The Bloody Benders

Join Kelli as she talks about a serial killer out of Kansas in the post-civil war era. Taking advantage of westward expansion and a tense climate, the Bender family - Ma, Pa, John, and Kate - were responsible for the murders of at least 11 people... including an 18-month-old baby girl.Today we explore their dark, dingy, bug-infested cabin to find out what happened to these weary travelers on the Great Osage Trail, looking for a homestead plot and a better life, who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.Sources:Slavevoyages.orgHell's Half-Acre: The Untold Story of the Benders, a Serial Killer Family on the American Frontier by Susan JonasusSupport the showIntro and Outro music credit: Nedric | Yello KakeFollow me on Instagram for episode updates! @beardhistoryIf you want to support the show, donate to the cause at Buy Me a Coffee