Texas man who arranged to kill, rape, eat child sentenced to 40 years in prison

BEAUMONT, Texas (KTLA) -- A Texas man who has been described as a “disturbed predator” was recently sentenced to 40 years in prison after soliciting the “murder, necrophilia, and cannibalism” of a juvenile on the dark web, authorities said.

Alexander Nathan Barter, 23, is also ordered to submit to a lifetime of supervised release, according to a statement from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Barter reached an agreement with prosecutors and pleaded guilty to charges of attempted coercion and enticement of a minor, and distribution of child pornography, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

In October 2018, Barter posted an ad on a dark web site, according to ICE, that read: “I'd like to try necrophilia and cannibalism, and see how it feels to take a life. If you'd be willing to let me kill you, are in the U.S. (preferably in the south) and can travel by car, contact me.” An ICE undercover special agent with saw the posting and responded, pretending to be the father of a 13-year-old girl.

Over a 10-day period, Barter exchanged messages with the undercover agent, repeatedly expressing interest in “killing, raping and eating the 13-year-old child,” according to the ICE release.

The defendant went to the designated meeting site in Joaquin on Oct. 19, 2018, and took a knife, trash bag, cellphone and tablet with him, the release stated. He was arrested that day.