Adopted Teen Murder Trial — Rebecca Ruud (Part 4)

Savannah Leckie was born in 2001 to Rebecca Ruud. Ruud, then 23, arranged for her daughter to be adopted by Tamile and David Leckie.

Rebecca grew close with the Leckies and was a part of Savannah's life growing up. Rebecca would join the Leckies on vacations and holidays. They were so close that Rebecca called Tamile Mom.

Savannah was diagnosed with Asperger's (now referred to as 'Autism Spectrum Disorder') and ADHD in grade two. Savannah was brilliant and inquisitive, but as she grew older, she struggled with her mental health.

Between 2015-2016, Savannah stayed in psychiatric facilities three times for suicidal behaviors, threats, and self-harm. In addition to her two previous diagnoses, she was also diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder and treated with medication and therapy.

Between 2015-2016, Savannah's home life deteriorated. Tamile, Savannah's adoptive mother, dated and married two men after splitting with David Leckie in 2011. Savannah reported that one of Tamile's partners, Mike Evans, had abused Savannah. Savannah also reported that her stepmother (David Leckie's new wife) abused her and that Tamile neglected her. When Tamile began dating a new man that Savannah didn't get along with named Carey Steeves, Savannah felt cast aside.

In 2016, Savannah's behavior got increasingly erratic and difficult for Tamile to handle. Savannah would physically fight her siblings, including the younger ones, threaten peers, and destroy property. At one point, she kicked, bit, and punched Tamile.

Following Savannah's third psychiatric stay in the summer of 2016, Tamile and David began looking for alternative living arrangements for Savannah. Neither of them felt capable of caring for Savannah, given her increasingly aggressive behavior and mental health issues. They asked Rebecca, Savannah's biological mother, if Savannah could temporarily stay with her at her farm in Ozark County, Missouri. Rebecca agreed, and in late 2016, Savannah left Minnesota for the last time.

Savannah lived with Rebecca until July 20th, 2017, when Rebecca reported her missing. A massive search ensued. Savannah wasn't found.

Investigators obtained a warrant to search Rebecca's farm. During the search, cadaver dogs hit on a burn pile. In that pile, investigators found what was left of Savannah: fragments of bones.

Rebecca and her husband, Robert Peat Junior (who frequently stayed at Rebecca's farm), were arrested for Savannah's murder. Investigators would later obtain an audio recording of Rebecca admitting to burning Savannah's body but denying murdering her. Rebecca would allege that Savannah killed herself by overdosing on pain medication.

Rebecca's case would be heard in front of a judge alone trial (elected by Rebecca) in June 2022. Prosecutors would allege that only half of Rebecca's confession was true. Based on a jailhouse informant's testimony, prosecutors would argue that Rebecca drugged Savannah, threw her in a fire, and when she woke up screaming, beat her to death with a rake. Then, Rebecca burnt Savannah's body.

Rebecca's defense lawyers would argue that Rebecca did burn Savannah's body, but that's all she did. They'd argue that Rebecca panicked, thinking she would be blamed for Savannah's suicide, and in the heat of the moment, made a terrible decision.