Attorney: Mother of missing Lakeville girls will surrender by week's end

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki's attorney, Michelle MacDonald, said in an interview last evening that she expects Grazzini-Rucki to surrender to law enforcement "by the end of the week."

As first reported by the Star Tribune, Grazzini-Rucki was charged last week with three felony counts of deprivation of parental rights involving the disappearance of two of her children, Samantha and Gianna Rucki.

MacDonald last spoke with Grazzini-Rucki on Tuesday, but before MacDonald was aware a warrant had been issued for Grazzini-Rucki's arrest. MacDonald said she had not attempted to contact Grazzini-Rucki to notify her about the warrant. MacDonald added that she does not believe Grazzini-Rucki is aware a warrant has been issued for her arrest.

According to MacDonald, Grazzini-Rucki is not currently living in Minnesota. MacDonald said "the best way" for Grazzini-Rucki to surrender to law enforcement is for Grazzini-Rucki to meet with MacDonald in Minnesota and she will then transport Grazzini-Rucki to Dakota County.

MacDonald said another "very complicated" process would be for Grazzini-Rucki to surrender to law enforcement in the state where she is currently living. MacDonald said Grazzini-Rucki would not fight extradition to Minnesota to face criminal charges if Grazzini-Rucki is arrested by law enforcement in another state.

The Lakeville police department did not respond to a request for comment about MacDonald's statements.

MacDonald currently serves as Grazzini-Rucki's attorney in family court in Dakota County. MacDonald said last evening her "plan" is to also serve as Grazzini-Rucki's criminal defense attorney.

<Lakeville police consider MacDonald a "person of interest" in the disappearance of the missing girls and have requested to speak with her about any potential involvement.

Dale Nathan, who told the Star Tribune in April that he was in a car driven by Grazzini-Rucki when they picked up the two girls on the night they disappeared, said today he is not surprised a warrant was issued for Grazzini-Rucki's arrest.

"I am sure [Grazzini-Rucki] knows where [the missing girls] are" said Nathan, adding Grazzini-Rucki "was involved" in the girls' disappearance and has "hidden them some place," said Nathan.

Nathan said he believes Grazzini-Rucki eventually brought the girls to the St. Cloud area, where Grazzini-Rucki and the girls stayed in the days following their disappearance. Nathan said he is in possession of emails which identify people in the St. Cloud area that helped hide both Grazzini-Rucki and her two missing daughters in 2013.

"I think that these people may have some information about what happened then and possibly some information about where Sandra is now," said Nathan.

In response to a request to review the emails, Nathan declined, saying "I am not going to release that information...I am not going to betray these people for helping Sandra." The emails, said Nathan, "are going to stay right in my machine as far as I am concerned."

Picture source: Star Tribune