A composite albumen CDV showing various images of the Bender house and land in Parsons, Kansas in 1873. House with people around it and authorities exhuming several bodies from the orchard in back of the house. Images by C.R. Gamble, Parsons, Kansas. This was one of the earliest recorded cases of serial murder. The Benders house was along the road to Fort Scott, Kansas and they lured travelers into their house with offers of hot food, etc. Many of these travelers carried large amounts of cash. While they ate, one of the Benders would hit them over the head with a sledgehammer from behind. They were then robbed and buried in the orchard. At lease 7 (some report 12) victims were found but the Benders had disappeared. The family was John Bender, his wife Elvira, their son John, Jr. and daughter Kate. Many detectives and posses tried to find the Benders. It has been proven that John, Jr. and Kate disappeared into Texas. The older Benders were reported arrested and/or killed for years but nothing was ever proven.
