Category Sandra Grazzini-Rucki

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki files fraudulent harassment order to prevent media coverage

Comments Off on Sandra Grazzini-Rucki files fraudulent harassment order to prevent media coverage read Analysis, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki files fraudulent harassment order to prevent media coverage

Earlier this afternoon, a Dakota County Deputy Sheriff served me with a harassment restraining order that was granted by Judge John McBride in Washington County at the request of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, who was convicted of six felony counts in July for deprivations of parental rights.

It is my belief that Grazzini-Rucki filed the fraudulent petition to prevent me from continuing to report on the legal developments in her criminal trial and others who have been criminally charged related to the disappearance Grazzini-Rucki’s children.

Today’s development is another sad example of Grazzini-Rucki’s documented behavior of using the court process to make false allegations against people she does not like.

During her criminal trial in July, Grazzini-Rucki admitted in testimony that she had repeatedly been “dishonest” when she previously testified under oath in her divorce and custody proceeding.  Continue reading →

How the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling helped find the Rucki sisters

Comments Off on How the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling helped find the Rucki sisters read Analysis, Deirdre Evavold, Douglas Dahlen, Gina Dahlen, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
How the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling helped find the Rucki sisters

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 →

Court allows audio and video coverage of Grazzini-Rucki’s sentencing hearing

Comments Off on Court allows audio and video coverage of Grazzini-Rucki’s sentencing hearing read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Court allows audio and video coverage of Grazzini-Rucki’s sentencing hearing

Judge Karen Asphaug has granted a request to allow audio and video coverage of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s upcoming sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for September 21, 2016.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty last month on six felony 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.

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 – 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. Rucki was reunited with his daughters days after they were found and they live with him at the family’s home in Lakeville.

According to Judge Asphaug’s order, there will be “no audio or video coverage of any victim testimony given during the proceedings.” Judge Apshaug’s order also states that any “audio/video coverage shall be limited to the proceedings conducted within the courtroom…”

Audio or video coverage is also “is prohibited during recesses or at any other time the trial judge is not present and presiding” and any audio or video coverage “shall not extend to activities occurring in other areas of the court building.” Continue reading →

Attorney: Grazzini-Rucki used donated ‘food stamp cards’ for bail

Comments Off on Attorney: Grazzini-Rucki used donated ‘food stamp cards’ for bail read Analysis, Legal Developments, Michelle MacDonald, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Attorney: Grazzini-Rucki used donated ‘food stamp cards’ for bail

UPDATE: (8:00 PM, Monday, August 3, 2016) – When asked to comment on the statements from Gary Mogen, who posted the $50,000 bond for Grazzini-Rucki, MacDonald wrote: “it is what it is.” MacDonald added that as the bail bondsman, Mogen “is not concerned with how the cash is raised.”

____________________

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was able to post her $50,000 bail within hours of being convicted of six felonies for deprivation of parental rights, by using donated “food stamp cards” according to her attorney, Michelle MacDonald.

Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty last week on six felony 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 Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki. Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki found guilty of hiding children

Comments Off on Sandra Grazzini-Rucki found guilty of hiding children read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki found guilty of hiding children

UPDATE (5:15 PM, Thursday, July 28, 2016): Sandra Grazzini-Rucki posted bail earlier this afternoon and was released from jail. Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for September 21, 2016.

__________

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty this morning on six counts of deprivation of parental rights related to the disappearance of her daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The sisters were taken near their home on April 19, 2013, during a custody and divorce proceeding involving their parents.

Grazzini-Rucki was found not guilty on two additional counts.

David Rucki, the girls’ father, was in the courtroom when the verdicts were announced. Grazzini-Rucki showed no emotion as each of the verdicts were read in the courtroom. Two supporters of Grazzini-Rucki were in the courtroom when the verdicts were announced, Michael Rhedin and Caroline Rice. Neither of them showed emotion when the verdicts were announced. Continue reading →

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki admits past testimony in court was “dishonest”

Comments Off on Sandra Grazzini-Rucki admits past testimony in court was “dishonest” read Analysis, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki admits past testimony in court was “dishonest”

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki admitted in testimony this morning during her criminal trial that she had repeatedly been “dishonest” when she previously testified under oath in her divorce and custody proceeding with her ex-husband, David Rucki.

Grazzini-Rucki has been charged with eight felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving 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.

While being cross-examined yesterday by Assistant Dakota County Attorney Kathryn Keena, Grazzini-Rucki read transcripts of her “dishonest” answers to numerous questions in court proceedings where she claimed she did not know the location of her missing daughters. Continue reading →

Interview: “The Matt McNeil Show” on first week of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki trial

Comments Off on Interview: “The Matt McNeil Show” on first week of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki trial read Media, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Interview: “The Matt McNeil Show” on first week of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki trial

Below is audio from my interview with Matt McNeil yesterday on AM950 about the first week of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial in Hastings.

[The Matt McNeil Show] Michael Brodkorb – Grazzini Rucki Trial Week #1 by AM950’s Podcasts

Michael Brodkorb joins the Matt McNeil Show to fill us in on what’s been happening during the first week of the Grazzini Rucki trial.

Please check back to Missing in Minnesota on Monday for additional developments involving Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial.

—

Learn the full details of this shocking true crime story by reading the award-winning book The Girls Are Gone which is available for sale through numerous retailers in both paperback and ebook.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial to resume on Monday

Comments Off on Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial to resume on Monday read Analysis, Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial to resume on Monday

The first week of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial has ended at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. I have been in the court for the entire trial over the past four days, and I’ve been present longer than any other member of the media who are covering the trial.

I am taking detailed notes of every legal development, along with documenting the atmosphere in the courtroom and the behavior of the key participants. The current estimate from the judge is that the jury will begin deliberating on the facts of the case on Tuesday. Continue reading →

Rucki daughters subpoenaed by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to testify in court

Comments Off on Rucki daughters subpoenaed by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to testify in court read Legal Developments, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki
Rucki daughters subpoenaed by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to testify in court

The third day of Sandra Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal trial on eight counts of deprivation of parental rights continued this morning at the Dakota County Judicial Center in Hastings. Grazzini-Ricki has been charged related to the disappearance of her two daughters, Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who ran from their home in Lakeville on April 19, 2013. Continue reading →