Chandler man charged in Nebraska teen's death linked to popular Tucson eatery
A man charged in the stabbing and dismemberment of a Nebraska teen was also the owner of a popular Tucson restaurant.
Anthonie Ruinard Jr., 37, of Chandler, was booked Wednesday on a first-degree murder charge after authorities found his vehicle contained DNA belonging to Parker League. The 18-year-old’s dismembered remains were recovered the morning of June 12 in a bonfire pile in Tonto National Forest.
Pastiche Modern Eatery’s liquor license is registered under Ruinard Inc., whose director is Ruinard, the Arizona Corporation Commission’s database shows.
Situated on North Campbell Avenue near East Blacklidge and East Hedrick drives, Pastiche shuttered sometime in February. The business’s last Facebook post, dated Feb. 4, reported water damage as the cause. The Pima County Assessor’s Office online records show there was a small fire on Feb. 1 at the establishment.
Though the restaurant’s website is now down, as recently as June 6, its landing page read, “Pastiche is Temporarily Closed. We Will Be Closed Until Further Notice.”
Owner traced back to victim's slaying, records say
League was reported missing by family on June 12 when he was supposed to fly back from a June 9 trip to Phoenix, according to court documents.
Burned beyond recognition, League was identified by dental records, court documents show. He was stabbed multiple times in the back and dismembered, including decapitation, court documents say.
Charging documents say Ruinard was traced back to League’s slaying through surveillance footage showing the men leaving a Phoenix nightclub together in the early morning of June 11. League was last seen alive on a gas station’s June 11 surveillance footage showing him in Ruinard’s company and traveling in a car registered under the suspect, charging documents say.
A purchase on League’s bank card was made after he was found dead, according to court documents.
Suspect in murder case: Chandler man arrested in stabbing, dismemberment of Neb. teen whose remains found in bonfire pile
Ruinard’s vehicle provided detectives with blood that a “rapid” DNA test showed belonged to League, according to charging documents.
In addition to the murder charge, Ruinard is facing multiple other charges, including abandonment and concealing of body parts, and credit card theft and fraudulent card use.
As of Saturday evening, jail and court records show Ruinard was being held in jail custody on a $2 million bond.
Restaurant enjoyed long legacy
Pastiche, according to its Yelp business page, was founded in 1998 and changed ownership in 2017 and again in May 2021.
Ruinard’s “plans for Pastiche are to expand and create multiple locations to expand the Pastiche brand,” read a statement on Yelp.
The restaurant’s website in February 2020 boasted Pastiche being a 2018 and 2019 recipient of “Diners’ Choice” on the restaurant reservation and review website OpenTable.
A July 30, 2005, article in The Arizona Republic reported that Pastiche was named “rising star of the year” by the Arizona Restaurant and Hospitality Association.
The Arizona Corporation Commission’s database shows Ruinard is the director of multiple other business ventures in Maricopa County, including those with names related to ammunition, frozen yogurt and gyms.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Chandler man charged in teen's death linked to popular Tucson eatery
