Gainesville, Mo. – The bench trial for Rebecca Ruud in the murder of her daughter begins today in Forsyth, Missouri. Ruud is charged in the death of her daughter, Savannah Leckie, in 2017. She is facing first-degree and second-degree murder charges, abuse or neglect of a child, tampering with physical evidence and abandonment of a corpse.
Savannah Leckie, age 17 at the time of her death, was given up for adoption by Ruud and spent most of her life in Minnesota until circumstances brought her back. Ruud reported Leckie missing after a fire had happened on her property, stating that she “had run away because she felt guilty over the fire”. After a few weeks of failed searching by volunteers, human remains were found in a burn pile on Ruuds property. Further investigation revealed other human remains and attempts to hide or dispose of the remains.
Robert Peat Jr., the boyfriend of Ruud at the time, is also being charged in the murder of Leckie.
The case was further delayed when Ruud later gave a box to her husband, which contained a recorder with incriminating evidence on it with a discussion between Ruud and her lawyers. The issue went to the Missouri Supreme Court where it was ruled to be admissible in court.
Multiple subpoenas were submitted by the prosecution and the defense attorney last week.
