Tuggle faced higher child support bill

Less than two weeks before John Rollins Tuggle allegedly took his daughter into the woods and stabbed her repeatedly, notice was sent to the convicted sex offender that his ex-wife was seeking additional child support.

According to Kootenai County court records, a notice for a Sept. 6 hearing was mailed to Tuggle in Colorado on July 8. On July 20, he allegedly told ex-wife Terri Joe Teupel that he was taking their 12-year-old daughter to the mall. Instead, according to Shoshone County authorities, Tuggle took the girl to the woods north of Prichard, Idaho, and stabbed her five times in the neck, abdomen and groin.

The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office said this week that the girl was also raped and that Tuggle is the only suspect. Sheriff Chuck Reynalds said his department is awaiting DNA evidence to tie Tuggle to the rape.

Tuggle, 37, is being held at Shoshone County Jail on charges of attempted murder. His daughter was released from Sacred Heart Medical Center last weekend.

Tuggle was released from prison in January 2004 after serving 9 years for raping Teupel’s 13-year-old sister, who became pregnant as a result. His wife divorced him in 1997 – about two years after he was sentenced.

Teupel was granted full custody of the couple’s two children, and Tuggle was ordered to pay $100 per month in child support upon his release from prison. In July 2004, Teupel petitioned the court to modify the child support payments.

According to the court records, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare believed Tuggle should pay more – about $287 per month. Health and Welfare was also asking, on Teupel’s behalf, that the court force Tuggle to help with medical and day-care expenses.

Tuggle didn’t respond to the request for additional support and, in January 2005, the court approved Health and Welfare’s petition for additional support. The court also decided Tuggle should pay attorney’s fees.

Later this spring, a motion was filed to set aside that decision on the basis that the amount was only calculated for one child when the couple has two. That notice was mailed to Tuggle at his brother’s Colorado home, where he had been living since his release from prison.

Tuggle’s brother said he was surprised when Tuggle abruptly left Colorado and headed to Athol, where Teupel and his children lived. He said Tuggle was supposed to return the day before the injured girl was discovered by campers, left alone in the woods after being stabbed several times.

According to statements made in court July 21 by a Shoshone County sheriff’s deputy, the 12-year-old victim said Tuggle had been staying at the family’s home in Athol. Another source, who asked to remain anonymous, confirmed that information and said Tuggle had been staying there for five days previous to the attack.

Reynalds said the sheriff’s department in Wallace is serving as a collection point for donations for the victim. All donations of money will be collected and a citizens’ committee will be appointed to administer the funds, Reynalds said Thursday. For information on the sheriff’s department fund, call (208) 556-1114.

Accounts have also been set up at US Bank.

One of those accounts was opened by Teupel, suggesting donations be made in the name of “Nya.” The account is set up in both Teupel’s name and her daughter’s name, according to the bank. Through the bank manager, Teupel declined to specify how that money will be spent.

Teupel could not be reached for comment Thursday.

According to Kootenai County court records, Teupel owes $2,750 in restitution in connection with a 1999 conviction for grand theft and forgery. The account has gone to collection.

According to a 1999 report from Coeur d’Alene Police, Teupel was working at a Coeur d’Alene pawn shop and title loan company at the time. She was convicted of issuing checks in the name of others, forging their signatures and then cashing the checks at the business.Other relatives of the girl have also established an account at US Bank. The account is under the name “Lucy and Linus.” The relative who opened that account said the funds will be used to purchase back-to-school clothes for the girl and her 11-year-old brother, to pay for counseling costs for both children, and that any money remaining could be used for education. According to the relatives, Teupel will be unable to access the funds.