Sun City woman recounts ordeal

Linda Tuttle began her day doing yard work with her husband early Saturday morning.

But her world was turned upside down when a stranger beat and abducted her, dropping her blocks from her home after she wouldn't stop screaming.

Her sons are offering $15,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect who is described as black man with medium-toned skin, about 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches, 200 pounds "sort of stocky," and clean-cut.

Tuttle, 61, who works as a nurse, believes that a higher power intervened and prevented her from being harmed any more seriously than she was.

"I realize in a lot of ways, the Lord covered those circumstances," Tuttle said. "I have no broken bones."

Tuttle said that sometime between 9 and 9:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, after her husband had left to run some errands, a man approached her on the side of her house. He was carrying a sleeping bag under his left arm, said he was lost and asked if she could help him.

"I should have followed my instinct that something was wrong, but I was afraid he was stealing items from the garage, which was open," Tuttle said.

Tuttle said she can hardly remember what happened after he followed her around the side of the house, but said he grabbed her, she struggled, and he threw her in the back of his car.

"He said that he would slit my throat if I didn't stop screaming," Tuttle said.

Tuttle said the suspect began driving through the neighborhood, and she tried to open the car door, which was locked. She was able to get a window down and was screaming.

"I was calling on the Lord," Tuttle said. "I was yelling ‘Satan is a liar, and Jesus is Lord!'"

Tuttle said the suspect drove down streets that dead-end, and told her to get out of the car, about seven blocks from her home. She went to the first driveway she came to and asked the homeowner to call authorities.

Tuttle suffered a laceration over her left eye, which is now black and blue. She said her ear was torn and cartilege was exposed. She was treated at Arrowhead and John C. Lincoln hospitals.

She met with a sketch artist Monday at the MCSO substation in Surprise.

The suspect vehicle description is vague.

"When it comes to cars I can't tell a Chevy from a Ford," Tuttle said.

She said her sons believe it could be Dodge Journey, from her description and viewing vehicles online.

Tuttle said that she wished she followed her instinct when she first saw the suspect. But she is grateful that she wasn't hurt seriously.

"I am peaceful within," Tuttle said. "I have very few aches and pains - the Lord was so merciful to me."

Those with information on the suspect or the case should call the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office District 3 detective at 602-876-1602.

Joy Slagowski may be reached at 623-876-2514, or jslagowski@yourwestvalley.com.