Ruud being held in Taney County Jail; motions for changes filed in Ruud and Peat murder cases

Rebecca Ruud’s murder trial has been moved to Taney County on a change of venue motion, and Judge Tony W. Williams has been assigned to the case. According to online court records, Ruud is scheduled to appear Friday, Oct. 27, before Williams in Taney County court. She  is now incarcerated in the Taney County Jail. 

Ruud  appeared in Ozark County before temporary Judge David Evans Oct. 19 after attorney Lauren Kate Welborn filed the change of venue motion. Online records indicate that both Welborn and Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant agreed to change the venue from Ozark County to Taney County. Both parties also reportedly agreed to hear all pre-trial motions in Ozark County; however, Evans told the attorneys that the presiding judge in the case will decide if the pre-trial motions will be heard at the Ozark County Courthouse in Gainesville or in the Taney County Courthouse in Forsyth. Welborn told the court Ruud would also like a hearing to discuss a possible pre-trial release. 

Ruud and husband Robert Peat Jr. are both charged with murdering Ruud’s 16-year-old biological daughter, Savannah Leckie. Ruud reported Leckie missing from her Theodosia-area farm July 20, and investigators found Leckie’s burned remains on the farm Aug. 4. Peat’s attorney, James Robert Hayes, has filed a change of judge motion in his case. He is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Craig Carter Nov. 8. 

Ozark County Times

504 Third Steet
PO Box 188
Gainesville, MO 65655

Phone: (417) 679-4641
Fax: (417) 679-3423