Episode 27: The Bloody Benders and their Ghosts
“Their story is unresolved and remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the old west."
Episode Transcript
Revenge. It’s a highly complex and deeply human emotion that all too often runs through the veins of the stories we tell. And like the venom from a viper's fangs, if we let it fester, revenge will almost certainly snuff out all the good in our lives—leaving us only with a petulantly toxic end.
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Take, for instance, the story of Aaron Burr. Now if you’ve seen the musical Hamilton, then you likely know the name and his story. But in case you haven’t, allow me to fill you in.
In the early years of the United States, Aaron Burr found himself embroiled in a bitter rivalry with none other than Alexander Hamilton. Burr, a charismatic Democratic-Republican, and Hamilton, a passionate Federalist, held starkly contrasting views on how the fledgling country should be governed. A fact that set the stage for one of the most turbulent political feuds in American history.
Their rivalry reached its pinnacle during the presidential election of 1800. Burr had joined forces with Thomas Jefferson as his running mate. Meanwhile, Hamilton fervently opposed their Democratic-Republican ticket—unleashing a bombardment of scathing criticism against Burr throughout their campaign. And although Jefferson did win the election, Burr’s political reputation had been sullied by his old adversary’s unyielding jabs.
Years later, in 1804, Burr set his sights on becoming the Governor of New York. However, his ambitions were thwarted when Hamilton’s influence was believed to have played a role in Burr’s defeat. This perceived insult wounded Burr deeply, and he began to plot his revenge.
It was July 11, 1804, when Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. Though it was a dangerous practice, forbidden by the law, the men were blinded by an unwavering sense of personal honor. So, on that fateful day, Burr and Hamilton walked side by side onto a desolate field in Weehawken, New Jersey.
As the sun’s rays pierced through the early morning mist, the two adversaries stood face to face, their pistols ready. Hamilton, a man guided by a strict code of honor, made a conscious decision. He aimed his pistol into the air, refusing to take a life but making a symbolic statement nonetheless.
Burr, however, held no such restraint. He took aim and fired directly at Hamilton, striking him with a mortal blow.
In the aftermath, Burr’s reputation suffered a severe blow. The act of killing a prominent figure like Hamilton stained his legacy, forever overshadowing his political achievements. And so, revenge took the very thing that Burr had spent his career fighting for.
Suffice to say, that vengeful actions have the tendency to lead even the best of us down a very bitter road. And more often than not, it’s that very bitterness that comes back to haunt us.
I'm Courtney Hayes and you’re listening to haunts. Stay tuned.
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Our story begins on the rolling plains of Eastern Kansas. Where, no more than 30 miles from the Oklahoma state line, there sits a nondescript hill surrounded by farmland.
To the unobservant passerby, the knoll would more than likely slip into the backdrop of the otherwise rustic heartland terrain. But for those of us who remain weary of the paranormal alongside the true crime obsessed, the large metal sign that sits only a few paces away would likely be cause for intrigue.
The Bloody Benders--the words are etched across the copper-colored plaque--notating a title that is every bit as sinister as the story that follows. "Near here are the Bender Mounds, named for the infamous Bender Family...Their story is unresolved and remains one of the great unsolved mysteries of the old west."
So who exactly were Bloody Benders? And what could they have done to earn such an insidious introduction?
For the locals of Labette County, Kansas, the Bender's heinous acts have become the stuff of legends--a harrowing story that has marred the reputation of their small, quiet town. And at the center of it all, the secrets of the Bloody Benders remain buried, lying silently beneath that very same hill.
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It's hard to believe how welcoming the members of the small farming township had been when the covered wagon rolled into town in the fall of 1870. However, who could blame? After all, they really had no reason to think anything was out of the ordinary.
John Bender Sr. and his wife Elvira had only recently immigrated from Germany to the United States. Accompanied by their children, John Jr. and Kate, they journeyed to southeastern Kansas and claimed 165 acres of land in Labette County.
At first, they appeared to be an ordinary family traveling west in search of the American Dream. But as they began to ingratiate themselves into the small closely knit community, well their new neighbors began to notice peculiarities about the Benders.
For starters, the family as a whole was a rather anti-social bunch. John Sr, for instance, with his bearded face and morose expression, his neighbors described him as a “wild and wooly-looking man.”
And then there was his wife. Known simply by the nickname "Ma," the woman was anything but motherly. Speaking with a thick, guttural accent that was difficult to comprehend, Ma Bender was notoriously unfriendly toward her new community--earning her another less approachable nickname: She-devil.
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The bender children were equally as unconventional as their parents. Although, they were a bit less recluse. Neither John Jr. nor Kate modeled the thick accent of their parents, and as such, they were much more likable than Ma and Pa. Kate in particular was known for her beauty--making her somewhat of a darling in the communities eyes.
But even still, Kate was concealing something darker up her sleeves. You see like many of their neighbors, Kate and Ma Bender regarded themselves as spiritualists.
Of course, we all know that the spiritualism movement isn't inherently evil. But it was no secret that Kate took the practice a step further--boiling herbs and roots with the sinister intention of casting what she described as wicked charms and spells.
So perhaps this is why the Benders gained an unpleasant reputation. They were seen more as a cult than they were a family.
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Even in spite of their new neighbor's curious, albeit cautious eyes, the Bender Family wasted no time in getting down to business. Together, they built a quaint one-bedroom cabin and a barn; they dug a well and set up a corral for livestock, and before long their rural plot of land transformed into a sizable homestead. But John Sr had something a bit more grand in store.
As a matter of fact, he had picked this parcel of land specifically for its location. Situated directly along the historic Osage Mission-Independence Trail, John saw great potential in the property—a perfect spot for a charming, intimate inn that could warmly welcome the countless frontiersmen embarking on their own westward journeys.
Or so he told his neighbors and the very guests that he was hosting. But not unlike the benders themselves, the inn's sweet facade left a rather sour aftertaste.
You see, the Benders opened a small mom-and-pop grocery store. Identified only by a wooden sign with the word "grocery" crudely painted across it, the store stocked a few meager items--liquor, tobacco, and produce mainly. But it was here that the Benders peddled the services, offering what they described as a safe place to stay.
Then, once these weary pioneers booked their accommodations, they were lured even further into the cabin, enticed by the captivating presence of Kate Bender herself. At the young age of 23, Kate skillfully charmed her guests, coaxing them into the kitchenette and offering them a seat at the dining table--the best one in the house.
But little did the travelers know, a sinister plan was unfolding--standing only a few feet behind them were none other than John Sr and his son. Concealed behind a canvas tarp, the men waited in silence for their opportunity--a heavy hammer poised in their hands.
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By now I'm sure you can see how the bloody benders got their name. After luring them into the cabin, they would wait for their would-be guest to drop their guard. Then, just as they began to feel a sense of comfort at Kate's hands, John Jr. and Sr would reveal themselves--attacking the traveler with the hammer in their grasps.
Once the deed was done, the victim's makeshift thrown was removed--revealing a trap door that was discretely placed beneath the dining table. Upon its opening, the trap door leads to the cellar--acting as a convenient location for the benders to dispose of their handy work.
Then, only when the dust had settled, the Benders would descend down into the cellar themselves. There, they would remove anything of value from their victim's body before dragging them out to the orchard and abandoning them in a shallow grave.
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Together, the Benders claimed at least 11 innocent souls using this horrific method. Although many believe that their list of victims runs much longer. Of course, many were the weary travelers who were unfortunate enough to stumble upon the Bender's so-called inn.
Among these victims was Benjamin M. Brown, a stone mason from Lancaster, Pennsylvania who went missing after visiting the Bender's Inn on Nov 30th, 1872. Not long after, Mr. H.F. McKenzie of Noblesville, Indiana followed suit. He had been traveling to Kanas with the intention of buying land. Only those plans fell through after meeting the Bender family on Christmas Day.
But this is not to say that the Bender Family would exclusively target the frontiersmen who so commonly traveled through Labette County. As a matter of fact, their heinous acts extended to their community as well.
Take, for instance, Mr. George Newton Longcor who has been living locally in Labette. That is until December of 1872 when George decided to move closer to his aging parents in Lee County, Iowa.
It was a chilly December morning when he embarked on this new chapter. Armed with a few horses that he had purchased from his neighbor, George, and his infant daughter set out on their northward trek. Only they never made it to their destination.
Dr. William Henry York, George's friend and former neighbor, became worried when he never heard from George about his travels. So come the spring of 1873, York saddled up and set out in search of the Longcors.
Despite his valiant efforts, York was unsuccessful in this venture--making it all the way to Fort Scott, Kansas before finally deciding to make the journey home. But little did he know of the trouble that awaited him back in Labette County.
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It was the tragic disappearance of Dr. William Henry York that would eventually mark the beginning of the end for the Benders and their callous crimes. After all, the township was a closely-knit community where people looked out for one another. So really it shouldn't have come as a shock when a town meeting was organized at the Harmony Grove schoolhouse.
In total, 75 locals from around Labette County attended this public meeting. Among them were the now notorious John Bender and son, alongside Colonel Alexander M. York. Yes, you heard that right, William Henry's very own brother. And as I'm sure you can imagine, Colonel York was not too happy about the chaotic state that the Township had devolved to.
You see, in the weeks prior, Colonel York led a contingent of approximately fifty men throughout the county. They questioned nearly every traveler they encountered and knocked on the doors of every homestead along their way--all in an effort to find William Henry York.
So, when they arrived at the Benders' inn on March 28, 1873, Colonel York, of course, inquired about his missing brother. To his surprise, the innkeepers did admit that Dr. York had indeed stayed with them on his way back home, but only for a short while. They assured the colonel, however, that his brother had safely left their care--quizzically suggesting that he may have run into trouble after his departure.
Now Colonel York had every right to be suspicious; but even so, he gave the Benders the benefit of the doubt. That is until a few days later when York caught wind of a rumor that Elvira Bender had only recently chased a woman from the inn while wielding a knife.
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And that, of course, brings us back to the town meeting. (Slight pause) Alongside his friends and fellow neighbors, York advocated for action to be taken. After all, it was now quite apparent that the Osage Township was at the epicenter of this anarchy, meaning that one of their own was responsible for the strange disappearances.
And with that sobering thought hanging freely in the air, the locals could think of only one thing they could do. Search each and every homestead from top to bottom--leaving no stone unturned--until the truth itself finally came to light.
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The Benders were obviously reluctant to have their property searched. But, as the meeting came to a close, they kept their objections to themselves. Instead, holding their cards close to the chest, the men raced back to the homestead to tell Kate and Ma the news.
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It was three days later, when local rancher, Billy Tole, was driving cattle past the Bender property. And even at a passing glance, it was quite obvious that something was off. The livestock--left unattended in their corrals--had nearly starved. Not to mention, the crudely painted grocery sign was no longer hanging up above the cabin door. So it would seem that the Bender's Inn had been abandoned.
In the days that followed, a search party was organized--the township trustee asked for volunteers who were willing and able to spare their time. And while they likely expected a few dozen at the most, the locals of Labette County showed out in the hundreds. Together, these bands of volunteers searched the Benders' property with a fine toothcomb. Although, they didn't have to look very far, to unearth the dark secrets that the family had been hiding.
Upon entering the cabin, the search party was struck by a pungent odor emanating from the cellar. It didn't take long for them to find the trap door--nailed tightly shut under the dining table. The odor only grew stronger as the party pried the nails from the hatch-style door. But upon further investigation, they couldn't find any evidence of the nefarious events that transpired in that very room.
That is until the group ventured out into the orchard, where they poked and prodded at the recently disturbed ground. And sure enough, the party made a startling discovery: the remains of the Bender Family's innumerable victims. And with that, the Labette County locals were left with a chilling question: Where had the Benders gone?
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According to local lore, the story of the bloody benders is just as haunting as it is true. As a matter of fact, it is said that their victims still haunt that old property--consumed by an eternal quest for revenge.
Now this sinister wrath that plagues these forsaken spirits may well be the consequence of the Bender Family's unlikely escape. You see, despite tireless efforts to track the family down, the Benders continued to elude capture, leaving their ultimate fate shrouded in mystery.
As the years passed, various sightings and rumors about the Benders would surface, but none were ever substantiated. Some believe they found refuge in another state or even fled the country altogether, while others speculated that they may have met a demise of their own.
And so, we come to what is likely the most infamous spirit said to prowl around this haunt. According to the legend at least, the ghost of Kate Bender still lurks about the homestead, perhaps reliving the horrific acts she performed in life.
Some accounts even describe sightings of a shadowy figure that resembles her venomous beauty, while others make claims of hearing voices that mimic her infamous charm. So it would seem, after a lifetime of tormenting the living, Kate is carrying on her transgressions from beyond the grave.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Benders
https://medium.com/internet-archaeology/the-bastardized-story-of-the-bloody-benders-a203fb0e419a