Ruska sentenced to life in prison

MARQUETTE — An Alger County man charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a 28 year-old woman in July 2017 was sentenced in United States District Court Western District of Michigan.

Eric Scott Ruska, 37, has been sentenced to life in prison. He pleaded guilty to one count of kidnapping and three counts of aggravated sexual assault back in November.

According to the criminal complaint, Ruska invited LeeAnn Wilmoth, his co-worker, fishing at Chicago Lake in Delta County on Saturday, July 8th. Ruska held Wilmoth against her will and repeatedly sexually assaulted her numerous times in and around his vehicle as they drove through the Hiawatha National Forrest, traveling through Marquette, Alger, and Delta Counties.

Wilmoth was reported missing on July 10th. Police searched for the pair until July 14th, when Ruska’s truck was located at the Shell Gas Station in Munising around 4:25 a.m. He was then taken into custody by police.