GORHAM, Maine — A manhunt that spanned more than three decades concluded Wednesday night with the apprehension of a Massachusetts man in Gorham, police said.
Gary Allen Irving, who has been on the run since being convicted of three rape crimes in Massachusetts in 1978, was taken into custody by Massachusetts State Police, Maine State Police and Gorham police officers just after 9 p.m. Wednesday, according to Dave Procopio, Media Relations Officer for Massachusetts State Police.
Irving had been convicted of rape in Norfolk County, Mass., but the start of his jail sentence was stayed by a judge in 1978, according to Procopio. He fled during that time and had been on Massachusetts’ Top 10 most wanted list ever since.
Irving had been living in Gorham since the early 1980s under the alias Gregg Irving, according to Department of Public Safety spokesman Stephen McCausland.
Gorham police Lt. Michael Nault said the three police agencies took Irving into custody without incident, and according to Procopio, officers in Massachusetts had garnered tips in recent days that Irving might be in Maine.
McCausland said that Irving has been featured on many crime shows, including America’s Most Wanted, Real Stories of the Highway Patrol and Unsolved Mysteries.
Numerous handguns and other firearms were also confiscated from Irving’s home, Procopio said, and Irving will also face federal weapons charges as a result.
Irving is being held at the Cumberland County Jail on a fugitive from justice charge, and will remain there until his court appearance in Portland on Friday. Procopio said the extradition process will start Friday as well.
McCausland said Maine State Police will review any unsolved sexual assault cases based on any new information police may obtain now that Irving is in custody.
