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You are here: Home / Book Reviews / Samantha and Gianna Rucki

Samantha and Gianna Rucki

October 23, 2018 By Alice

Samantha and Gianna Rucki Grid AdS
Samantha and Gianna Rucki with authors Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann, Grid AdS

Today a new book came out about the Samantha and Gianna Rucki case. It is called “The Girls Are Gone: The True Story of Two Sisters Who Vanished, the Father Who Kept Searching, and the Adults Who Conspired to Keep the Truth Hidden” by Michael Brodkorb & Allison Mann.

Wise Ink Creative Publishing was kind enough to send me some information.

On the evening of April 19, 2013, Samantha and Gianna Rucki disappeared. Two of five children born to David Rucki and Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, the teenage sisters vanished in the midst of their parents’ divorce.

The girls’ father, David Rucki, worked tirelessly with law enforcement to search day and night for his two missing daughters, following every lead while raising the three remaining children at home.

Their mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, used her newfound freedom to travel around the world, having abandoned her children. As the investigation intensified, catching the attention of the media, Sandra disappeared too.

On November 18, 2015 – 944 days after the girls disappeared – law enforcement found them. The girls were living on a ranch in northern Minnesota.

Criminal charges were filed against four people, including the girls’ mother, for their role in the disappearance of the Rucki sisters. “The Girls Are Gone” chronicles key events during the criminal trials of the people who were later convicted or plead guilty for their involvement in this heinous crime.  The book examines the other adults who aided in the conspiracy to hide the truth and the Rucki sisters.

About the Authors:

Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann met during the 2016 criminal trial. Allison worked at a law firm representing David Rucki, the father, who was trying to find his girls. Michael was working for the Star Tribune at the time and covered the story as the case developed.

Michael and Allison have spent the last two years working together investigating and researching to find answers to many questions left unanswered for years. They analyzed court documents, reviewed investigative files, and conducted many interviews to offer a completed story about how and why two children vanished from their family and friends for 944 days. Their passion for following the case and connecting the dots to figure out the truth of what really happened led them to write “The Girls Are Gone.”

“The Girls Are Gone” provides new details about the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki and includes interviews with members of the Rucki family, including exclusive interviews with Samantha and Gianna Rucki. The book also discusses the connection between Michelle MacDonald, who is currently a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court. MacDonald was labeled a “person of interest” by the Lakeville Police Department in the disappearance of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, but did not cooperate in the investigation.

I have not read this book yet. If you do, let me know your thoughts.

Thank you for sharing!

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Filed Under: Book Reviews Tagged With: Minnesota, missing children, Samantha and Gianna Rucki

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  1. The Girls are Gone by M. Brodkorb & A. Mann - Defrosting Cold Cases says:
    January 14, 2019 at 11:30 am

    […] The Girls are Gone by Michael Brodkorb and Allison Mann tells the story of Samantha and Gianna Rucki, two teenage sisters, who vanished on April 19, 2013 while their parents Sandra Grazzini-Rucki and David Rucki battled each other in court over custody and other elements of their divorce. I announced the release of the book here. […]

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Author Notes

On my website, I write about old, unsolved cases. Most are from the pre-DNA era and need renewed media attention. I only do research and leave active investigation of these cases to the professionals.

My posts are about homicides, missing and unidentified people, wrongful convictions, and forensics as related to these cases.

On book reviews: I only review select works of true crime, crime fiction, and historical fiction/mysteries. The stories have to fit my website's theme and research. It remains my prerogative to not review a book. Please check the FAQ page for more!

My database has hundreds of cases listed by the victim’s last name. You will find a brief description there as well. The database is free to the public.

All writing suggestions for cases that come in by email are added to my to-do list in the order in which they were received. Please be patient. My to-do list is very long but no case gets dropped and I will get back in touch.

If you have any questions about my website please check the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, the about page, and the tabs in both menu bars. If you still cannot find the answer there, please contact me.

Thank you,

Alice de Sturler

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If you use my work, please add a link back. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. Thank you!

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Copyright: Please add a link back if you use my work. Let your readers know where you found your information. I do the same for you. If you need help with this, just contact me. Thank you, Alice de Sturler

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