FAST FACTS:
(Dresden, TN 11/5/2009) The man police believe is the "big bellied rapist" is in a Tennessee mental institution.
A Weakly County judge ordered Bruce Tuck to undergo a mental evaluation during a hearing stemming from an indictment returned earlier this week.
Tuck faces 22 charges for the rapes of 3 different women in Martin, TN. He is the suspect in 2 other cases in Shelby County.
Bruce Tuck's bother and mother leave the hearing without answering questions. They're in court when the man victims identified by as a rapist with a large stomach pleads not guilty.
"We were able to get all the cases prepared to move the case along primarily for the victims," said Tommy Thomas, Weakley Co. District Attorney.
During the hearing the judge asked Tuck if he had a job and if he had a bank account.
Tuck replied, "No, sir. I did have one. It's depleted."
A judge appointed Tuck a public defender and immediately afterwards officers transported him to a mental hospital for 30 days to decide if he's competent enough to stand trial. We talked to the sheriff about how Tuck has acted while in jail.
"He has acted up somewhat in the past. I don't know whether he was just testing us, maybe. Throwing his food at one time or another but for the most part the last 3 weeks. He's not been a problem at all," said Sheriff Mike Wilson, Weakley County.
Meanwhile, some of Tuck's alleged victims are moving on with their lives. News Channel 3 visits the home in Martin, TN near the University of Tennessee Martin where 3 of the rapes occurred. The glass door is repaired that police say Tuck broke out to get inside. The women have all moved out and 3 college guys are now renting it.
"It's $600 a month and a 2 story house. So, we were like it is a good find. We didn't care anything about what happened because we were males," said Tracy Mays, U of Tennessee Martin student.
The district attorney says he doesn't anticipate anymore charges in Weakley County. As for the two rapes in Shelby County, Tuck hasn't been charged with them but could likely in the coming days and weeks according to investigators.
- Bruce Tuck,known as "Big Belly" rapist, in court
- Tuck pleads not guilty on 22 count grand jury indictment
- Tuck transported to mental hospital for evaluation
(Dresden, TN 11/5/2009) The man police believe is the "big bellied rapist" is in a Tennessee mental institution.
A Weakly County judge ordered Bruce Tuck to undergo a mental evaluation during a hearing stemming from an indictment returned earlier this week.
Tuck faces 22 charges for the rapes of 3 different women in Martin, TN. He is the suspect in 2 other cases in Shelby County.
Bruce Tuck's bother and mother leave the hearing without answering questions. They're in court when the man victims identified by as a rapist with a large stomach pleads not guilty.
"We were able to get all the cases prepared to move the case along primarily for the victims," said Tommy Thomas, Weakley Co. District Attorney.
During the hearing the judge asked Tuck if he had a job and if he had a bank account.
Tuck replied, "No, sir. I did have one. It's depleted."
A judge appointed Tuck a public defender and immediately afterwards officers transported him to a mental hospital for 30 days to decide if he's competent enough to stand trial. We talked to the sheriff about how Tuck has acted while in jail.
"He has acted up somewhat in the past. I don't know whether he was just testing us, maybe. Throwing his food at one time or another but for the most part the last 3 weeks. He's not been a problem at all," said Sheriff Mike Wilson, Weakley County.
Meanwhile, some of Tuck's alleged victims are moving on with their lives. News Channel 3 visits the home in Martin, TN near the University of Tennessee Martin where 3 of the rapes occurred. The glass door is repaired that police say Tuck broke out to get inside. The women have all moved out and 3 college guys are now renting it.
"It's $600 a month and a 2 story house. So, we were like it is a good find. We didn't care anything about what happened because we were males," said Tracy Mays, U of Tennessee Martin student.
The district attorney says he doesn't anticipate anymore charges in Weakley County. As for the two rapes in Shelby County, Tuck hasn't been charged with them but could likely in the coming days and weeks according to investigators.
