JEFFERSON — A convicted child rapist who was the subject of a national manhunt was found dead over the weekend in Tucson, Ariz., authorities said Monday.
Gerald Eugene Butcher, 45, of Conneaut, committed suicide in a motel room, according to the Ashtabula County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies had been seeking the man since he skipped his Common Pleas Court sentencing hearing last month.
The date of Butcher’s death couldn’t be confirmed, authorities said. Investigators with the Pima County, Ariz., medical examiners’ office, in charge of the case, were not immediately available Monday afternoon.
Deputies were informed Saturday night of Butcher’s death and told pills and alcohol were involved.
In August, a jury convicted Butcher of two counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping stemming from a 1995 incident in Ashtabula involving a 4-year-old girl. The trial included testimony from the victim, now 18 years old.
Butcher was to be sentenced Nov. 13, but didn’t appear, prompting the court to issue a warrant for his arrest.
The Ohio attorney general’s office put information about Butcher on its Web site, and last week the U.S. marshal’s office joined the search.
A lengthy note was found with Butcher, authorities said. In the note Butcher insisted he was innocent, according to the sheriff’ department.
Local News
Fugitive rapist commits suicide
Conneaut man who skipped sentencing discovered dead in Arizona motel room
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