DCS investigating the welfare of children after trailer fight

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: From left, Rhiannon Campos, Qonner Laudenslager, and Vanessa Ruyle were all arrested and booked into the jail on disorderly conduct charges.

By Jon Johnson

jonjohnsonnews@gmail.com

GRAHAM COUNTY – The Department of Children Safety has opened an investigation regarding the welfare of multiple children after deputies observed deplorable conditions at residences during a recent call for service. 

Deputies were initially dispatched at about 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, to S. Tamarisk Drive regarding a fight. Upon arrival, a deputy observed several subjects yelling and arguing, including Vanessa Ruyle, 34, her daughter, Rhiannon Campos, 18, and Campos’ boyfriend, Qonner Laudenslager, 21.

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Vanessa Ruyle

According to a sheriff’s office report, Ruyle said the incident began after she refused to allow Laudenslager in her trailer because he had allegedly broken Campos’ cellphone the evening prior during an argument. She said Campos had come to her trailer to use the shower and after Laudenslager was told he wasn’t welcome, the pair went back to their camp trailer. However, the lock on the camp trailer had been changed, and Campos and Ruyle argued about it until Ruyle gave her a key to unlock the camp trailer. Campos then came back to Ruyle’s trailer to gather her belongings and take a shower only to find it locked. 

Campos became upset and started to yell for her grandmother. This caused Ruyle to exit the trailer and a verbal confrontation ensued. 

A witness who also lives at the area said after the verbal confrontation, Campos walked back to her camper trailer and Ruyle followed her. At that time, Laudenslager exited the camper trailer and started yelling at both Campos and Ruyle and began acting like he wanted to fight everyone. The witness said Ruyle began throwing rocks at Laudenslager but then the deputies arrived. 

All three parties involved in the argument, Ruyle, Campos, and Laudenslager, were arrested and booked into the Graham County Adult Detention Facility on a charge of disorderly conduct. 

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Rhiannon Campos

While at the scene, deputies noticed that the residence was “heavily cluttered with household debris and trash” with the inside of the trailer showing “signs of animal feces left on the floor. 

A deputy then learned that the children – Vanessa and Chris Ruyle’s 6-year-old son and 12-year-old daughter – were behind on their immunizations and were not enrolled in school. The children were also described as being unclean with dirt on their faces, arms, legs, and feet.

Contributed Photo/Courtesy GCSO: Qonner Laudenslager

The DCS investigation will also look into the welfare of Campos’ 2-year-old son who resides with, at least part-time, with Campos and Laudenslager, as well as a 16-year-old male who lives with another couple at the property.

The deputy passed on the information to the DCS, which advised one of its employees would follow up with an investigation.