The peaceful Tonto National Forest near Chandler, Arizona was profoundly disturbed last summer by a gruesome incident.
Anthonie Ruinard Jr., a 38-year-old former restaurant owner from Tucson, Arizona, is now the primary suspect in a case that has horrified the local community due to its extreme violence.
Parker League, an 18-year-old from Gretna, Nebraska, was found having been brutally dismembered, stabbed, and set on fire until he was unrecognizable.
On April 5, 2024, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell disclosed that a grand jury had indicted Ruinard on charges of second-degree murder and abandonment or concealment of a dead body, providing insight into the grim circumstances of League’s death. League’s remains were found on June 12, 2023, in a remote part of the forest ominously referred to as “The Pit.” The young man’s tragic end, confirmed only through dental records, has garnered extensive attention.
Formerly the proprietor of Pastiche Modern Eatery in Tucson—a restaurant that shut down in February 2021 after a minor fire—Ruinard was arrested on July 5, 2023, when DNA evidence and security camera footage linked him directly to the crime. This footage, procured from a gas station in Chandler, Arizona, recorded the last known sighting of League alive, showing him and Ruinard leaving together in a black Dodge Challenger on June 11.
League’s trip to Arizona had been a celebration of achievement and fresh starts. In May, he graduated from Gretna High School in Nebraska. Shortly afterward, he traveled to Arizona to see friends. His family reported him missing on June 12, the day he was supposed to return home.
The investigation into League’s death exposed unsettling evidence. Security footage showed League with Ruinard shortly before his disappearance and revealed Ruinard attempting to use League’s bank card after his death. Blood traces found on the rear bumper and trunk of Ruinard’s car further confirmed the connection between the accused and the victim.
“Seasoned murder case prosecutors in our department meticulously sifted through almost 4,000 pages of documents related to this homicide investigation. Following a thorough five-month examination, we successfully obtained an indictment,” said County Attorney Mitchell, underscoring the careful process of filing charges against Ruinard. This indictment, she stressed, marks a significant stride towards achieving justice for Parker League and his family.
Ruinard is now facing a challenging legal fight, with charges reaching beyond the murder and concealment of League’s body. These include possession for sale and manufacture of narcotic drugs, misconduct involving weapons, and credit card theft/fraud. His trial is set to start in July.
