The Sandra Grazzini-Rucki story involves a mother who encountered a nightmare in a family court that resulted in being forcibly removed from her home, and her children unjustly taken. As a result of proceedings, Sandra was court ordered into a “lifetime of servitude”. She lost everything important to her, and lost her freedom as well.
The Grazzini-Rucki case reached a crisis on April 19, 2013; when Sandra’s two teen daughters ran away after being placed in the custody of a relative whom they feared. The daughters were missing for two and a half years and since being found their story has received international attention.
With seeming he said/she said accusations and confusing terms like “parental alienation”, the truth may seem difficult to reach. Still, with hundreds of stories, the media has yet to find it. Now, the whole unbelievable story is told; it’s a story of domestic violence, court cover-up and a compliant media covering up the whole sordid tale. A lawyer is forced to represent her client while “under arrest”, a mother of five with no criminal record is jailed with a convicted murderer, and years of violence and criminal activity by a dangerous man is ignored.
"For the last five years I have had to endure the loss of my children. They alone were my world. I have had to witness from afar the repeated abuses of them go unheard and ignored. They came forward repeatedly to the Lakeville Police Department, Judge David Knutson, and Child Protective Services. Psychologists Reitman and Gilbertson and Guardians ad Litem Julie Friedrich and Laura Miles also knew the truth of the abuse that my children suffered, but each time their pleas fell on deaf ears.
Nothing is more sacred than a child's life. And they should have had an avenue to be heard and action taken to ensure their safety.
The proof of abuse I brought to my trial was also ignored and dismissed with the wave of a gavel. 80% of the evidence documenting David Rucki's violent behavior, stalking and physical and emotional abuse was not allowed to be present at my trial. My witnesses were also denied attendance by Judge Asphaug. Now I am paying the price for doing what any loving parent would do for their children - protect them from harm." SGR Prepared Statement Read at Sentencing by Family Law Attorney Michelle MacDonald
