Couple denies teen sisters were hidden for 2 years
Published 10:05 am Wednesday, March 9, 2016
HASTINGS — A couple accused of hiding two teen sisters for more than two years in Dakota County says there was no effort to keep the girls’ location secret.
Doug and Gina Dahlen are facing felony charges in the case. The girls’ mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, and her friend are accused of driving the teens to the Dahlen’s ranch near Herman to hide them from their father in a bitter divorce case.
The Star Tribune reports a motion to dismiss the charges says the Dahlens took the girls, Gianna and Samantha Rucki, to restaurants, garage sales, church and shopping trips and didn’t try to hide them. The Dahlens say the teens had access to computers and cellphones and could have gone home.
The sisters, ages 16 and 17, have moved back in with their father.