Sandra Grazzini-Rucki was released from jail early this morning, finishing the first portion of her jail sentence which will continue over the next six years. But just hours after being released from jail today, Grazzini-Rucki wasted no time to start engaging in bizarre and threatening behavior.
As I left the Dakota County Northern Service Center in West St. Paul this morning around 8:15 AM, I was shocked to find Grazzini-Rucki standing by my car, taking notes. I got into my car to leave, but Grazzini-Rucki then walked around to the back of my car and continued to take more notes. I stepped out of my car, as Grazzini-Rucki was blocking my car and asked her, “can I help you with something?” Grazzini-Rucki said no and she walked back to a waiting vehicle.
Confusion over Grazzini-Rucki’s release from jail
The tentative release date for Grazzini-Rucki’s release from jail was today, but the Victim Information Notification Everyday (VINE) system failed to send an alert that Grazzini-Rucki had been released. The online inmate search for Dakota County incorrectly listed Grazzini-Rucki as an inmate this morning even hours after she had been released from jail.
This is why I was so shocked to see Grazzini-Rucki standing by my car this morning, as I had not received a VINE alert announced Grazzini-Rucki had been released, and Dakota County still listed Grazzini-Rucki as an inmate on their website.
The VINE alert announcing that Grazzini-Rucki had been released from jail was not sent out until 10:57AM, 4 hours after Grazzini-Rucki left jail. The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office said this morning that a “glitch” delayed the public notification of her release from jail.
Rucki family concerned for their safety
In July, Grazzini-Rucki was found guilty on six counts of deprivation of parental rights for her role in 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.
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 – 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.
In an interview this morning, a member of the Rucki family expressed concerned for their safety based on Grazzini-Rucki’s past behavior, and also because of comments made by Grazzini-Rucki’s attorney which forewarned trouble ahead from Grazzini-Rucki.
Earlier this month, Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal defense attorney issued a blunt warning which said his client has “no intentions to comply with probation,” after her request was denied by a judge which would have allowed Grazzini-Rucki to serve more time in jail instead of probation.
Judge Karen Asphaug denied a request by Sandra Grazzini-Rucki to serve her full sentence in prison, which would have allowed Grazzini-Rucki to avoid being on probation for the next six years. Grazzini-Rucki made the request to execute her sentence within hours of her sentencing hearing on September 21, 2016.
Stephen Grigsby, Grazzini-Rucki’s criminal defense was quoted by the Star Tribune earlier this month saying that “[Grazzini-Rucki] has no intentions to comply with probation.”
What will do Grazzini-Rucki now that she is out of jail?
The concern for the Rucki family, but also the general public, is what will Grazzini-Rucki do to violate the conditions of her parole now that she has been released from jail?
According to the sentencing order signed by Judge Asphaug on September 21, 2016, Grazzini-Rucki must comply with certain conditions, which include:
- No contact with victims, David Rucki or Dr. Tammy Love.
- No Threatening or Assaultive Behavior, specifically no harassing behavior toward David Rucki or Dr. Tammy Love.
- Do not posses firearms, ammunition or explosives.
- Follow all State and Federal criminal laws.
- Cooperate with the search of your person, residence, vehicle, workplace, property, and things as directed by your probation officer.
- Give a DNA sample as directed
Starting in 2017, Grazzini-Rucki will begin serving 15 days in jail on November 18 – the anniversary of the day her daughters were found – for the next six years. Grazzini-Rucki must also serve 12 days of Sentencing of Service for the next six years.
Grazzini-Rucki will also pay $10,000 to the Minnesota Crime Victims Reparations Board. She must also pay two fines of $944, which represents the 944 days her daughters were missing.
Below is the full sentencing order for Grazzini-Rucki.
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Sandra Grazzini-Rucki Sentencing Order – September 21, 2016 by Michael Brodkorb on Scribd
