There are plenty of other books and articles about the benders. See more ideas about bloody benders, serial killers and true crime. How the bloody benders made murder the family business. Bloody benders state historical marker cherryvale, ks.
Holmes murders, rick gearys graphic novel a treasury of victorian murder. They killed the guests they had if they thought them to be wealthy. The mystery is not about the familys murders, however. One of these families was the benders, who moved onto a 160acre property facing the osage trail. York, and is a descriptive firsthand account of the murder of her husband, by the benders of cherryvale. After a series of brutal murders over a 2 year period, the benders fled kansas. In 1843, in rural kansas a family of serial killers known as the bloody benders cut a deadly swath across the prairie. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. As long as you know going in that this is a fictionalized account, you will thoroughly enjoy this book. A roman catholic prayer book was found in the house with notes inside written in german, which were later translated.
The bloody benders were the first in the united states. Over a century later, you can still find them in books, tv, and on the big screen people never get tired of their story. Dry, factbased accounts of some of the more notorious murderers in history. Geary has done another bangup job merging history, murder, and detailed drawings to pull the reader into a time that is often difficult to understand. They didnt appear to be anything special, just another immigrant family that had escaped the confines of the eastern cities to try their hand out west. In this group of cooperative killers was an enigmatic, attractive young woman, a selfprofessed spiritualist with the alias kate bender. The saga of the bloody benders by rick geary goodreads. Mar 20, 2018 the bloody benders quickly passed into legend as americas first serial killer family. July kicks off with a grisly bang as the boys of blurry photos introduce you to the bloody benders. The bloody benders serial killers of kansas bender mounds, kansas by kathy weiseralexander. The approximately 152 acres of land that was once the property of the bloody benders, who may be the first serial killer family in america. Sketches from the 19 book the benders in kansas by john towner james the members of the bender family were not named bender, and with the exception of the two women, were not related. He was probably born in germany or the netherlands.
The small bender home was divided into two rooms by a canvas cloth. Nov 08, 2011 the bloody benders november 8, 2011 henry cabot beck scare master john carpenter, who created the halloween franchise, wants to make a picture about the bloody benders, a german family of serial killers who ran a general store and saloon in mound valley, kansas, in the early 1870s. The borden tragedy, the case of madeleine smith, the beast of chicago, and the saga of the bloody benders. Available in the cherryvale public library are extensive research files, articles, newspaper stories, and photos of the bizarre and murderous familys atrocities in the sunflower state. In the 19th century, kansas was a bloody place, especially before the civil war as freesoilers and slavery advocates duked it out for control of the new territory. The kansas murders new york times, may, 1873 says theyre not the benders new york times, january 11, 1890 website. Ma and kate planted a garden and small orchard near the house. This is a novel based on a true story of a dutchgerman family of four. In april, 1873 on a homestead in labette county, kansas, another of these stories was unfoldingone that would leave a local family with a nickname that remains infamous almost 150 years later. The site right where the bender family home inset stood will be sold at auction next month. The woman who supplied us with the font to use for the bloody benders logo has passed away at age 73.
The bloody benders they really didnt belong in the 19th century. They would have been far more suited to the 20th or 21st centuries. Apr 08, 2010 heres a fascinating example of the complex, continually negotiated relationship in childrens literature between the adult writer and the implied child reader. The story of the bloody benders was originally posted on murder by gaslight on november 6, 2010. Nicholas nicastro is raising funds for bring the bloody benders to life. No, she was not a graphic designer, not an illustrator, she was nothing of the sort. But an entire family of serial killers is almost unheard of.
By some accounts, three or so bodies were found on the surrounding prairie. One of the great murder mysteries of all time involves the kansas family of the late 19th century, the bloody benders. Nicholas nicastro goes inside the story of americas first serial killers, the family that terrorized travelers in 1870s kansas. Punk music, lyrics, and videos from mexico city, d. The benders were a family who arrived in labette county kansa around 1870 the the bender family built a one room log shanty the size of it was sixteen by twenty. The big valley, season 3, episode 6, ladykiller 1967 loosely depicts the story of the bloody benders, as an innkeepers pretty daughter is the bait used to rob and kill visitors. The benders lived on one end, the other side was for the inn. For the best experience put on headphones and turn off the lights.
Her enduring fame, however, would come from other skills, namely that of murderer, for kate was the leading member of the bloody benders. Kansas land where the bloody benders slayed at least 11 people in. The investigators found eight or so bodies in the garden area, including that of a 7 or 8yearold girl. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. Considered by many to be americas first serial killers, the bloody benders were an immigrant family living in 1870s kansas who ran a roadside murder inn. The bloody benders were a family of serial killers who owned an inn and small general store in labette county of southeastern kansas from 1871 to 1873. True horror story of the bloody benders family creepy. Next, check out the story of edmund kemper, whose story is almost too gruesome to tell. The infamous bender family appeared quietly in southeastern kansas in the spring of 1872. Read this book and over 1 million others with a kindle unlimited membership. Kate and young john headed south to the nomans land between texas and new mexico where their trail was lost. The shanty was used for an inn divided by a canvas curtain. Nov 28, 2016 its bizarre enough when a single serial killer is terrorizing the community.
This book contains the bender tragedy, and is a reprint from june 8, 1875. There is no creative license taken in any of these. The bloody benders are a family of serial killers in the 1800s. The bloody benders were a family of serial killers who lived and operated in labette county, kansas from 1871 to 1873.
Depicting the arrival of a murderous german immigrant family in rural kansas shortly after the civil war, it makes no attempt whatsoever to analyze its characters actions and worldviews from a contemporary perspective. Many people over the next several years were accused of being members of the bender murder family, but none were. This is the story of the bloody benders, americas first family of serial killers. Albert haws is at bloody benders historical marker. Bloody benders historical marker cherryvale, kansas. C photoduplication service, library of congress,19. The bloody benders were a family of serial killers who lived and operated in labette county. Sep 03, 20 with the benders gone, neighbors searched their property. This song is about the benders, a family in kansas who hosted an inn. Nicholas nicastro goes inside the story of americas first serial killers, the family that terrorized travelers in. The bloody benders hardcover january 1, 1970 by robert h adleman author. And their story remains a ghastly part of kansas folklore to this day. The six most terrifying serial killer families in history.
The saga of the bloody benders graphic novel snoisle libraries. Bloody benders property goes up for sale in kansas cnn. There was a table, stove and grocery stores in front and beds in the back along with the pitlike cellar covered by a trap door. Following in the line of previous books that have detailed such things as the lizzie borden and h. God bless you miss peaches, and may you rest in peace, at last. The shocking story of the bloody benders mass murderers. By all appearances, the benders were like most area settlers. Then neighbors remembered finding additional bodies on the prairie the past winter that had been mutilated in much the same fashion. Oct 10, 2010 this song is about the benders, a family in kansas who hosted an inn.
And to suggest she was an artist is the understatement of the century. The bloody benders were a family of serial killers who lived and operated in labette county, kansas, from 1869 to 1873. I recently came across a book entitled history, romance and philosophy of great american crimes and criminals with some fascinating depictions of the bender family, along with a floor plan of their house and an illustration of how the murders were done. The saga of the bloody benders by rick geary is part of a treasury of victorian murder put out by nbm comics lit.
The bloody benders serial killers of kansas legends of. In the 1870s, labette county, kansas became a destination for a small groups of spiritualists among them, the bender family, who built a cabin that served as their home and an inn for travelers. The benders turned the front half into an inn and grocery store where travelers on the nearby osage trail could find rest, supplies, and a warm meal. March 5, 2018 cherryvale, ks the bloody benders was one of my favorite books of my youth, i am quite for. The wonderful debbie reese of american indians in childrens literature posted two years ago part of the text of a speech laura ingalls wilder made in 1937. The ghastly discovery of eight bodies, including the corpse of a little girl, plus the bloody, stenchfilled cellar, told the grim tale. In his next volume, geary takes us out to the wild w.
Based on the true story of the bloody benders and millions of other books are available for instant access. Aug 24, 20 the investigators found eight or so bodies in the garden area, including that of a 7 or 8yearold girl. May 07, 2007 the saga of the bloody benders is the final of rick gearys altogether eight graphic novels on various murder cases of the victorian era. The family consisted of john bender and his wife, elvira, their son, john jr.
The inn is separated by a canvas curtain, from behind which the bleeck family kills visitors seated in a chair of honor with a hammer. While bender mythology holds that john and kate were brother and sister, contemporary newspapers reported that several of the benders neighbors have stated that they claimed to be married, possibly a common law marriage. Now this is a true crime book for those who want it concise, and with some truly amazing artwork. It surmises the bloody benders tragedy where so many people were murdered. A family owns and operates a creepy hotel in the late 19th century where some of the guests who checkin disappear mysteriously.
The benders were a family who arrived in labette county kansa around 1870 the the bender family built a one room log shanty the size of it was sixteen by twenty the shanty was used for an inn divided by a canvas curtain so there might be some privacy the benders lived on one. Oct 27, 2016 the bloody benders are a family of serial killers in the 1800s. Jul 05, 2015 the bloody benders mass murderers from the history of kansas. The saga of the bloody benders deals with a family that made its name in the early days of kansas. Geary has opened a chapter in history in a very accessible way with this graphic novel series.
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