I now have a judgement to reclaim some of the lost $, but she has been totally silent and has not replied to any communication, nor shown up in court. 

What happened was the current tenant brought it in the house because it was raining that night and forgot to put it back out.

If and when the Judge gives you a Judgement, you lose a third months Rent by the time the Sheriff shows up to get them out, if they did not move before then.

I've also asked about making use of the existing well/septic, although I anticipate on simply replacing same with the new construction.Our counties aren't very modern -- while tax info is available online, I still have to go to the courthouse to research any other liens/judgements against the current owner to see if there are hidden claims to the property.  

If the tenant doesn't pay any outstanding items above the security deposit we file a judgement for the balance.

You can try to bill him for damages, but you're at his mercy unless you are prepared to go to court and get a judgement.

The property has a few broken windows with boards up over them, an interior door off the hinges, rot on the bottom of the cabinet under the kitchen sink from a leak some time ago, water seeping up from the concrete in a back room making the carpet damp if it rains a lot.

Like a week of torrential rain that stops the build because you don't have the roof up yet, and now you have to wait for things dry out a bit.

When it rains, it pours.

Have them give a judgement call on how the window was broken.