The Sinister Legacy of John Charles Bolsinger

Early Life and First Murder

John Charles Bolsinger was born on September 17, 1957, in Springfield, Oregon. His life trajectory would soon plunge into darkness, culminating in a series of heinous crimes that would chill the residents of Eugene, Oregon. Bolsinger's journey into infamy began on March 29, 1980, in Magna, Utah. That day, he entered the apartment complex at 8044 W. 3500 South with ill intentions toward 33-year-old Kaysie Sorensen, whom he had met earlier in a bar. What started as an encounter quickly turned deadly when Sorensen allegedly mocked him. In a fit of rage, Bolsinger strangled her with a cord from a clock radio. He then ransacked the apartment, stealing a stereo, and left Sorensen's lifeless body to be discovered by the building manager the next day. An autopsy would later reveal that she had been strangled and potentially sexually assaulted.

The aftermath of this brutal act saw Bolsinger behind bars within days. He was charged with second-degree murder and held on a $100,000 bail at the Salt Lake County Jail. The trial that followed hinged on whether Sorensen's death was a premeditated act of violence or a tragic accident. Bolsinger's defense brought in Dr. Boyd Stephens, a coroner from San Francisco, who testified that Sorensen's death resulted from heart failure due to chest compression. District Attorney Lynn Payne, however, contended that the strangulation was a deliberate act triggered by an insult. Despite the defense's efforts, Bolsinger was found guilty of murder and sentenced to a term of five years to life. His conviction, however, would not stand the test of time.

Imprisonment and Release

As Bolsinger served his sentence, the Utah Supreme Court made a pivotal decision. In a 3-1 ruling, they overturned his murder conviction, citing insufficient evidence of intent to inflict "grave bodily harm" on Sorensen. This decision reduced his charge to manslaughter, setting his parole date for April 8, 1986. While imprisoned, Bolsinger joined three other convicts in an appeal to the Utah Supreme Court, arguing for better research facilities for their civil cases. This appeal was ultimately denied.

Upon his release, Bolsinger returned to Springfield, Oregon, seemingly a free man. Yet, his newfound freedom would soon be marred by more violence.

A String of Murders

In the summer of 1986, Eugene, Oregon, became the hunting ground for an elusive predator. On June 5, the body of 62-year-old Gladys Mae Hensley was found in her apartment. Just two weeks later, the half-nude body of 33-year-old Janice Marie Dickinson was discovered beneath a tree by a car dealership. The eerie similarities between the cases led detectives to suspect they were connected, but the investigation went cold with no substantial leads. To solve the mystery, the Eugene Police Department enlisted the expertise of a retired police chief with experience from the Atlanta child murders and the Green River Killer cases, but even his insights proved fruitless.

In the midst of these investigations, Bolsinger's criminal tendencies resurfaced. He was arrested for attempting to burglarize a woman's apartment in Springfield. The woman, awakened by her dog's barking, caught Bolsinger peering through her kitchen window. She managed to call 911 before he entered her house and attempted to snatch the phone from her hand. In a frantic struggle, she fought him off with a phone and a flashlight, forcing him to flee. He left behind a down vest and a kitchen knife, evidence that would soon implicate him further. When apprehended by a K9 unit, Bolsinger claimed amnesia, insisting he remembered nothing after knocking on the door. Despite this claim, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison, which he served in Utah until his parole for good behavior on December 8, 1987.

Three days after regaining his freedom, Bolsinger enrolled at Lane Community College in Eugene. Yet, his studies would not deter his violent impulses.

The Final Murder and Bolsinger's Demise

On February 27, 1988, Bolsinger committed his final known crime. He broke into the home of 73-year-old Geraldine Spencer Toohey on Franklin Boulevard. While on a call with her sister, Toohey was brutally attacked. Bolsinger cut the phone lines, stabbed, raped, and strangled her before fleeing. Her body was discovered the next day by her sister, and a suspect sketch was released by the Oregon State Police.

Despite not being a suspect in these murders, Bolsinger's reign of terror ended on March 23, 1988, when he took his own life in his Springfield home, a mere month after Toohey's murder. The connection between his death and the unsolved murders remained speculative until the year 2000 when DNA evidence linked the three cases.

Closing the Cold Case

The trail of destruction Bolsinger left behind remained cold for years. It wasn't until 2016 that a breakthrough occurred. The Eugene Police Department turned to Parabon NanoLabs, who used DNA technology to create a snapshot of the suspect. This cutting-edge technique helped narrow down the suspect list to four individuals, one of whom was Bolsinger. Through meticulous investigation, authorities eliminated the other suspects using footprints and fingerprints, ultimately confirming Bolsinger's role in the murders.

In February 2022, the Eugene Police Department officially announced that John Charles Bolsinger was the murderer of the three women. The case that had haunted Eugene for decades was finally closed.

Sources

The details of John Charles Bolsinger's life and crimes can be further explored through Wikipedia.