to be re-sentenced tomorrow

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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to be re-sentenced tomorrow

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki will be re-sentenced tomorrow after the Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled Grazzini-Rucki could execute the remainder of her criminal sentence.

She later appealed her criminal conviction to the Minnesota Supreme Court, but the court rejected her petition.

Grazzini-Rucki will appear in court tomorrow at 9:00 AM at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, Minnesota.

In July 2016, Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in the disappearance of her daughters.

The girls’ father, David Rucki, was awarded full custody of all five of his children in November 2013, while two of his daughters remained missing.

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

The Rucki sisters were missing for a total of 944 days and were reunited with their father days after they were found. They continue to live with their father and other siblings at the family’s home in Lakeville.

Since being convicted in July 2016 on six felony counts of deprivation of parental rights, Grazzini-Rucki, and her supporters have continued their behavior of making false allegations against David Rucki, his family, the media, law enforcement, and the judiciary.

Her disdain for law enforcement and the court system has become more flagrant, her rhetoric more incendiary, and her behavior increasingly dangerous.

Grazzini-Rucki is currently on probation for her role in the disappearance of her children, which she has repeatedly violated. Last March, Grazzini-Rucki announced that she and others would be targeting the family members of judges, attorneys, and county staff, including their children. Continue reading →

Court orders Dede Evavold to remain in jail overnight

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Court orders Dede Evavold to remain in jail overnight

Dede Evavold will be held in jail overnight until a court hearing tomorrow after a judge in Dakota County declined to release Evavold after she appeared in court this morning for her first hearing after being arrested on Sunday on an outstanding warrant.

The warrant was issued after Evavold ignored a previous court order issued by Judge Kathleen Gearin which ordered Evavold to “remove ALL blogs/postings, social media postings, or internet postings” about David Rucki, his children, and other members of the Rucki family which violate a Harassment Restraining Order.

During the brief bail hearing at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings, Evavold argued with Judge Christopher J. Lehmann, demanding that she be released on her own recognizance.

DarinEvavoldDakotaCounty03202018CropSmallerJust after 10:15 AM, Dede’s husband Darin Evavold, arrived at the courthouse with a laptop and went into the courtroom.

During the hearing, with his wife behind security glass, Darin stood up and frantically waved the laptop in an attempt to show they were working to comply with Judge Gearin’s order.

Darin Evavold admitted that Dede has not yet fully complied with Judge Gearin’s order, which was issued on March 1, 2018.

Both Dede and Darin Evavold were visibly angry at the conclusion of the court hearing.

Darin Evavold later left the courthouse with the laptop and yelled across the parking lot while he was photographed by media walking to his car.

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

Since her release from jail in January 2017, Evavold has repeatedly ignored the conditions of her probation and court orders by making repeated references to the Rucki family in her use of social media.

Continue reading →

Court orders arrest warrant be issued for Dede Evavold

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Court orders arrest warrant be issued for Dede Evavold

A judge in Dakota County has ordered that a warrant be issued “immediately” for the arrest and detention  of Dede Evavold after she ignored a previous court order from March 1, 2018, which ordered Evavold to “remove ALL blogs/postings, social media postings, or internet postings” about David Rucki, his children, and other members of the Rucki family which violate a Harassment Restraining Order.

Judge Kathleen Gearin ordered Evavold to remove the content by 9:00 AM on March 9, 2018, or report to jail in Dakota County.

As of 9:00 AM on March 9, Evavold had not removed the content, nor had she reported to jail in Dakota County, as ordered by Judge Kathleen Gearin.

Not only did Evavold ignore a court order to “remove ALL” posts about the Rucki family from her blog and social media accounts, but she also published new material on March 9.

After Evavold missed the 9:00 AM deadline detailed in Judge Gearin’s order, the attorney for the Rucki family, Lisa Elliott, filed an Affidavit of Non-Compliance with the court because Evavold did not comply with Judge Gearin’s order.

Elliott also requested that a warrant be immediately issued for Evavold’s arrest for failure to comply with Judge Gearin’s order.

Judge Gearin signed the order that an arrest warrant be issued for Evavold yesterday afternoon.

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