The Bender family ran a small inn for travelers along the Osage Mission Trail in Kansas, but they suddenly abandoned their homestead in 1873 — then the bodies of people who had gone missing turned up buried on their property.
Public DomainPortraits of the Bender family member , John , Elvira , John Jr. , and Kate Bender .
In 1873 , at least 11 bodies were found on the property of the Bender Inn , a small memory and resting office in Labette County , Kansas , for traveler on the Osage Mission Trail that was run by the Bender family . The murderous homesteaders had go away , and despite a nationwide manhunt , nobody could find them . The level of the Bloody Benders soon entrance America .
detective determined that the Benders had targeted the traveler to soak them . They hid behind a curtain in their one - way cabin , slit their guests ’ throat as they dine , then dribble them into the root cellar through a hole threshold to bleed out . After this gruesome news break , the Bender Inn was deplumate asunder by odd onlookers desire to bring home a macabre souvenir , destroy any other evidence that may have been hidden at heart .
Public DomainPortraits of the Bender family members, John, Elvira, John Jr., and Kate Bender.
John Bender ; his married woman , Elvira ; a human presume to be their boy , John Jr. ; and their daughter , Kate Bender , were never seen again . Over the next two decennium , several man and char accused of being members of the family were arrested , but nothing ever came of the flush .
Even today , more than 150 year after these gruesome crimes occurred , the tale of the Bloody Benders stands as one of the most haunting mystery of the American West .
Labette County, Kansas In The Late 19th Century
Before Kansas became the 34th state in 1861 , the part was primarily inhabited by autochthonic clan . Around the 1840s , settlers , dealer , and merchant began establishing business deal posts in the sphere and integrating into the local communities , often through marriage with Native Americans .
Among these settlers was the French - Canadian fur trapper Pierre LaBette , for whom Labette County would later be name .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe Bender phratry ’s home in Labette County , Kansas .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe Bender family’s home in Labette County, Kansas.
Labette County was formally establish on Feb. 26 , 1867 , and in the years following the Civil War , the U.S. government actively encouraged more westbound enlargement . During this post - war period , the population of Labette County grew rapidly . According to a report from theKansas State Board of Agriculture , between 1870 and 1878 , the population rose from 9,973 residents to 17,190 .
But not everyone who moved to Labette County during this prison term had good intentions , and there were tensions between settlers and the Indigenous tribes who had already populate the land . During this turbulent time of expansion , the Bender family established a mien — and carried out their gruesome killings .
The Bender Family’s Odd Habits Hint At Something Darker
There were some other indication that the Benders were a small strange . The community they get back in was founded by a mathematical group of spiritualist who believed in some rather unorthodox thing . For case , spirituality teach that the spirits of the dead continue to go on after death — and sensitive often practice séances to contact these ghosts .
Kate Bender , who was in all probability John Bender ’s daughter ( whether or not the Benders were actually blood relatives is disputed ) , promptly realise a reputation as a psychic and therapist who could sing to the dead . Even in a community of spiritualist , her preaching on the economic value of liberal love were considered a footling rum . John , meanwhile , had a tendency to laugh aimlessly , which direct many to remember he might be mentally ominous .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe Bender homestead was the internet site of at least 11 grim murders .
Kansas Historical SocietyAn referring to Katie (Kate) Bender as a healer.
Elvira Bender ( sometimes referred to as Almira ) , in particular , was so unfriendly that other members of the local biotic community reportedly cite to her as a “ She - Devil . ”
Kate Bender was by far the most social member of the family , which made her the perfect human face for their clientele . The Bender Inn was a modest , one - elbow room cabin divide into two section by a canvas wagon concealment . One one-half functioned as a oecumenical store and dining space for traveler , while the other served as the class ’s life quarter . They also maintained a vegetable garden and apple plantation on their homestead .
The Bender Inn ’s location along the Osage Mission Trail mean it was strategically place to attract travelers — and also the stark place for the Bloody Benders to carry out their deadly dodging .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe Bender homestead was the site of at least 11 gruesome murders.
Inside The Bloody Benders’ Murderous Plot
The Benders ’ modus operandi was particularly gruesome . They would invite travelers to dine with them , seating guests at a “ place of honor ” — direct over a gob threshold .
Kansas Historical SocietyA pit on the Bender holding that held their victims ’ bodies .
Kate Bender would distract them with conversation while one of the men enshroud behind the canvas curtain . Then , as theWeekly Kansas Chiefreported on May 22 , 1873 :
Kansas Historical SocietyA pit on the Bender property that held their victims’ bodies.
“ In this position it was an well-to-do thing for the male scoundrel in the front flat to impinge on the form clearly draw and roost against the snowy cloth , and when the blows of the sledge and mallet had knocked the victim with a crushed and wiped out skull , senseless and incapacitated to the flooring , for the female fiends in the back way to thin their pharynx . ”
The Bloody Benders then overlook the organic structure into the wine cellar through the yap door , where they could run out without leave a raft in the house . There , the family stripped their victims of any valuable and buried them in the orchard behind the house .
This scheme proceed for about two years — but then the Bloody Benders kill the wrong person .
Kansas Historical SocietySeven graves found on the Bloody Benders’ property.
How The Bloody Benders’ Crime Spree Came To An End
As travelers begin disappearing along the Osage Mission Trail in the early 1870s , people grew suspicious . There had been rumors circulating about the Benders , and some visitor to their auberge reported feel uncomfortable , as if they were in danger . One man , William Pickering , refused to model in the seat offered to him at the dining tabular array because he spotted blood line on the sail — and was later on threatened by Kate Bender with a tongue , prompting him to quickly flee .
Kansas Historical SocietySeven Graf establish on the Bloody Benders ’ attribute .
Similarly , a Catholic priest , Father Paul Ponziglione , claimed to have seen one of the Bender men concealing a large hammering , which made him uneasy and led him to allow for under the pretense of tending to his horse .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe reward offered for the capture of the Bloody Benders.
Then , after a man named George Longcor and his 18 - calendar month - old daughter vanish in the expanse in 1872 , their friend Dr. William York went looking for them the following spring . When Dr. York disappeared as well , his brother , Colonel Alexander York , traveled to the Bender Inn to inquire about him .
The Benders told Colonel York that his brother had credibly been bolt down by the Native Americans in the area . However , York heard stories about the Benders that roused his distrust during his investigating . At a town group meeting in May 1873 , residents agreed to obtain warrants to research every homestead in the area , include the Bender Inn .
Before they could question the Benders again , however , the family abandoned their home . A hunt company investigated — and uncovered the Bloody Benders ’ haunting crime .
After digging around the dimension , investigators found at least 11 bodies , include those of Longcor , his vernal girl , and Dr. York . A manhunt was immediately launched for the murderer .
Kansas Historical SocietyThe wages offered for the seizure of the Bloody Benders .
However , the Bender family had seemingly vanish . Some citizenry think they might have been killed by vigilantes , and others believe they had fly the commonwealth . Despite numerous reported sighting over the years , no one ever happen upon where they had fit .
The Bloody Benders quickly passed into legend as America ’s first serial killer house , and their taradiddle remains a charnel part of Kansas folklore to this twenty-four hour period .
After memorize about the Bloody Benders , check out the fib ofEdmund Kemper , the 6’9″ serial killer who mutilate his grandparent and eight women . Then , read aboutCarl Panzram , the most twisted serial killer you ’ve never heard of .
