Closing aruguments given in Ozark County woman’s murder trial; judge to decide fate

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The fate of an Ozark County woman accused of killing her daughter nearly five years ago is now in the hands of Judge Calvin Holden following Thursday’s closing arguments. Rebecca Ruud is on a bench trial at the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield on charges of first- and second-degree murder, abuse or neglect of a child resulting in death, abandonment of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence in a felony in connection with the 2017 death of 16-year-old Savannah Leckie.

Missouri Assistant Attorney General Anthony Brown and former Ozark County Prosecuting Attorney John Garrabrant are representing the state. During his closing argument, Brown repeated his claim that Leckie was still alive as she was being burned, and Ruud drugged her prior to setting her on fire. Brown also told Judge Holden the three inmates who testified on Wednesday were credible sources.

Ruud is represented by public defenders Lauren Welborn and Yvette Duvall. Welborn said, “The state can absolutely prove that (Rebecca) burned Savannah’s body, but that is all they can prove. They presented no credible evidence of anything related to a murder.”

Welborn also repeated the defense’s claim that Leckie committed suicide, and documents prove she struggled mentally. In addition, she disagreed with Brown’s claim that the inmates were credible witnesses.

Judge Holden has taken the case under advisement and is expected to announce his ruling by July 15.

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