Kimberli “Noelle” Ruzicka, a kindergarten teacher and mother of two young boys, was found dead inside her Bell County home Saturday morning after her husband allegedly shot her twice. The 911 call that brought authorities to the residence came from her husband, Micah Daniel Ruzicka, who reportedly told dispatchers that he had shot his wife and that she was dead. She was found without a pulse. She was a beloved educator whose life ended in a shocking act of domestic violence.
The shooting happened on Saturday, November 7, 2026, at a home in the 100 block of South Allison Drive in Little River, Texas. According to the Bell County Sheriff’s Office, Micah called 911 at approximately 10 a.m. and told emergency dispatchers what had happened.
Deputies from the Bell County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Little River-Academy Police Department rushed to the home. When they arrived, they found Micah at the residence and detained him. Investigators reported seeing what appeared to be blood on him.
Inside the home, officers found Noelle without a pulse. The discovery led to a murder investigation. Investigators later interviewed Micah after advising him of his Miranda rights. He waived those rights and reportedly admitted again to shooting his wife.
The Bell County District Attorney’s Office accepted a criminal complaint charging Micah Daniel Ruzicka with murder. After reviewing the complaint and supporting affidavit, Judge Michael Tice signed an arrest warrant. His bond was set at $1 million.
Away from the investigation, Noelle was known for her work with young children. She taught kindergarten at Providence Preparatory School in Belton, where she enjoyed helping children discover new things and develop a love for learning. Her school biography described her passion for teaching, particularly the joy she found in helping children learn to read.
Noelle graduated from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor with a bachelor’s degree in education. She also earned a master’s degree in theology, with a concentration in missions, from Baylor University’s George W. Truett Seminary. Her education and experience reflected her commitment to both teaching and serving others.
She was also a mother to two boys, Jayson and Jude. Her school biography described her as a devoted mother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She and her husband had shared interests that included visiting the lake, hiking and playing tennis.
Her death has left a painful void for her children, relatives, friends and the school community where she worked. For the two boys who have lost their mother, the tragedy carries a particularly difficult loss that will reach far beyond the day of the shooting.
The Bell County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation with assistance from the Texas Rangers and the Little River-Academy Police Department. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the shooting or previous related incidents to contact the department’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Micah Daniel Ruzicka has been charged with murder. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. As Noelle’s family and loved ones begin to cope with her death, many will remember her not for the violence that ended her life, but for the children she taught, the family she loved and the work she cared so deeply about.
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