Sex, Knives, and Lapdogs: Tumultuous Divorce Sparks Fourth Criminal Case This Month

A contentious breakup has led to the latest arrest of a 59-year-old Homestead man, Kurt Kodera, marking his third criminal case within a month. On Monday, Maricopa police charged him with aggravated harassment and interference with judicial proceedings after he repeatedly contacted his ex-wife about his Shih Tzu.

On the same day, authorities responded to a report from 72-year-old Sharon Rueckert, who claimed that Kodera had vandalized her truck and violated a restraining order against him. That order restricted Kodera from contacting Rueckert for two years, a directive he acknowledged violating as he admitted to calling her six times that day.

The turbulent history between Kodera and Rueckert saw the police first visit their home on August 8. During that incident, Rueckert reportedly attacked Kodera with a knife, believing he was unfaithful. In an unusual twist, Kodera defended himself using a tablet, which bore stab marks afterward.

Despite the altercation, both parties faced legal repercussions. Rueckert was charged with felony assault, while Kodera faced accusations including assault with a deadly weapon. Although initially not arrested, subsequent incidents led police to report charges against him, as well.

On August 22, yet another altercation emerged. Kodera allegedly jumped over a neighbor’s fence alleging that Rueckert was seeing another man. After a confrontation, he was arrested again, this time for burglary, disorderly conduct, and possessing drug paraphernalia. During the search, officers discovered a meth pipe, which Kodera admitted to using earlier that day.

The saga continued as Rueckert took to a community app on August 31 to warn others, claiming there was a “homewrecker” in their midst, implying infidelity and deceit. However, her pointed remarks lacked specifics and have since been removed.