The Crimes of John Sr. Bender and the Bloody Benders
Background
In the early 1870s, the Bender family—John Bender Sr., his wife Elvira, their son John Jr., and daughter Kate—settled in Labette County, Kansas. They established a modest inn and general store along the Great Osage Trail, a popular route for westward travelers. The family was of German descent, with John Sr. being around 60 years old and speaking little English. Elvira, approximately 55, was known for her unfriendly demeanor, earning her the nickname "she-devil." John Jr., about 25, spoke English fluently but had a peculiar habit of laughing aimlessly, leading some to consider him a "half-wit." Kate, around 23, was attractive and outgoing, promoting herself as a healer and spiritualist, which drew many visitors to their establishment.
Modus Operandi
The Benders' inn was a simple one-room cabin divided by a canvas curtain. The front served as a store and dining area, while the rear was the family's living quarters. Travelers seeking a meal or rest were invited to sit at a place of honor at the dining table, positioned over a trapdoor and with their backs to the curtain. While Kate engaged the guest in conversation, either John Sr. or John Jr. would strike the guest's skull from behind the curtain with a hammer. The body was then dropped through the trapdoor into a cellar, where Elvira or Kate would slit the victim's throat to ensure death. The bodies were subsequently stripped of valuables and buried in the garden or orchard.
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