The Wayne County Court held an arraignment for Carl Ruskamp of Wisner regarding his alleged involvement in the shooting death of his father, Gerald Ruskamp.
Carl, 31, traveled from the Nebraska Reception and Treatment Center in Lincoln to come to Wayne Monday, according to court records.
He has multiple charges against him currently in both county and district courts, including possession and distribution of a controlled substance, 1st degree murder, use of firearm to commit a felony and possession of a firearm by prohibited person.
Ruskamp along with his attorney, Kate Jorgensen, requested a preliminary hearing which the court scheduled for Jan. 22.
On Oct. 5, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office issued an arrest warrant for Ruskamp for the events occurring on Sept. 7, 2022.
Court records state Ruskamp had called 911 that day stating someone in all black clothing had shot his father and ran off at their farm at 320 Y Road, just north of Wisner.
When police arrived, they found Gerald on a couch with a gunshot wound to his head. He was transferred to Providence Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Also on the property, police found a marijuana grow operation. Both Ruskamp and his uncle, Duane Ruskamp, were arrested for charges related to the grow operation. Carl has a pre-trial hearing in the District Court scheduled for Dec. 6 and a jury trial on Jan 23.
Upon further investigation of the house, police found a .22 caliber rifle, one .22 caliber casing and several live .22 caliber rounds on the property, belonging to Carl.
Authorities sent the gun found inside the home and Ruskamp's T-shirt he wore at the time to a lab to undergo testing. These tests reportedly concluded the gun was used to shoot Gerald. Gerald's DNA was also found on Ruskamp's T-shirt and they believe to have found Ruskamp's DNA on the gun.
The case will continue in the Wayne County Courtroom on Jan. 22 for the preliminary hearing.
