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Stuff You Should Know

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

Published September 26, 2025
View Show Notes

About This Episode

Hosts Josh and Chuck recount the story of the "Bloody Benders," a 19th-century family of serial killers who operated a small inn and store along the Osage Trail in southeastern Kansas. They describe how the Benders lured travelers into their crude roadhouse, murdered and robbed them, how the crimes were eventually discovered after the disappearance of a doctor and his neighbor, and how the family escaped and was never definitively found. The episode also explores Kansas's violent frontier context, later investigations into the Benders' true identities, theories about their fate, and the case's legacy in books, media, and local lore.

Topics Covered

True crime Crime history Serial killers American folklore Media coverage of crime Missing persons cases Vigilantes Kansas history Small-town life Violence and self-defense

Disclaimer: We provide independent summaries of podcasts and are not affiliated with or endorsed in any way by any podcast or creator. All podcast names and content are the property of their respective owners. The views and opinions expressed within the podcasts belong solely to the original hosts and guests and do not reflect the views or positions of Summapod.

Quick Takeaways

  • The Bloody Benders were a family (or group posing as a family) who ran a primitive inn and store in 1870s southeastern Kansas and murdered at least a dozen travelers for robbery, likely killing many more.
  • Their method involved seating victims in front of a curtain, braining them from behind with a hammer or axe, dropping them through a trapdoor into a cellar, robbing them, and slitting their throats before burying them in an orchard or dumping bodies in a creek.
  • The case broke open after the disappearance of a neighbor named George Longcor and the local physician Dr. William York, whose politically connected brother led a search that eventually focused on the Benders' abandoned homestead.
  • Searchers found a blood-soaked cellar and numerous bodies buried on the property, but the Benders had already fled by train and were never definitively caught despite years of reported sightings and a large reward.
  • Modern researchers have tried to untangle the Benders' real identities and relationships, and the case has since become part of American true-crime lore, inspiring books, films, video game references, and ongoing historical investigation of the original site.

Podcast Notes

Episode introduction and setup of the Bloody Benders story

Narrated cold open summarizing the case

Overview of the Bender family's killing spree in Kansas in the early 1870s[1:21]
• They operated out of their own home and are said to have murdered at least 21 people, earning the nickname "the Bloody Benders"
Tone-setting for a "mind-boggling, old-timey, true-crimey" tale[1:11]
• The narrator frames the episode as particularly shocking, joking it will knock listeners' socks off

Hosts, show identity, and Halloween framing

Introduction of hosts and show

Josh and Chuck identify themselves and mention producer Jerry[1:52]
• Josh says, "This is Stuff You Should Know, the murder family edition"

Halloween and "murder family" joke

Josh jokes that he has thought of himself, Chuck, and Jerry as a "murder family" in the kindest possible way[2:38]
• They clarify Josh does not mean his wife plus Chuck and Jerry; he means the podcast trio, and they emphasize they are not actually a murder family
Contrast between their joking "murder family" and the real Bloody Benders[2:38]
• Josh notes that once listeners learn about the Bloody Benders, they will realize Josh, Chuck, and Jerry are nothing like a true "murder family" and would not want to be

Listener suggestion and recent book about the Benders

Shout-out to listener who suggested the topic

Chuck says the episode topic came from a listener email, which has been happening more often[2:51]
• The listener, from Kansas, is named Star White and noticed roadside signs about the Benders and Montgomery County commemorations while traveling with family
The listener's discovery of local history[2:57]
• Star realized, despite being from Kansas, they had never heard of the Bloody Benders and wanted to learn more, prompting the suggestion

October and spooky content theme

Josh and Chuck note they like to keep things spooky during October when possible[3:37]

Mention of recent book "Hell's Half Acre"

Josh notes a book on the Benders, "Hell's Half Acre," was released recently (in March) and may be a definitive work[3:45]
• The author is named Susan Jo Nusis (Josh acknowledges uncertainty about pronouncing her last name)
They clarify the topic choice was sparked by the listener, not the book release[4:14]
• Josh says he assumed the book may have driven the suggestion, but it was apparently just a coincidence with a listener from Kansas driving through the area

Historical context: Kansas frontier and settlement

Bender surname and identity uncertainty

Josh mentions he knows someone with the surname Bender today but doubts any relation to the Bloody Benders[4:29]
• He notes it's not entirely clear that "Bender" was even the real name of the historical family

Kansas as frontier territory in the 1870s

Josh situates the Benders in 1870s Kansas, describing it as frontier or even beyond the frontier[4:40]
• He notes the Trail of Tears had already occurred and the Osage people had been forced off their land to Oklahoma
Government encouragement of settlement by "unsavory" people[5:01]
• Josh says the federal government effectively invited criminals, people with unsavory pasts, and those escaping their history to come settle in Kansas
• Chuck and Josh compare it jokingly to Australia, but in the center of the United States
Traffic on the Osage Trail and the Benders' strategic location[4:53]
• Josh notes many people were moving westward, and the Benders set up a claim along a road (the Osage Trail) that led west, where they established a tavern/inn for travelers

The Bender family members and their homestead

Location and nature of the homestead

Chuck describes the area as very remote southeastern Kansas in 1870, not yet Cherryvale but later becoming that town[5:55]
• The Benders' place sat on the edge of the Great Osage Trail, making it a natural stop for westbound travelers needing rest and rations

Initial arrival of Pa and John Jr.

Two men arrived first: about 60-year-old John Bender Sr., called Pa, and a younger man identified as his son, John Bender Jr.[6:10]
• Pa rarely spoke, and when he did it was mostly in German; John Jr. sometimes used the alias John Gebhardt
John Jr.'s personality and behavior[6:51]
• Reports said he laughed inappropriately at odd times and was his own audience, drawing comparisons from Josh to a Dr. Hibbert-style laugh and to Jethro Clampett from The Beverly Hillbillies
• Chuck mentions some think John Jr. may have been intellectually disabled, but Josh notes period sources did not describe him that way and just saw him as strange and talkative

Description of the house and "inn" setup

Basic structure and division of space[7:01]
• The house was a 16-by-24-foot one-room structure; a canvas sheet divided it into front and back, with the family living in back and using the front as an inn/store
• Chuck characterizes it as more like a primitive bunkhouse or big room with a couple of beds and canned goods, rather than a proper tavern
Why travelers still used the place[8:50]
• Josh suggests that compared to sleeping on the open prairie with a bedroll, even such a crude place with a hot meal and maybe tobacco would be appealing to travelers

Arrival and characterization of Ma and Kate

Ma Bender's persona[7:28]
• Ma (sometimes called Elvira) arrived later with Kate; she was perhaps in her 50s, claimed to speak little or no English, and was widely regarded as having a terrible temper
• Chuck suggests she may have been the driving force behind the crimes, though he notes some sources instead attribute leadership to Kate
Kate Bender's role and image[8:24]
• Kate, in her 20s, presented herself as a spiritualist medium and advocate of "free love" and advertised her services, which attracted attention and travelers
• Some locals thought Kate was the daughter in the family; others believed she and John Jr. were presented as a couple, contributing to uncertainty about relationships

The Benders' orchard and community reputation

Orchard as a valued part of the homestead[9:11]
• Josh notes the Benders had an orchard with cherries, apples, and peaches that became prized locally and would later become significant as a burial site
Perception in the sparse local community[9:18]
• The family was known in the small surrounding community because there were only a handful of other settlements and because they ran the tavern and orchard
• They were seen as odd and "violently unusual," with people in particular trying to avoid interactions with Ma

Violent backdrop of Kansas and early murders near the Benders

Kansas as a violent and dangerous region

Josh explains that Kansas at the time was extremely violent, with wars against Native Americans and conflicts between pro- and anti-slavery factions[16:58]
• He notes the Civil War is often said to have effectively broken out over the struggle about whether Kansas would be a slave or free state
Effect of violence on disappearances[17:06]
• Because the region was so dangerous, travelers frequently went missing, so early disappearances around the Benders did not immediately attract large-scale searches

Bodies discovered in Drum Creek (1871-1872)

First body and recurring wound pattern[17:51]
• In May 1871 a man's body was found in Drum Creek southeast of the Benders' house, with his skull bashed in and throat cut
• Chuck notes this combination of head wound and throat cutting becomes the recurring modus operandi of the Bender family
Subsequent bodies and identification of William Jones[18:28]
• Two more men were found shortly after, and then another a few months later, all in Drum Creek with similar injuries
• One was identified as William Jones, known to have been carrying about $250 (roughly close to $6,000 today) to pay off his mortgage
Travelers carrying cash and vulnerability to robbery[18:34]
• Josh points out many travelers carried significant cash for land purchases or mortgage payments, with limited banking infrastructure, increasing robbery risks
Initial false suspicion and wagon track clue[19:05]
• A nearby farmer on whose land a body was found was first accused, but was cleared after an investigation
• Investigators noted a distinctive wagon track with a back wheel off-center from the team that had dropped a body, but this clue never ultimately led to the killers

Dangerous reputation of the area around the Benders

Development of a "bad reputation" zone on the trail[19:51]
• As more bodies turned up, the area quickly gained a reputation as a stretch of the Osage Trail where travelers went missing and that should be avoided if possible
• Despite the growing fear, no one had yet centered suspicion on the Bender family

The pistol supper incident and escalating suspicion

Attempted murder of a woman guest (February 1873)

Woman guest's visit and ominous "supper"[20:51]
• On February 18, 1873, a woman without money stopped at the Benders' home, asked for rest and food, and fell asleep on a bed in the back
• She awoke to Ma pointing to a table covered in pistols and knives and saying, "There, your supper's ready"
Woman's escape and muted official response[20:51]
• The woman feigned calm, made an excuse to step outside, then ran barefoot for about two miles in her sleeping clothes to find help
• Chuck notes that Kansas City Times coverage implies authorities still did not fully treat this as an alarm bell at the time

Disappearances of Longcor and Dr. York and the first investigation

Disappearance of George Newton Longcor and his daughter

Longcor's journey and failure to arrive[22:28]
• George Newton Longcore left Independence, Kansas, for Iowa with his 18-month-old daughter Mary Ann, traveling along the Osage Trail past Cherryvale, but never arrived

Dr. William York's search and disappearance

York retraces Longcor's route[22:54]
• Concerned neighbor Dr. William York began traveling and inquiring about Longcor, discovered his horse and wagon abandoned near Fort Scott, with belongings intact but the man and child missing
• Realizing something was wrong, York headed back toward Independence but himself disappeared
York's powerful family connections raise the stakes[23:50]
• Josh explains that Dr. York's brother Alexander was a Civil War colonel and Kansas state senator, making York's disappearance particularly high-profile
• William also had another brother named Edward, but Alexander was the key political figure who galvanized a serious search

Colonel York's search party and initial visit to the Benders

Formation of the search party[24:13]
• Colonel Alexander York organized about 75 men into a search party to investigate disappearances in the region
First questioning of the Benders[23:43]
• The party visited the Bender home because they knew Longcor would have passed that way; Ma claimed not to speak English, Kate said she knew nothing, and John Jr. claimed he'd been shot at near Drum Creek
• John Jr. offered to show York the spot where he said he had been shot at, pointing out supposed bullet marks on trees
Temporary diversion of suspicion[25:01]
• Although many trees had bullet marks in that era, his explanation and behavior were sufficient for the searchers to move on for the moment

Second visit: pistol supper story and Ma's outburst

Return prompted by the barefoot woman's account[26:45]
• A few days later, York returned after learning about the woman who had fled the house barefoot after being shown guns and knives as "supper"
Ma reveals she speaks English and rants about witchcraft[26:53]
• Confronted with the story, Ma dropped her pretense of not speaking English, flew into a rage, called the woman a witch, and claimed the woman had cursed Kate's coffee
• Ma added that if the woman ever came back she would kill her, justifying having run her off
Kate's offer of a seance and York's refusal[28:49]
• Josh notes that Kate offered to conduct a seance at night with just the two of them to help find answers, citing daytime and too many people as why she couldn't do it then
• York declined the offer, which Josh presents as evidence that York was sharp and cautious

Town meeting, the Benders' flight, and discovery of their crime scene

Town meeting and decision to search all homesteads

Community response to the region's "bad reputation"[28:02]
• York and townspeople held a meeting where they acknowledged the area's reputation and decided to systematically search every homestead
Pa's brazen agreement to a search[28:08]
• A neighbor loudly volunteered to have his place searched, and Pa likewise said, "I don't either, you guys search my homestead," trying to appear unconcerned

The Benders disappear before the search reaches them

Delay in searching and discovery of an empty house[28:42]
• It took at least a week or more before searchers reached the Bender property; when they did, the family was gone and likely had left the night of the town meeting
Evidence they escaped by train[29:26]
• Their horse, wagon, and even dog were found abandoned on a public street near the train station, suggesting they boarded a train and left the area

Search of the house and discovery of the cellar

Volunteers find a blood-soaked cellar[29:43]
• With the family gone, volunteers entered the house, found a trapdoor in the floor, and on opening it were overwhelmed by the stench of decaying human remains
• The cellar was a stone-lined space beneath the house, covered in blood and gore, but initially without whole bodies
Trapdoor and access to move bodies[33:49]
• Josh explains that the trapdoor led to the cellar and there was also a way in or out through the foundation, allowing the Benders to move bodies at night without being seen

Reconstruction of the Benders' murder method and survivor accounts

Murder setup with curtain and seating arrangement

Use of the curtain to silhouette victims[35:36]
• The canvas curtain divided the house; guests were seated at a table in front of it so they were silhouetted by candlelight, allowing someone behind the curtain to see where to strike
Sequence of attack and body disposal[35:17]
• Either Pa or John Jr. would strike the seated victim on the head with the butt of an axe or hammer, dropping them through the trapdoor into the cellar, then rob them and slit their throat

Survivors who refused to sit by the curtain

Mr. Wetzel's account[36:30]
• After the crimes hit the news, a man named Mr. Wetzel recalled how the Benders had insisted he sit by the curtain, he refused, Ma became angry, and he left, likely saving his life
William Pickering's account[36:42]
• Another man, William Pickering, refused to sit by the curtain because it looked dirty and gross; an argument ensued and Kate came at him with a knife, prompting him to flee
Questions about their rigid method[36:15]
• Chuck wonders why they did not simply attack people in other chairs, and speculates they were either rigidly attached to their procedure or thought the curtain was essential cover

Signs of resistance inside the house

Bullet holes in walls and doorframes[37:39]
• Josh notes that later examination revealed bullet holes in walls and doorframes, interpreted as evidence that some victims tried to fight back with firearms before being killed

Discovery of bodies, victim count, and dark tourism

Unearthing bodies in the orchard and well

Finding York, Longcor, and Mary Ann[34:21]
• Searchers noticed depressions in the orchard and dug up bodies, identifying Dr. William York and also finding Longcor buried with his baby daughter Mary Ann
• The adult men showed the characteristic head wounds and throat cuts; Mary Ann appears to have been suffocated, possibly by being buried alive
Total number of victims attributed to the Benders[35:32]
• About 11 bodies were definitively found on the property, including Mary Ann, and when combined with Drum Creek bodies they were implicated in as many as 21 murders

Media frenzy and looting of the site

National attention and "first" American serial killers[38:34]
• Josh says the Benders were seen as America's first serial killers by the media, predating the Austin Servant Girl Annihilator and H.H. Holmes
Dark tourism and stripping of the house[37:37]
• The farm became a tourist attraction, with visitors over time breaking up and taking pieces of the cellar, bed frame, and anything else as souvenirs

Aftermath: investigations, vigilantes, and questions about identity

Arrests of alleged fences and the Regulators vigilante group

Twelve men arrested as alleged accomplices[40:05]
• Authorities arrested 12 men accused of receiving stolen goods from the Benders, as it was unclear whether robbery was the sole motive for the murders
The Regulators and their throat-cutting signature[41:03]
• Chuck describes a vigilante group called the Regulators, known as "throat cutters" because they killed suspects rather than bringing them to trial
• Josh adds that they had a specific way of arranging bodies: right hand on the right breast and left hand down by the side, a pose seen on some Bender victims
• He suggests this indicates at least a possible connection, perhaps as fences, though not necessarily that the Benders were members of the group

Speculation and research into the Benders' true identities

Proposed real names for Ma and Kate[42:00]
• Chuck cites modern investigation suggesting Ma was actually Almira Meek from upstate New York near the Adirondacks, not German as portrayed
• Some unsourced accounts allege she had prior husbands who died from head wounds; Chuck notes this could be internet myth or fact, but is not well documented
• Kate may have originally been named Eliza Griffith, suggesting she and Ma were genuinely related, likely as mother and daughter
Proposed real names for Pa and John Jr.[43:12]
• John Bender Sr. may have been a man named John Flickinger from Germany or the Netherlands
• John Jr.'s real name may have been the alias he used, John Gebhardt, adding confusion about why he used his real name as an alias

Theories about the Benders' fate and Laura Ingalls Wilder anecdote

Reported sightings and conflicting stories about their end

Persistent but unverified leads[43:39]
• For years, people reported seeing the Benders in various places, with accounts differing about whether authorities knew their whereabouts but could not act
Specific alleged outcomes for family members[43:50]
• One report claimed Pa died by suicide in Lake Michigan in 1884; another said John Jr. and Kate went to the Texas-New Mexico border where John died of a stroke
• Other stories said vigilantes captured them, burned Kate alive, and shot the others, burying them on the prairie, but no such claims were substantiated
Reward and doubts about vigilante accounts[45:53]
• A reward equivalent to about $70,000 today was offered, but no vigilante group ever claimed it, suggesting theories of secret vigilante executions are unlikely
• Josh argues that such a group could hardly keep such a high-profile deed secret indefinitely, especially given the reward and the notoriety involved

Laura Ingalls Wilder family story (likely apocryphal)

Claimed near-encounter with the Benders[44:56]
• Josh recounts a story, probably not true, that Laura Ingalls Wilder's family passed by the Benders' tavern but did not have money to stop
• After the Benders were exposed, Wilder's father was allegedly summoned with his gun one night and returned in the morning, later saying the Benders would never be found again

Modern ownership of the site and ongoing investigation

Bob Miller purchases the land

Current owner's background and intentions[47:37]
• A financial advisor and historian from Independence, Bob Miller, recently bought the land where the Bender farm once stood
• He wants to have professional investigations conducted to search for the precise locations of the house and murder sites

Potential for archaeological discovery

Previous owners' lack of interest may preserve evidence[47:42]
• The previous family had owned the land for about 65 years, turned it into cropland, and showed no interest in locating the original sites
• Josh says Miller hopes to partner with a university (he mentions KU or K-State) for ground-penetrating surveys to locate the foundation, cellar, well, or remnants of the orchard
• They note that while known bodies were exhumed, undiscovered remains may still be present on the property

Cultural legacy: films, video games, literature, and primary sources

2016 film "Bender"

Reception and tone of the movie[48:10]
• Chuck notes a 2016 film titled "Bender" about the family; Livia's research quoted an IMDb user calling it some of the worst acting they'd ever seen
• Josh says reviews suggest it leans more toward historical drama than being especially scary or violent

Red Dead Redemption 2 mission inspired by the Benders

Creepy pig farm encounter[48:59]
• Chuck recalls a mission in Red Dead Redemption 2 where the player finds a creepy older couple at a pig farm who try to get the character to stay for dinner, reminiscent of the Benders
• If the player drinks the offered drink, the screen goes woozy and they wake up the next day, implying something bad happened overnight even if the character is not killed

Reference in Neil Gaiman's "American Gods"

Slavic god gaining strength from the murders[50:08]
• Josh mentions that in "American Gods" a Slavic god (he pronounces it "Zernborg") gains strength each time the Benders kill someone, tying their murders to a supernatural narrative
• He notes this reframes the murders as sacrifices that empower a deity, a darkly imaginative twist on the historical events

Primary sources for further reading

GenealogyTrails.com newspaper archive[50:35]
• Josh recommends genealogytrails.com, where searching for the Bender family yields crime-related news articles from the time with rich 19th-century reporting style and extra details

Listener mail: discovering the show and dentist anecdote

How the listener found the podcast

USPS rural carrier listening habit[51:28]
• A listener named Tanya Vanderpool writes that she discovered Stuff You Should Know in summer 2020 while working as a USPS Rural Carrier Associate
Family adoption of the show[50:59]
• Tanya says she talked about Josh and Chuck so much that her husband asked who they were and when he'd be introduced, and now the show is a go-to for family road trips

Dental visit story and 30 Rock tangent

Dentist already a fan of the Chowchilla episode[51:50]
• Tanya recounts bringing earbuds to a dental appointment to listen to the Chowchilla bus kidnapping episode, only to find her dentist was already a fan of SYSK and that they spent the visit talking about the show instead
Rural juror and 30 Rock discussion[52:39]
• Josh and Chuck riff on Tanya's mention of a "rural carrier" with a "rural juror" joke from 30 Rock, leading to a brief discussion of the show and favorite lines

Lessons Learned

Actionable insights and wisdom you can apply to your business, career, and personal life.

1

Danger thrives in environments where violence and disappearance are seen as normal, so paying attention to patterns and outliers is critical even when everyone else seems desensitized.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your life or work have you started to normalize risks or red flags just because "that's how it is" in your environment?
  • • How could you more systematically track patterns of small problems or anomalies before they escalate into serious issues?
  • • What is one situation right now where you could step back, question the "normal," and reevaluate the underlying risks?
2

Trusting your instincts when a situation feels wrong-and acting decisively, as the woman who fled the Benders did-can be the difference between safety and catastrophe.

Reflection Questions:

  • • When was the last time you overrode your gut feeling and later regretted it, and what warning signs did you ignore?
  • • How might you give yourself permission to exit uncomfortable or unsafe situations more quickly, even if it feels socially awkward?
  • • What practical boundary or personal rule could you adopt this week to make it easier to act on your instincts when something feels off?
3

Loose or misleading identities and poor record-keeping create room for bad actors to operate and vanish, highlighting the value of clear documentation and verification in any system.

Reflection Questions:

  • • In your organization or personal projects, where are roles, responsibilities, or identities vague enough that problems could be hidden?
  • • How could better documentation or verification processes reduce the chance of errors, fraud, or misunderstandings in your work?
  • • What is one process, contract, or relationship you could clarify or tighten up this month to make it more transparent and accountable?
4

Stories of crime and violence often become mythologized over time, so cultivating skepticism and seeking primary sources helps separate fact from legend.

Reflection Questions:

  • • What historical or popular stories do you accept as true that you've never actually checked against original sources?
  • • How might your judgments or decisions change if you made a habit of asking, "What's the evidence for this claim?" before repeating it?
  • • What is one topic you care about where you could deliberately read or listen to primary sources instead of secondhand summaries this week?
5

Communities that rely on vigilante justice risk compounding harm and killing innocents; building and supporting fair, functional institutions is a long-term safeguard against both crime and overreaction.

Reflection Questions:

  • • Where in your community or workplace do informal power structures or "unofficial enforcers" operate outside clear rules or oversight?
  • • How could you contribute-however modestly-to strengthening fair processes, whether in conflict resolution, feedback, or decision-making?
  • • What is one current situation where you're tempted to take matters entirely into your own hands, and how might you instead channel that energy into improving the system itself?

Episode Summary - Notes by Jamie

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