Post by Joanna on Nov 8, 2018 17:56:22 GMT -5
Man Advertised for Child to Kill, Sexually Violate and Eat
Alexander Nathan Barter (above), 21, of Shelby County, Texas, fantasized online about killing, then sexually assaulting and eating a child, after which he was arrested. The case “is one of the most sickening that I’ve ever experienced in my 39 years in law enforcement,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey of Brevard County, Florida, during a press conference at the local jail.
According to Ivey, it all started when agents in Florida answered an internet ad placed by Barter in which he wrote: “I would like to try necrophilia and cannibalism and see how it feels to take a life.” According to Ivey, the conversation quickly turned to Barter’s admitting he wanted to commit such acts on a female child. As the chat continued, Barter commented: “I would like to do this ASAP. I really need to do something about my intense blood lust.” After the undercover agent assured Barter he was willing to travel, the suspect directed him to Texas. During the chat, Barter clearly stated: “I’m not into role-playing. I want to actually rape, kill and cannibalize her. I am very serious about doing this. I live in the woods, so I can make sure her body won’t ever be found.”
Ivey was candid concerning his disgust: “Folks, this individual is one of the most sick, disgusting and demented people I believe I have ever had the unfortunate nature to be involved with. Our team did an amazing job at getting this individual off the street.” He insisted Barter was “not just talking online” about his intentions.
“When he was arrested, [Barter] showed up with a knife and bags to take the body parts off,” Ivey continued. Had he not been caught, Ivey said he was certain the man would have committed the crimes he intended. “He was so committed to carrying it out,” after his arrest and confession, “he actually thanked the agents that were involved in the investigation for stopping him because he was unable to stop himself,” the sheriff added.
Several law enforcement agencies were involved in the case, including the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security, the Border Patrol, the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Nacogdoches Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation began in Brevard County, Florida, and ended with the arrest in Shelby County, Texas. The Brevard agent working the case alongside the Department of Homeland Security and Texas law enforcement agencies traveled to Texas to make the arrest.
During the press conference, Ivey described Barter: “He not only wanted to rape and kill, but he wanted to cannibalize this individual. He talks about necrophilia. He talks in great detail about what he was going to do. This is an individual that had allowed his urges, as sick as they are, to build up and he was unable to control them. Thankfully, there are agents that work for us, there are agents that work for our federal partners that were able to put him somewhere where we could control him and never allow him to hurt a child.”
Ivey specifically cited Lt. Rob Vitaliano of the Brevard County Sheriff’s criminal investigations unit who was deeply involved in the case along with undercover detectives.
Barter was arrested Oct. 19 after he showed up with a knife and plastic bags to a prearranged location in Texas at which the agent had promised to turn over a child the suspect could kill, sexually violate and eat. Barter was arrested and charged with criminal solicitation, attempted capital murder, conspiracy to commit capital murder and attempted sexual performance on a child. The suspect faces federal charges that could result in life in prison.
Barter was remanded without bail. He appeared before a federal magistrate on Oct. 26 to face federal charges of child exploitation. The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the East District of Texas.
Source: Jennifer Sangalang, Tim Shortt and J.D. Gallop, Florida Today, November 8, 2018.