Officers chase leads on Tuggle
The Shoshone County Sheriff’s Department has been chasing possible leads as they continue their search for John Rollins Tuggle, a registered sex offender who allegedly stabbed his daughter Wednesday and left her for dead.
Sheriff Chuck Reynalds said there was a report that a car similar to Tuggle’s red Ford Escort was spotted Saturday. Reynalds said law enforcement followed the vehicle along the Coeur d’Alene River Road. “It was a resident,” Reynalds said. “Kind of scared the heck out of that resident.”
Possible leads in southern Idaho, Montana and Seattle also didn’t pan out, he said.
Reynalds said law enforcement still believe Tuggle, 37, may not have gone far from the scene of the stabbing – an undeveloped campsite north of Prichard. He said Tuggle was spotted in the area just hours after he allegedly stabbed his daughter five times with a pocketknife and left her for dead.
Campers found the girl after they heard her cries for help while setting up camp, and they took her to Gloria’s Steakhouse in Prichard. She remains hospitalized at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Reynalds said the girl is still in serious condition.
Tuggle was recently released from prison after serving nine years for raping his 13-year-old sister-in-law, who became pregnant from the assault. On Wednesday morning he reportedly went to his ex-wife’s home in Athol and said he was going to take his daughter to the mall.
Instead, officials said, Tuggle took her to the mountains in Shoshone County and allegedly bound and stabbed her.
Reynalds said several leads have been received through the special tip line set up to help capture Tuggle.
“We have had some psychics call in and some well-meaning citizens,” he said. “We listen to everybody.”
Anyone who spots Tuggle is urged to exercise caution. He is considered dangerous and may be armed with large knives, according to Reynalds.
“Try not to let him know you’ve taken notice of him,” Reynalds said. “Do not approach this person. … This guy is all alone and really has nothing to lose. He knows he’s going to prison for a long time.”
Reynalds said he doesn’t know if it will be a day or six months from now, but he’s confident that Tuggle will be taken into custody. A $10 million warrant has been issued for his arrest.