A Memphis woman with prior ties to the murder of a St. Jude doctor has been taken into custody once again. Brandy Rucker, who had already faced charges once, was booked into Shelby County Jail yesterday after a previous dismissal of her charges, Fox13 Memphis reported. The charges include first-degree murder, especially aggravated robbery, attempted aggravated robbery, and aggravated assault.
Rucker's initial arrest occurred shortly after Dr. Alexander Bulakhov, a 32-year-old St. Jude doctor, was shot and killed in November 2023 in downtown Memphis. A judge later dismissed the charges, though Rucker was indicted by a court four months prior to her recent apprehension, Greater Memphis GC stated. Alongside Rucker, Marious Ward was also charged with the murder of Bulakhov.
According to court records detailed by Action News 5, the tragic incident unfolded as Bulakhov was defending his wife and daughter during a robbery. His wife told police that the encounter occurred when the family was walking down Tennessee Street. Bulakhov reportedly conceded his wallet upon the gunman's approach but was shot in a subsequent struggle when the assailant demanded more from his wife.
Now, Rucker is back in custody and being held on a $1 million bond, starkly contrasting her previously dismissed charges. Her co-defendant, Ward, has remained in jail since his arrest last year, his bond set at $275,000, reports from Action News 5 confirm.
