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Federal kidnapping charge leveled against Ruska

GRAND RAPIDS, MI--   A Rumely man accused of holding a Cooks woman against her will for about five days and driving around the Central U.P. faces a federal kidnapping charge. 

In documents filed by the FBI, Eric Scott Ruska, 37, allegedly texted LeeAnn Wilmoth July 8 and asked her to go fishing. They met at Chicago Lake in the Hiawatha National Forest in Delta County.

The affidavit says Ruska physically and sexually assaulted Wilmoth on the boat, saying he’d kill her and her family if she refused. Ruska then left Wilmoth on an island, returned to shore to retrieve his truck, went back for Wilmoth, and strapped her in the front passenger seat.

Wilmoth says Ruska drove through the Hiawatha National Forest in Delta, Marquette, and Alger counties, assaulting her numerous times throughout the following days. He was finally arrested at the Shell gas station in Munising July 14.

Authorities say the fact that Ruska used a cell phone to contact Wilmoth and because he drove through a National Forest prompted the federal charge. He faces up to life in prison, if convicted.

Nicole was born near Detroit but has lived in the U.P. most of her life. She graduated from Marquette Senior High School and attended Michigan State and Northern Michigan Universities, graduating from NMU in 1993 with a degree in English.
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