JULY BONUS: Murder House on the Prairie
Summary
Host Nancy explores the Bloody Benders, a serial killer family who operated a murder house in 1870s Kansas. The episode details their gruesome crimes, including the deaths of George Longcore and Dr. William York, and discusses how Laura Ingalls Wilder’s daughter Rose nearly included this true crime saga in the Little House books.
Topics discussed
Laura Ingalls Wilder's financial ruin during the Great Depression
Rose Wilder's suggestion to add serial killers to the books
Introduction to the Bloody Benders and their mystery
Historical context and the Ingalls family's connection
George Longcore's struggle as a widower on the prairie
The disappearance of George Longcore and his daughter
Dr. William York's investigation and subsequent disappearance
The Bender family's sinister reputation and run-down inn
The Benders' modus operandi: luring and killing victims
Kate Bender's deception as a spiritualist medium
Julia Hessler's terrifying encounter with the Benders
The discovery of the trapdoor and mass graves
The Benders' escape and enduring legacy
Listen ad-free on Castria