Maryland Divorce Expected to be Granted to Husband of Wife Last Seen in 2002
After not seeing his wife since her mysterious disappearance in 2002, a Maryland man has sought a divorce, according to a story in the Arbutus Times. D.J. Rust Jr. testified last week in a Howard County Courtroom last week that he had not seen his wife since her disappearance and has no reasonable expectation of reconciliation with her. A judge said that she will recommend that Rust’s divorce request is met and that he gets custody of the couple’s 7-year-old son. Rust could receive his divorce decree by mail in less than a month, according to the judge. Maryland divorce law says that both couples have grounds for divorce after being separated for two consecutive years and having no reasonable expectation of reconciliation.
A Baltimore County detective was at last week’s hearing to follow the divorce proceeding and Rust’s activities. Rust was the last person to see his wife when she disappeared on the day of her son’s third-birthday party and has been the subject of a police investigation ever since. Michelle’s parents last saw their only daughter with her husband and son the night before she went missing, and her father later found her 1998 van empty near an intersection on the day of her disappearance. The parents have said that they think Michelle, who was a diabetic and needed daily medication, is dead, according to the story.
Police determined foul play within months of Michelle Rust’s disappearance, but have not located a body or any of her clothing and jewelry, which when she was last seen included a black V-neck top, white gold cross necklace, diamond engagement ring, and blue sapphire ring. A Baltimore detective assigned to the case said that police will continue to follow the activities of D.J. Rust Jr. until his missing wife is found. Rust and Michelle’s parents declined comments for the story.
Michelle Rust was 24-years-old at the time of her disappearance. She was 5-foot-4 and weighed 140 pounds. Posters describe her as being a blue-eyed white woman with red hair. Police ask people with any information about Michelle Rust’s disappearance to call 410-307-2020.
