New judge assigned in Rebecca Ruud’s murder case

Judge Calvin Holden has been assigned by the Missouri Supreme Court to hear Theodosia resident Rebecca Ruud’s case in connection with the murder of her 16-year-old biological daughter Savannah Leckie. Holden is currently a circuit judge based in Greene County. 

The Supreme Court assignment was made Nov. 14 after a motion for a change of judge was sustained during a Oct. 27 hearing before Judge Tony W. Williams. The case has been transferred to Taney County from Ozark County. 

Ruud and Robert Peat Jr., husband and wife, are both charged with murdering Savannah Leckie and disposing of her corpse. Ruud reported Leckie missing from her Theodosia-area farm July 20. Investigators found Leckie’s burned remains on the farm Aug. 4. Peat, represented by James Robert Hayes, has also filed for a change of judge, but an assignment has not yet been made. 

The state is represented in both cases by Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant and Assistant Attorney General Steven Mark Kretzer. 

Ozark County Times

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