Mother of missing girls arrested in Florida

Published 9:56 am Monday, October 19, 2015

LAKEVILLE — A Minnesota woman accused of hiding her two teenage daughters from their custodial father has been arrested in Florida.

Gianna and Samantha Rucki disappeared from Lakeville in April 2013 and have not been found. They are 15 and 17 years old.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki maintained she does not know where the girls are. The mother is charged in Dakota County with three counts of felony deprivation of parental rights.

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The parents were involved in a bitter divorce and custody battle when the girls disappeared. Grazzini-Rucki has accused the father, David Rucki, of abusing her and the girls. A judge granted custody to the father, who denies the accusations.

According to a press release, Grazzini-Rucki was arrested Sunday in Kissimme, south of Orlando, where she was staying with a friend.