Euphoria as father is reunited with daughters following two-year search

The father of two teenage girls who went missing in Minnesota two years ago has been reunited with his daughters after they were located at a horse farm in the same state in recent days.

David Rucki, who sent two years searching for 16-year-old Gianna and 17-year-old Samantha, has spoken of his joy at being reunited with the children he last saw in 2013.

The girls, who were embroiled in a custody dispute at the time of their disappearance, were safe and well when discovered by police who had obtained a warrant to search the farm last Wednesday.

It is understood that the girls’ mother, Sandra Grazzini-Rucki, refused to provide information on the whereabouts of her daughters despite having been arrested in Florida last month.

Speaking out about his daughters’ safe return, an overjoyed David expressed his gratitude to the public for their support over the past two years, saying: “Thank you for the kind thoughts and prayers and we hope to continue to receive support from the community moving forward on this healing journey.”

Gianna and Samantha’s father went on to request privacy as he and his children navigate the next stage of their relationship together, dubbing the past two years a “very emotional time for all involved”.

It has been suggested that the girls’ whereabouts were concealed by critics of the family court system.

Sandra Grazzini-Rucki remains in jail.