United States of America
BOLSINGER
John Charles
Active from 1980 to 1988 in Utah, Oregon
DID YOU KNOW...
Legal Fact
Bolsinger appealed his first murder conviction and it was reduced to manslaughter
Interesting Fact
It took about 35 years to identify Bolsinger as a serial killer
THE DISPATCH
The Beginning
John Charles Bolsinger was first arrested for murder in 1980. He already had a criminal background, having committed burglary. Ultimately being found guilty of manslaughter, he served 6 years before earning his release. He went on to kill four more women. He never faced any more prison time for murder.
The Murders
Kaysie Sorenson
- March 29, 1980
- Magna, Utah
Kaysie Sorenson was 33 when she met Bolsinger at a bar in Magna, Utah on March 29, 1980. They went back to her friend’s place but, during their sexual encounter, she made fun of him. Enraged, Bolsinger wrapped a clock radio cord around her neck and strangled her to death. He stole a stereo and left her body on the bed, where she was found the next day by her friend.
Bolsinger Arrested and Convicted
- April 03, 1980
- Utah
On April 3, 1980, John Charles Bolsinger was arrested for Sorenson’s murder.
He was convicted of second-degree murder of Sorenson on March 6, 1981. He was sentenced on April 23, 1981 to a term of 5 years to life.
Bolsinger Released
- April 08, 1986
- Utah
Bolsinger appealed his conviction, and won. His conviction was reduced to manslaughter, and his sentence was subsequently reduced. He was released April 8, 1986.
He continued killing women.
Gladys May Hensley
- June 05, 1986
- Eugene, Oregon
Gladys Hensley, 62, lived in Eugene, Oregon, almost 8km (5mi) from Bolsinger’s hometown of Springfield. On June 5, 1986, she was found murdered in her home. Apartment staff found her a few days later. The case went cold.
Janice Dickinson
- June 19, 1986
- Eugene, Oregon
On June 19, 1986, Janice Dickinson was found behind a car dealership about 10 blocks from where Hensley had died. She had been sexually assaulted and left bloody and naked under a tree. Police said she was the victim of “brutal homicidal violence.” They knew by the manner of death that her murder was related to Hensley’s. Dickinson was 33. The case went cold
Bolsinger Arrested for Attempted Robbery, Convicted, Released
- September 1986-December, 1987
- Springfield, Oregon
On September 26, 1986, while attempting to burglarize a woman’s Springfield home, Bolsinger was arrested. He was sentenced to five years, but was released early, on December 8, 1987.
He continued killing women.
Geraldine Toohey
- February 27, 1988
- Eugene, Oregon
Geraldine Toohey was murdered on February 27, 1988, in her Eugene, Oregon home. Toohey was on the phone with her sister when the line went dead. Her sister thought nothing of it until going to pick Toohey up the next day to go to church. Toohey was found half naked in her home. She had been strangled, stabbed and sexually assaulted. She was 73. The case went cold
Bolsinger Kills Himself
- March 23, 1988
- Springfield, Oregon
On March 23, 1988, Bolsinger was found dead. He had killed himself in his Springfield home at the age of 31. At the time, he was not a suspect in the murders of Hensley, Dickinson and Toohey.
After Bolsinger’s Death
Eugene Police continued working on the cold case murders of Hensley, Dickinson and Toohey. Over the years, they investigated and dismissed many suspects. In September, 2017, police tried Snapshot Phenotyping, which uses DNA to determine simplistic physical characteristics. They hoped it would generate a new suspect when the information was released in 2018, but it went nowhere.
Parabon Nano Labs began offering Genetic Genealogy and Eugene Police began to use the service in mid-2018 to find the killer.
On February 2, 2022, after extensive follow-up, and the analysis of additional evidence, in conjugation with Genetic Genealogy, Eugene Police announced John Charles Bolsinger as the killer of all three women.
VIDEOS
Brief videos on serial killer John Charles Bolsinger
THE STATS
Statistical table for John Charles Bolsinger
| Killer Name | BOLSINGER, John Charles |
| Gender | M |
| Arrest Date | April 3, 1980 |
| Conviction Date | March 6, 1981 |
| Sentence | 5 years to life term |
| Birth Date | September 17, 1957 |
| Death Date | March 23, 1988 |
| Deceased | Yes |
| Suicide | Yes |
| Killer Type | Criminal Enterprise (robbery) & Sex Assault, Wanderer |
| Total Dead Victims | 4 |
| Victims (Suspected) | 3 |
| Victims (Convicted) | 1 |
| Victim Gender | F |
| Victim Race | White |
| Victim Age | 33, 62, 73, 33 |
| Victim Type | strangers |
| Method of Killing | ligature strangulation, |
| Weapon | cord |
| Robbery | Yes |
| Sex Assault | Yes |
| Overkill | Yes |
| Body - Left, Not Hidden | Yes |
| Body - Left, Hidden | Yes |
| Previous Crimes | Burglary, attempted burglary |
| Previous Prison Time | yes |
Killer Rating
RESOURCES
- The Daily Herald (Mar 31, 1980)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Apr 04, 1980)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Apr 30, 1980)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Mar 5, 1981)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Apr 24, 1981)
- The Salt Lake Tribune (Aug 09, 1985)
- Corvallis Gazette-Times (Jun 21, 1986)
- Corvallis Gazette-Times (Jun 28, 1986)
- Eugene Police (Feb 2, 2022)
- KPIC 4 (Feb 2, 2022)
- KEZI 9 (Feb 2, 2022)
- Eugene Police (Feb 2, 2022)
- Oxygen (Feb 3, 2022)
- Appeal No. 17736 (Apr 5, 1985)