Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"I tried to stop it, but I couldn't." — Ann Bender (as reported)
"he finally did it." — Ann Bender (as reported to her brother)
"I'm losing my mind right now. First, sick again, and now this, today is a total fucking nightmare and tomorrow will get worse. Just when I was feeling I could learn to be happy, now I get this and I want to be dead. I feel so horrible. I want to kill everyone and then me. I deserve to die" — John Bender (email to Ann)
This episode chronicles the perplexing case of John Bender's death at his remote Costa Rican estate, known as the "Benderdome." The narrative begins with the discovery of John deceased from a gunshot wound, with his wife, Ann, present and in distress. Initial investigations by local authorities were met with immediate complexities, including the unusual nature of the estate and the presence of a vast, undocumented collection of gems, leading to suspicions of illicit activities. Ann's account of the night, suggesting a struggle during a suicide attempt, was met with skepticism by authorities who began to build a case against her, citing a lack of gunpowder residue on John's hands and other forensic inconsistencies.
The subsequent legal proceedings against Ann were protracted and convoluted, involving multiple trials, appeals, and a dramatic acquittal followed by a guilty verdict and eventual final acquittal due to procedural reforms in Costa Rica prohibiting double jeopardy. The investigation also uncovered details about the Benders' personal lives, including John's struggles with bipolar disorder and Ann's own health issues, as well as a significant dispute with their trustee, Juan Alvarez, over their vast assets and the gems. The case was further complicated by the alleged injection of Ann with river water by John, which exacerbated her own health problems.
Ultimately, after a thirteen-year legal battle, Ann Bender was finally absolved of the charges. The episode emphasizes the significant challenges in establishing definitive facts, the role of mental health in the narrative, and the critical importance of proper forensic procedures in legal investigations. The story also touches upon the impact of true crime content, with a segment highlighting how the podcast's work influenced policy changes in missing persons reporting.