A 16-year-old girl whose remains were found in a burn pit after she was allegedly murdered by her biological mother had been severely abused in the months prior to her death.
Police confirmed on Monday that burned human bones found on a rural Missouri property belonged to missing teenager Savannah Leckie.
Savannah, who had autism, had been given up for adoption at birth but had returned to live with her birth mother Rebecca Ruud at the property less than a year ago.
Ruud, 39, was charged on Tuesday with her daughter’s murder.
Rebecca Ruud (left in her mugshot) was charged on Tuesday after authorities confirmed that burned human bones found on her Missouri property belonged to her 16-year-old daughter Savannah Leckie (right)
In the lead up to Savannah’s death, authorities say Ruud had allegedly taken to extreme forms of punishment to discipline her daughter.
The criminal complaint reveals Ruud forced the teen to roll around in a hog pen on at least one occasion and wade into a muddy pond and dunk under.
She also allegedly used a water hose on her daughter.
Ruud also told police that Savannah had once deliberately cut her own arm ‘in a suicidal gesture’, according to the complaint. To punish her, Ruud poured alcohol and salt on the wound twice a day and rubbed it in until the scabs came off.
She had also smashed Savannah’s cell phone and banned her from using Facebook as a form of punishment, according to the complaint.
Ruud also admitted to making her teen daughter remove her pants so she could spank her bare bottom.
Authorities are not yet clear on how Savannah was killed but they believe she died on or around July 18 at Ruud’s property.
Her 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.
Savannah had been reported missing from the home in July where the teenager had been living with her mother and her mom’s boyfriend
In the lead up to Savannah’s death, authorities say Ruud had allegedly taken to extreme forms of punishment to discipline her daughter (pictured together)
Forensic testing and other evidence confirmed the remains belonged to Savannah this week.
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 had been reported missing from the home on July 20 where she had been living with her mother and her mom’s boyfriend.
She 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 not getting along with her adoptive mom’s new boyfriend Robert E. Peat Jr.
In a text message exchange between Ruud and Savannah’s adoptive mother in June, the biological mom allegedly complained about having her daughter on the farm.
Ruud is alleged to have told Tamile that it was difficult to get things done because her daughter was ‘treating me like crap’.
‘It’s to the point that I either need more help to care for her, or I can do nothing with her.
‘I am severely limited in the work I can by having Savannah…’
In another text message, Ruud allegedly said Savannah was costing her too much money and she was afraid she would lose the farm.
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
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 remote property (above), 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
Ruud was arrested on Monday at a Greyhound bus station in Springfield after buying a ticket to flee the state, according to the Ozark County Sheriff’s Office.
She had bought a ticket to Kansas City and her partner, who has not been charged, had a ticket to Memphis, Tennessee. Ruud had three large suitcases with her, some of which contained blankets and quilts.
Ruud and her partner, who is not the teen’s biological father, got married on the same day Savannah’s remains were found on the property. Married couples don’t have to testify against each other but it isn’t always the case if the victim is under the age of 18, according to the sheriff.
The criminal complaint details the lead up to Savannah’s supposed disappearance, saying that Ruud had contacted the local fire department on July 18 and asked for help putting out a fire on her property.
Ruud had told fire crews that both she and Savannah had suffered burns but she allegedly refused to let anyone see her daughter. Ruud was treated for burns to her left arm but she told the fire crew that her daughter was fine and was taking a shower.
Two days later on July 20, Ruud called the sheriff’s office and reported her daughter missing.
‘I need to report a missing child, I think she’s a runaway,’ Ruud is alleged to have said.
‘I had a fire two days ago, Savannah is blaming herself for the fire. I got burnt, I think that’s why she ran away. She took her pillow and blanket and her favorite coloring bag. We can’t find her anywhere.’
Ruud had told police that Savannah was home when she went to bed the night before but had disappeared by the time she woke.
Ruud (left) and her boyfriend Robert E. Peat Jr. (right), who was also living at the farmbut is not the teen’s biological father, got married on the same day Savannah’s remains were found on the property
Ruud had told police that Savannah was home when she went to bed the night before but had disappeared by the time she woke
Officers searched the property extensively and subsequently listed Savannah as a missing person.
Police said Ruud had told relatives varying stories about the fire. She allegedly told some she was burned trying to save Savannah, while she told others she was injured removing a chainsaw from the fire.
She started a GoFundMe page to raise money for a lawyer after revealing she was a suspect in her daughter’s disappearance. The page has since been taken down.
Ruud is charged with first and second-degree murder, abuse of a child resulting in death, tampering with physical evidence and abandoning a corpse.
A judge denied bail for Ruud on Tuesday after ruling she was a flight risk.
Savannah’s adoptive mother issued a statement on Tuesday following news of the arrest and confirmation of Savannah’s death.
‘Our family is in deep grief and is mourning Savannah as her remains were identified yesterday. This is not the outcome that we were hoping or praying for,’ she said.
‘We are grateful for the countless hours that the Ozark County Sheriff’s office has dedicated in searching for Savannah. We know that their work continues as they investigate her death.
‘We ask that Savannah is remembered as a beacon of light and her light will always shine.
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.