Court News
Rebecca Ruud, right, is shown with her biological daughter, Savannah Leckie, in this family file photo. Ruud and her husband, Robert Peat Jr., are now charged with murder in Savannah’s 2017 death. Court documents related to a recent search warrant executed on Ruud’s Theodosia-area farm include an informant’s description of how Savannah may have died.
A gruesome murder-method possibility has emerged in court documents related to a recent search of the Theodosia-area property where 16-year-old Savannah Leckie is believed to have died one year ago this month.The court documents, which include an affidavit in support of a June 2018 search warrant,...
In this Ozark County Times file photo, Robert Peat Jr. stands with his attorney, special public defender James R. Hayes, before Ozark County Circuit Judge Craig Carter at his Sept. 26, 2017, arraignment on murder charges. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant is seated behind them, and behind Garrabrant are Minnesota residents Tamile Leckie-Montague, adoptive mother of murder victim Savannah Leckie, center, and her fiance (now husband) Cary Steeves. With them is victim's advocate Nicole Graham, left. In a surprising turn of events last week, a Greene County judge released Peat from custody on his own recognizance, with GPS monitoring by Court Probationary Services.
Reed: 'What the heck just happened?'
Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed said Monday he was "as appalled as everyone else was" when a Greene County court ruled last week that Robert Peat Jr., accused of murder in the 2017 Savannah Leckie case, could be released on his own recognizance with electronic...
During a DWI saturation conducted June 30 on Highways 5 and 160 in Ozark County by the Missouri State Highway Patrol, a total of 11 citations and 26 warnings were issued. Two people were arrested for drug violations and one for driving while intoxicated. Other totals from this saturation included...
The following criminal cases, traffic/municipal tickets and infractions were filed in Ozark County Court between Monday, July 2, and Monday, July 9. All those charged are presumed innocent pending final court action.
Scotty R. Meier, Kissee Mills, tampering with a motor vehicle, possession of a...
In this Ozark County Times file photo, Robert Peat Jr. stands with his attorney, special public defender James R. Hayes, before Ozark County Circuit Judge Craig Carter at his Sept. 26, 2017, arraignment on murder charges. Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant is seated behind them, and behind Garrabrant are Minnesota residents Tamile Leckie-Montague, adoptive mother of murder victim Savannah Leckie, center, and her fiance (now husband) Cary Steeves. With them is victim's advocate Nicole Graham, left. In a surprising turn of events last week, a Greene County judge released Peat from custody on his own recognizance, with GPS monitoring by Court Probationary Services.
Reed: 'What the heck just happened?'
Ozark County Sheriff Darrin Reed said Monday he was "as appalled as everyone else was" when a Greene County court ruled last week that Robert Peat Jr., accused of murder in the 2017 Savannah Leckie case, could be released on his own recognizance with electronic...
Patterson
Brandon Patterson, 34, of Tecumseh was sentenced June 27 by Circuit Judge Craig Carter to seven years in the Missouri Department of Corrections. Patterson had pleaded guilty on April 19 to the class E felony of animal abuse.During the plea hearing, Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John...
The following criminal cases, traffic/municipal tickets and infractions were filed in Ozark County Court between Tuesday, June 19, and Friday, June 29. All those charged are presumed innocent pending final court action.Hunter Dale Rife, Gainesville, defective equipment. Ozark County Sheriff’s...
Circuit Judge Craig Carter processed a total of 14 civil cases and 29 criminal cases during the June 5 session of the Ozark County Law Day. The criminal cases for which online information is available are listed below.
Cases to reach disposition
Clinton W. Dieter, who was charged with third degree...
Danny Joe Williams
Danny Joe Williams, 59, of Tecumseh, on June 7 entered a guilty plea to the class B felony of first degree child molestation. The case, originally filed in Ozark County, was moved to Wright County in 2017 in response to Williams’ motion for a change of venue, which was accepted by Circuit Judge...
The following criminal cases, traffic/municipal tickets and infractions were filed in Ozark County Court between Tuesday, June 5, and Monday, June 18. All those charged are presumed innocent pending final court action.
Matthew F. Hannaford, Brixey, statutory rape, and two counts of statutory sodomy...