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John Wilson Ruckman

Death by Force
Case Description
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John Wilson Ruckman, a 12-year-old boy from Cherry Valley, Illinois, was tragically found dead on March 3, 2018. John, along with his 14-year-old brother Christopher, was discovered with gunshot wounds to the head in their home. The incident was a devastating murder-suicide carried out by their father, Peter Ruckman, who was also found dead at the scene. Peter Ruckman, a 58-year-old political science professor at Rock Valley College, had shot his two sons before taking his own life. The Winnebag ...Read More
Links to Additional Sources (6)
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  • Pensacola News Journal: Son, grandkids of controversial Pensacola pastor Peter Ruckman dead in murder-suicide
  • Rockford Register Star: Sheriff's department investigates double murder-suicide at home of RVC professor P.S. Ruckman Jr.
    •     ...View 4 additional sources
    Victim Details

    John Wilson Ruckman

    Male

    Cherry-valley

    IL

    2018-03-03

    12

    John

    Wilson Ruckman

    11/25/2025

    Forum Posts (2)
    I still can’t wrap my head around the devastation that the Ruckman family must've felt. I've been ... ...Read More
    02/03/2025
    I was reading about the tragedy involving the Ruckman family, and it got me thinking about the press... ...Read More
    05/28/2023
    Other Cases from Cherry-valley, Illinois

    Christopher Hamilton Ruckman

    Death: Mar 03, 2018
    Christopher Hamilton Ruckman, a 14-year-old Caucasian male, was tragically found dead on March 3, 20 2 ...Read More