a criminal's mind

a collection of known serial killers, what they did, who their victims were, and their stories.

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Bloody Benders–Background

Following the American Civil War, the United States government moved the Osage Indians from Labette County to a new Indian Territory located in what would eventually be Oklahoma. The “vacant” land was then made available to homesteaders. In October 1870, five families of spiritualists settled in western Labette County, around 7 mi northeast of where Cherryvale would be established seven months later and 17 mi from Independence. One of the families was John Bender Sr. and John Bender Jr. who registered 160 acres of land located adjacent the Great Osage Trail, which was the only open road fro travelling further west. After building a cabin, a barn with corral and a well, in the fall of 1871, Kate (Ma) Bender and her daughter Kate arrived and the cabin was divided into two rooms by a canvas wagon-cover. The Benders used the smaller room at the rear for living quarters, while the front room was converted into a “general store” and inn. Ma and Kate Bender also planted a 2 acres vegetable garden and apple tree orchard north of the cabin.

John (Pa) Bender Sr. was around sixty years old and spoke very little English. When he did speak it, it was so guttural that it was usually unintelligible. Ma Bender, who also allegedly spoke very little English, was 42 years of age and was so unfriendsly that her neighbors took to calling her a “she-devil”. Shortly before the Benders fled, it was discovered that Ma spoke English fluently. John Bender Jr. was around 25 years old, handsome with auburn hair and moustache and spoke English fluently, but with a German accent. John was prone to laughing aimlessly, which led many to consider him a half-wit. Kate Bender, who was around 23, was cultivated and attractive and she spoke English well with very little accent. A self-proclaimed healer and psychic, she distributed flyers advertising her supernatural powers and her ability to cure illnesses. he also conducted seances and gave lectures on spirtualism, for which she gained notoriety for advocating free love. Kate’s popularity became a large attraction for the Benders’ inn. Although the elder Benders kept to themselves, Kate and her brother regularly attended Sunday school in nearby Harmony Grove.

The Benders were widely believed to be German immigrants; only the male Benders, however, were born overseas and they were not actually a family. Pa Bender was from either Germany or Holland and had been born John Flickinger. Ma Bender was born Almira Meik in the Adirondack Mountains and had married George Griffith, with whom she had 12 children. Ma allegedly married several times, each time following the death of her previous husband from head injuries. Kate was the fifth child of Ma Bender and was born as Eliza Griffith. Following her marriage, Eliza went by the name of Sara Eliza Davis. It is believed that John Jr. was born John Gebhardt. Some of the Benders’ neighbors claimed that John and Kate were not brother and sister, but actually husband and wife.

  • 10 August 2011
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