Kentish Gazette Canterbury & District
‘Cannibal’ is back behind bars
Former hospital worker in jail after moving to backwater in Nebraska
A notorious sex offender dubbed ‘the Canterbury Cannibal’ is back behind bars just days after it was revealed he had arrived in a small American town in an attempt to start a new life.
Former nurse Dale Bolinger, 62, who used to live in Davidson Road, Canterbury, was convicted in 2014 of plotting to rape, decapitate and eat a 14-year-old girl.
The American-born fatherof-two even bought an axe the day before he was due to meet the teenager, who he groomed online, at Ashford International station – but she did not show.
Bolinger was later found to have a stash of obscene images.
He was jailed for nine years in September 2014 but has been released early and deported. It is understood he moved to the small backwater of Blair, Nebraska, where he was staying with friends.
However, on Tuesday it was confirmed his name was on the Washington County Jail population list. He has not been charged with any crime and authorities say he is not there for his personal safety.
Strict laws in Nebraska prevent the police from commenting further.
Washington County Sheriff Mike Robinson said: “He’s here, but I cannot tell you why. Legally, I cannot say anything.”
In a statement to local news outlets, county attorney Scott Vander Schaaf added: “The sheriff and I have been closely involved with the Bolinger situation.
“We want to inform the citizens of Washington County that law enforcement and the county attorney’s office know the location of Mr Bolinger and you can rest assured that he is not a threat to the community at this time.”
Bolinger, who used to work at the QEQM Hospital in Margate, moved back to the USA after his recent release and registered as a sex offender.
But his neighbours in Blair were horrified to learn of his past which sparked safety fears in the town.
County sheriff Mike Robinson had earlier said he was concerned his department had not initially been informed of Bolinger’s crimes.
“We got an email notification, just like any other sex offender notification, last Thursday,” he told local reporters.
“There was nothing about his past, just that this guy had registered and he’s living at this address.”
Sheriff Robinson then received a tip that he should look further into Bolinger’s convictions.
“We did and that’s when we found out his past,” he said. “It was very concerning.”
Bolinger was arrested in Canterbury following information from the FBI who were investigating internet chats about rape, murder and cannibalism.