Manhunt called off; suspect eludes police
A nearly 24-hour-long search for murder suspect Timothy Wayne Tuttle Jr. was called off Wednesday afternoon.
Lee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman John Sheehan said the search was officially called at between 2:30 and 3 p.m.
“We are confident he is no longer in this area,” Sheehan said. Tuttle was seen in the San Carlos Park area and later near Treeline Avenue near Southwest Florida International Airport.
Tuttle is wanted by Cape Coral police for the July 10 home-invasion slaying of Eric Stuebinger, 27.
Stuebinger was beaten, Tasered and shot to death in his N.W. 2nd Avenue home last Saturday by two masked men who demanded drugs and money.
Sheehan said Tuttle is still considered dangerous, but it’s not known if he has a weapon. He was last seen in the vicinity of Southwest Florida International Airport.
Anyone who may see Tuttle or anything suspicious are encouraged to call 911 and not try to subdue him.