The son of a Hennepin County corrections officer has been charged with a felony for property damage at the Farmington home of the father of two missing sisters who disappeared in 2013. Zachary Rhedin of Burnsville was charged with one count of felony property damage from an incident on August 4, 2013 at the home of David Rucki in Farmington.
David is the father of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, who disappeared April 19, 2013 when the girls ran from their home in Lakeville during a divorce dispute involving their parents. David Rucki, was awarded custody of all five of his children in November 2013.
Zachary Rhedin is the son of Michael Rhedin, who Lakeville police consider a "person of interest" in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianni.
Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, the mother of Samantha and Gianna, is considered a "person of interest" by Lakeville police involving the disappearance of her two missing teenage daughters. Lakeville police also want to speak with two other people about the missing sisters, including Grazzini-Rucki's attorney Michelle MacDonald.
According to a complaint filed in Dakota County, David Rucki contacted Lakeville police to report tires on two of his vehicles had been punctured and the service door on his garage had been forced open. Three of the four tires of one vehicle parked in the driveway were punctured and all four tires of another car parked in the garage were "slashed." A digital radio had also been "torn from the dashboard."
David Rucki had previously installed surveillance cameras and "video footage showed a single white male entering the yard" of David Rucki's Farmington home at 5:28:32 AM on August 4, 2013. The complaint states the male was carrying a knife and "wearing clothing and boots that are associated with the military."
The case was investigated, but police were unable to determine which of Michael Rhedin's children were seen on video, as two of his adult sons have served in the military.
The break in the investigation came on January 25, 2015, when Michael Rhedin called the Lakeville police to discuss issues related to the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. After Michael Rhedin's conversation with police, his phone "repeatedly dialed the number of the police department" and numerous messages were left on the voicemail system for a Lakeville police officer.
On the voicemail messages, Michael Rhedin was heard talking with his son, who was later identified as Zachary Rhedin. The calls were placed shortly after Michael and Zachary Rhedin had left the Lakeville police department on January 25, 2015.
Zachary Rhedin is heard describing the vandalizing he committed at the home of David Rucki on August 4, 2013. On January 27, 2015, Michael Rhedin was played portions of the voicemail messages by the Lakeville police and he admitted that the voice heard "describing how he damaged the vehicle was that of his son, Zachary Rhedin."
Zachary Rhedin is scheduled to appear in court on August 3, 2015. The total damage caused at David Rucki's home was estimated at $5,522.83 and if convicted Zachary Rhedin faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The Lakeville Public Safety Foundation recently announced a reward for information leading to the location of Samantha and Gianna Rucki. Anyone with information about the missing sisters should call the Lakeville police department at (952) 322-2323.
Picture source: Star Tribune
