Authorities confirmed Monday that burned human bones found on a rural Missouri property earlier this month belonged to missing 16-year-old Savannah Leckie
Remains of a teenage girl have been found in a burn pit on her biological mother’s rural Missouri property after she left her adoptive parents to go live with her.
Authorities confirmed on Monday that burned human bones found earlier this month on the property in Longrun, south-west of St. Louis, belonged to missing 16-year-old Savannah Leckie.
Savannah had been reported missing from her home in late July where she had been living with her biological mother Rebecca Ruud, 39, and her mom’s boyfriend.
The human remains were discovered on August 4 when police started searching Ruud’s 81-acre farm property.
Investigators found bone fragments, two intact finger bones, a large vertebra bone and several items that appeared to be teeth when they sifted through ash in a burn pit on the property.
‘From information I received (on Monday) from forensic specialists, and evidence that was obtained, the remains that were recovered are those of 16-year-old Savannah Leckie, of Longrun,’ Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed told the Star Tribune.
Savannah had been reported missing from her home in late July where she had been living with her biological mother Rebecca Ruud (pictured together)
The teenager went to live with her biological mother in Missouri 11 months ago after reportedly not getting along with her adoptive mom’s new boyfriend divorced
During the search of the property, police had seized a meat grinder, a knife and 26 bottles of lye, which can be used to speed up the breakdown of human tissue.
Savannah was adopted at birth and grew up in Minnesota with her adoptive parents Tamile Montague and David Leckie. The couple have since divorced.
The teenager went to live with her biological mother in Missouri 11 months ago after reportedly not getting along with her adoptive mom’s new boyfriend.
Savannah was reported missing from the home by Ruud on July 20.
Ruud told police Savannah was home when she went to bed the night before but had disappeared by the time she woke. She said she searched the property herself before contacting authorities.
Savannah (right) was adopted at birth and grew up in Minnesota with her adoptive parents Tamile Montague (Left)) and David Leckie. The couple have since divorced
She started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a lawyer after revealing she was a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance.
Ruud and her boyfriend, who was also living at the farm, got married on the same day Savannah’s remains were found on the property. Married couples are often prevented from testifying against each other, but always if the victim is under the age of 18.
Jail records show Rudd is currently in custody but no charges had been filed.
Savannah’s adoptive father David Leckie posted a tribute to his daughter on August 9 revealing news of her death.
‘My daughter Savannah has passed away in Missouri. I would like to thank everyone that has prayed for her and our family. My Faith in God will get us through this and I will forever miss.my sweet girl,’ he wrote.