Once upon a time, the trapdoor used to be a key element in many a serial killing. This week, Hannah tells Katy the story of the Benders--a family of serial killers wreaking havoc on the prairies of Kansas in the 1870's. From an old nursery rhyme that was possibly inspired by the wildest (fictional) story of would-be Sweeney Todds running a rural inn, to the very real tale of the family that lured travelers into their roadside BNB before murdering them and dropping their bodies down a trapdoor. It's a little bit backwards, but with no lack of twists and turns. The girls talk missed cannibalistic opportunities, family resemblances, why you shouldn't elaborate your lies, Newsies, bleeding Jesus statues, and why everyone just needs to leave the animals alone.
So pour your drinks, and join us for this Unsolved Mystery!
Sources:
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/80175/who-was-old-king-cole-and-why-was-he-such-merry-old-soul
https://archive.org/details/thomasdeloneyhi00delogoog/page/n166/mode/2up?view=theater
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015484/1873-05-22/ed-1/seq-2/
https://web.archive.org/web/20111010080847/http://www.flexassistant.com/images/Benders.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Benders
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82015484/1873-05-15/ed-1/seq-2/
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/03/bloody-benders-true-story-kate-bender-crimes-susan-jonusas.html
https://www.legendsofamerica.com/ks-benders/
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