Last summer, the tranquility of Tonto National Forest near Chandler, Arizona was shattered by a horrifying incident. Anthonie Ruinard Jr., a 38-year-old ex-restaurant owner from Tucson, Arizona, is at the center of a case that has shocked the community due to its sheer brutality. Parker League, an 18-year-old from Gretna, Nebraska, was discovered having been dismembered, stabbed, and burned beyond recognition.
On April 5, 2024, Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell announced that a grand jury had indicted Ruinard on charges of second-degree murder and abandonment or concealment of a dead body, shedding light on the grim details of League’s death. League’s remains were discovered on June 12, 2023, in a remote section of the forest known ominously as “The Pit.” Identified only through dental records, the young man’s fate has drawn widespread attention.
Ruinard, previously the owner of Pastiche Modern Eatery in Tucson—a restaurant that closed in February 2021 following a small fire—was arrested on July 5, 2023, after DNA evidence and surveillance footage linked him directly to the crime. This footage, obtained from a gas station in Chandler, captured the last known sighting of League alive, showing him and Ruinard departing together in a black Dodge Challenger on June 11.
League’s journey to Arizona had been one of celebration and new beginnings. In May, he graduated from Gretna High School. Shortly after, he flew to Arizona to visit friends. His family reported him missing on June 12, the day he was due to return home.
The investigation into League’s death unveiled disturbing details. Surveillance footage placed League with Ruinard shortly before his disappearance and showed Ruinard attempting to use League’s bank card posthumously. Blood evidence found on the rear bumper and trunk of Ruinard’s car further reinforced the link 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,” stated County Attorney Mitchell, highlighting the diligent process of pressing charges against Ruinard. This indictment, she emphasized, represents a critical step towards achieving justice for Parker League and his family.
Ruinard faces a complex legal battle, with charges extending 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 expected to commence in July.
League’s death is not just a story of a crime; it reflects the unexpected dangers that can lurk behind ordinary encounters and the profound grief of a family robbed of their loved one.