N.H. police say rape suspect may be in Va.

DOVER, N.H. -- Authorities say a Maine man wanted on multiple rape charges may have fled to Virginia under an assumed name.

Bruce E. Tuttle, 57, wanted in the Dover area on 19 rape charges, took a bus from Barnstable, Mass., headed for Virginia Beach, Va., using the name Donald Hoyt, the Strafford County attorney's office said. US marshals converged on Virginia Beach on Tuesday and continued to check the area Wednesday.

Tuttle is charged with repeatedly assaulting at least two girls under the age of 13 between 1997 and 2002 in Rochester and Strafford.

If convicted, he could spend the rest of his life in prison.

Authorities believe Tuttle, who mostly recently lived in Farmingdale, Maine, has been wanted since failing to appear at his March 21 arraignment.

Barnstable police ''have evidence he was down there," said Tom Hart, an investigator with the county attorney's office. He said Tuttle was caught on video footage at a bus station, but would not say specifically where.

''He took buses, and as far as we can track right now, his last bus trip would have been to Virginia Beach," Hart said.