Welcome to All Ready Gone, I'm your host, Nina Instad.

And before we dig into this week's story, I want to let you know about an event coming

up in Chicago this summer, the True Crime Podcast Festival on Saturday, July 13th in Chicago,

Illinois.

I'll be there, along with hosts from shows like The Vanished, Canadian True Crime, Empty

Frames, Trace Evidence, Generation Y, and True Crime all the time, as well as many, many

others.

Attendees can spend the day with their favorite hosts in a casual setting, as well as sit

in on live shows, enjoy panel discussions, and participate in other special programming.

I've posted a link to the event in the show notes, and I hope to see you there.

Now, on with the show.

When you conjure up the image of a tough person, what do you see?

Are they tall and built, muscular?

Are they covered in tattoos?

Do they have a certain glint in their eye, or carry themselves a certain way?

Or is it that their smart, focused, accomplished?

Their skill, their willpower, and their determination leaves you awestruck when you realize how tough

they really are.

At first glance, Alexandra Nicolette Ruger may not strike you as tough and capable.

The only child of parents Nikki and Franz Ruger, she was known as Allie to those close to

her.

Allie doesn't fit the stereotype of tough, standing only four-foot, nine-inches tall, with

...