The '''Bloody Benders''

By Crusader1307

 The Bender Family of Kansas (US) will forever be linked to a rather ''bloody'' segment of American Criminal History. Known (thanks to Newspapers) as The ''Bloody Benders'', the Family of (4) ''Ma, Pa, Son and His Wife'' who resided in Labette County in 1871. The Family ran a Stagecoach ''Way Station'', which catered to Passengers traveling either West or East (depending). Way Stations were a type of early ''Bed and Breakfast'' which allowed long distance passengers to ''rest awhile'' while horses were watered or freight was loaded and unloaded. Food and supplies were the mainstay. But The Benders (whose Station was really just a private House, ''off the beaten track'' – as it were. But a curious series of events began from 1871 to 1872 around Labette. Some Stages and their passengers were simply gone ''missing'' – without a trace!. But giving to ''Hostile'' Native Americans and of course Stage Robbers, these were no doubt the ''real cause''.

The Benders were opportunistic Serial Killers. IF a Stage appeared to be a ''good target'', they would invited the group inside. They were either poisoned to death via coffee or food. I some cases, they had to resort to shooting, stabbing, beating to death or strangling their victims. All valuables, clothing, nearly everything was taken (later sold out of County). The Benders ''lucrative business'' netted them (11) known victims, but some assign numbers as high as (30). Their crime spree came to and end when a ''noisy neighbor'' of the adjoining Farm was cultivating more land for farming. He unearthed several ''fresh'' remains as well as some skeletal remains. Advising the Local Sheriff, an investigation began. But as The Posse arrived, The Benders had fled (it is unknown just how they were ''tipped off''). General local History cites that while most of the victims remains were found, no trace of what happened to The Benders is known. But......a more common belief is that at least (3) of The Benders were caught by The Posse, several miles away – trying to escape. They were shot and their bodies burned. The escaping Bender was thought to have escaped to Canada (changing His or Her name).