A judge found Rebecca Ruud, the mother from Ozark County who was accused in her teenage daughter’s death, not guilty on all charges against her except one.
Greene County Judge Calvin Holden heard the case in a bench trial during the last week of June, meaning there was no jury. The trial happened in Greene County because a venue change was granted.
Ruud was charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, child abuse resulting in death, tampering with evidence and abandonment of a corpse. She was found not guilty on all charges except the abandonment of a corpse charge. She will be sentenced only for that charge on September.
Ruud reported her 16-year-old daughter Savannah Leckie missing on July 20, 2017. The teen’s remains were later discovered burned on Ruud`s property near Theodosia.
More details on the story can be found on the Ozarks First Website.
(Story by Carrie Winchel, Ozarks First)
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