SYSK’s Fall True Crime Playlist: The Tale of the Bloody Benders

Kansas in the 1870s: A Lawless Frontier of Slavery Conflicts and Native American Displacement

Kansas in the 1870s, described as beyond the frontier, was a land from which the Osage people had been displaced. The federal government invited people to settle the land, including criminals, unsavory characters, and individuals fleeing from their pasts. The state was a hotbed of violence at the time, with wars against Native Americans and fierce conflicts between pro-slavery and anti-slavery factions that committed atrocities against one another. The wider struggle over whether Kansas would enter the Union as a free or slave state influenced the course of the Civil War.

Kansas Settlement Attracted Unsavory Characters and Fleeing Criminals

One infamous example of the dangerous individuals drawn to Kansas was the Bender family, who began to murder people shortly after setting up their homestead along the Osage Trail. Their presence contributed to the already violent reputation of the state, heightened by the ongoing conflicts and the upheaval of the Civil War era.

Volatile Kansas Climate Ideal for Unno ...

The Benders, a family with a reputation for oddity and violence, crafted mysterious identities for themselves as they posed as German immigrants in the American Midwest.

Bender Family: Four Individuals Posing As German Immigrants With Mysterious Identities

The Bender family consisted of four members, each with their own peculiarities and possible aliases.

Pa Bender, aka John Flickinger, Was a Quiet, Older Man Who Spoke Little English

John Bender Sr., or Pa Bender, was about 60 years old, hailed possibly from Germany or the Netherlands, and might have had the real name John Flickinger. He was not known to be talkative, preferring to communicate mostly in German when he did speak, which was rare.

Ma Bender's Real Name Was Likely Almira Meek; She Had a Violent Temper and Feigned Inability to Speak English

Ma Bender, who sometimes went by the name Elvira and could have been a woman named Almira Meek from upstate New York, had a volatile temper and often pretended she could not speak English. Initially feigning an inability to speak English as her "big joke," she would later reveal her fluency by flying into a violent rage, threatening to kill a woman she claimed was a witch. There were also suspicions that Ma Bender might have been previously married and her former husbands may have met violent ends from head wounds.

John Bender Jr., aka John Gephardt, Was Strange, Laughing Inappropriately, Speaking With a German Accent

John Bender Jr., likely in his twenties and possibly using the alias John Gerhardt, spoke fluent English de ...

The investigation into the Bender family reveals a chilling and meticulous strategy for carrying out numerous murders with the intention of robbing travelers who passed their way.

Bender Family Used Trap Door to Ambush Travelers

During a grim inquiry, volunteers stumbled upon a horrifying discovery on the Bender property: a strategically placed trap door designed to ensnare unsuspecting victims.

Victims Behind a Curtain Bludgeoned With Hammer or Axe, Then Throats Slit

A closer look at the Bender family's modus operandi uncovers a systematic and brutal approach to murder. As guests were seated in front of a curtain for meals, the illumination from candlelight projected their silhouettes, making them clear targets. Without warning, the victims were struck from behind the curtain with the blunt end of an axe or a hammer.

Following the vicious blow to the head, the Benders would proceed to slit the victims' throats. This methodical and calculated scheme rendered the victims helpless, allowing the Benders to rob them with ease before disposing of their bodies.

Bodies Robbed, Buried In Orchard or Dumped In Creek

Investigators found a gruesome scene as they unearthed a dozen bodies buried in the Benders' orchard. Some victims were discarded in Drum Creek, signifying the Benders' nonchalant approach to the disposal of their victims.

The murder and subsequent robbery of William Jones, who carried a substantial amount of money, highl ...

As the number of travelers disappearing increased, suspicion fell on the Bender family, leading to a shocking investigation that uncovered a series of brutal murders.

Suspicion Grew At the Bender Homestead as Travelers Vanished, Prompting an Investigation

The series of murders and disappearances, including those of George Newton Longcore and his daughter Mary Ann, as well as Dr. William York, a physician who went investigating and then vanished, prompted intense suspicion. Dr. York's case, in particular, was alarming due to his connection as the brother of a Kansas senator. The abandoned horse and wagon belonging to Longcore near Fort Scott, Kansas, was part of what triggered the investigation into the Benders.

A search party of about 75 men, led by Colonel Alexander York, Dr. York's brother, was assembled to investigate the Bender's property. Amidst growing concerns about the bad reputation of the area and the series of missing persons, townspeople held a meeting to discuss the situation. Notably, both Pa and John Jr. Bender attended this meeting and joined the unanimous agreement to search everyone's homestead. In a display of feigned innocence, Pa Bender even invited others to search his own property.

Authorities Find Trap Door, Evidence of Family's Grisly Crimes In Cellar

During the investigation, authorities discovered a trap door covered by a bed, which when lifted, revealed clotted blood that led them to the cellar beneath the Bender home. This disturbing evidence confirm ...

The Bender family, known as one of America's first high-profile serial killer cases, has captivated public imagination and spurred much speculation about their ultimate fate, as well as their lasting legacy in the realm of crime and history.

Benders' Crimes Captivated Public Imagination As one of America's First High-Profile Serial Killer Cases

Benders' Fate: Killed by Vigilantes or Fled?

Following the sudden disappearance of the Bender family, there has been rampant conjecture regarding their end. Various unconfirmed sightings and reports suggest multiple fates, from being captured and killed by a vigilante group to the separate demises of Pa Bender by suicide in Lake Michigan and John Jr. by a stroke in Texas-New Mexico. However, all these tales are shadowed by doubt as the substantial reward offered for their capture remained unclaimed.

One narrative posited by Laura Ingalls Wilder states that a group of vigilantes took it upon themselves to deal with the Benders. According to her family story, her father indicated that the Benders would never be found, although most regard this tale as unlikely to be true. The notion of vigilante justice is particularly questioned because of the significant monetary reward that went unclaimed, casting doubt that a group of individuals would not only fail to claim it but also manage to keep such an action a secret for an extended period.

Bender Homestead Became a Morbid Tourist Spot For Seekers of Murder Evidence or Artifacts

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