The Dark Oak

Episode 82: The Bloody Benders

The Bloody Benders were a family of serial killers active in Labette County, Kansas, from 1871 to 1873. Consisting of John Bender Sr., his wife Elvira (or Almira), their son John Jr., and daughter Kate, they operated a small inn and general store on the Osage Trail, which was frequented by travelers. The family would invite guests to sit at a table with their backs against a curtain, where they would be struck from behind with a hammer, usually by John Sr. or John Jr., while distracted by Kate, who was known for her beauty and purported spiritualist abilities.
 
After the murder, the victims' throats were slit, and their bodies were buried in an orchard or thrown into a well on the property. The Benders are believed to have killed between 11 to 20 people, with the actual number uncertain due to the frontier's sparse record-keeping.
 
The family's crimes came to light after the disappearance of Dr. William York in 1873, whose brother, a prominent state senator, organized a search. When authorities arrived at the Bender homestead, the family had already vanished. The property was searched, revealing several bodies, confirming the grim suspicions.
 
The Benders' fate remains a mystery; stories range from them being lynched by vigilantes, escaping to other parts of the country or even abroad, or changing identities. Their story has since become a legendary tale in American folklore.
 
Sources:
Nadel, D. (2024, July 19). The bloody benders: the family that wasn’t. HubPages. https://discover.hubpages.com/education/The-Bloody-Benders-The-Family-That-Wasnt
Sep 25, 1952, page 8 - The Wichita Beacon at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/720215261/?match=1&terms=bloody%20benders
McCoy, M. (2021, October 31). A mysterious murder site has a new owner. He’s looking for answers about the Bloody Benders. Kansas Reflector. https://kansasreflector.com/2021/10/31/a-mysterious-murder-site-has-a-new-owner-hes-looking-for-answers-about-the-bloody-benders/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 81: The Karen Read Trial - Part 2 of 2

After a night out on January 28, 2022, 46-year-old Boston Police Officer was discovered dead in his friend's driveway, covered in snow. The already bizarre scene was made more chaotic when John's girlfriend, Karen Read, was allegedly heard by first responders saying "I hit him! I hit him!" 
Almost immediately law enforcement determined that John's death was a result of Karen Read purposely hitting him with her vehicle the night before.....but this case wasn't so cut and dry. Almost all of the witnesses shared relationships with John and were involved in the law enforcement community. Was it possible they were covering up what really happened that night? 
According to Karen Read and her defense team, everyone involved with the case was involved in a conspiracy to frame her and ultimately cover up John's real murderer. 
 
Sources:
karen. (n.d.). wondery. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/karen/id1756594491
Brother of John O’Keefe Speaks out about Karen Read mistrial. (n.d.). wcvb.com.
Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (episode 252-260). (n.d.). https://prosecutorspodcast.com/tag/karen-read/
www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/who-is-karen-read-a-look-at-the-woman-at-the-center-of-a-media-firestorm/ar-BB1lznpM
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/karen-read-trial-timeline-john-okeefe/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/us/karen-read-murder-trial-boston.html
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 80: The Karen Read Trial - Part 1 of 2

After a night out on January 28, 2022, 46 year old Boston Police Officer was discovered dead in his friend's driveway, covered in snow. The already bizarre scene was made more chaotic when John's girlfriend, Karen Read, was allegedly heard by first responders saying "I hit him! I hit him!" 
Almost immediately law enforcement determined that John's death was a result of Karen Read purposely hitting him with her vehicle the night before.....but this case wasn't so cut and dry. Almost all of the witnesses shared relationships with John and were involved in the law enforcement community. Was it possible they were covering up what really happened that night? 
According to Karen Read and her defense team, everyone involved with the case was involved in a conspiracy to frame her and ultimately cover up John's real murderer. 
 
Sources:
karen. (n.d.). wondery. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/karen/id1756594491
Brother of John O’Keefe Speaks out about Karen Read mistrial. (n.d.). wcvb.com.
Karen Read and the Death of John O’Keefe (episode 252-260). (n.d.). https://prosecutorspodcast.com/tag/karen-read/
www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/who-is-karen-read-a-look-at-the-woman-at-the-center-of-a-media-firestorm/ar-BB1lznpM
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/karen-read-trial-timeline-john-okeefe/
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/us/karen-read-murder-trial-boston.html
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

New Year, New Binge 2025 - Episode 2 of 2

Welcome, true-crime lovers, to New Year, New Binge 2025 Edition! What you’ll find included is your guide to an exciting lineup of podcasts that will make 2025 your best year for listening yet. New Years is a time for resolutions, and mine is simple: to share with you the most captivating, chilling, and downright binge-worthy true-crime podcasts. Whether you’re looking to uncover unsolved mysteries or dive into deep investigative storytelling, I’ve got you covered.
Be sure to follow all of the podcasts you enjoyed so you never miss a new episode. Podcasts are listed below in the order in which you will be introduced to them:
 
Episode 2:
Coffee and Cases Podcast https://linktr.ee/coffeeandcases
Heart Starts Pounding  https://www.heartstartspounding.com/
Mortal Musings Podcast  https://linktr.ee/mortalmusingspodcast
True Crime Creepers https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeCreepers
Private Dicks Podcast https://linktr.ee/privatedicks
Twisted Travel and True Crime   https://linktr.ee/twistedtraveltruecrimepodcast 

New Year, New Binge 2025 - Episode 1 of 2

Welcome, true-crime lovers, to New Year, New Binge 2025 Edition! What you’ll find included is your guide to an exciting lineup of podcasts that will make 2025 your best year for listening yet. New Years is a time for resolutions, and mine is simple: to share with you the most captivating, chilling, and downright binge-worthy true-crime podcasts. Whether you’re looking to uncover unsolved mysteries or dive into deep investigative storytelling, I’ve got you covered.
Be sure to follow all of the podcasts you enjoyed so you never miss a new episode. Podcasts are listed below in the order in which you will be introduced to them:
 
Episode 1:
Reverie True Crime  https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore 
Fresh Hell Podcast  https://freshhellpodcast.com/
Malice  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/malice-a-true-crime-podcast/id1471251398
Women & Crime  https://www.womenandcrimepodcast.com
True Crimecast  https://linktr.ee/truecrimecast
The Dark Oak Podcast  thedarkoak.com

Episode 79: The Suspicious Death of Ben Keita

On Nov 26, 2016, the Saturday after Thanksgiving, 18-year-old high school student Ben Keita was reported missing by his parents, Ibrahima and Aissata Keita. He apparently left his home in Lake Stevens, Washington State by himself, without his wallet, phone or car.
Temperatures around that time were freezing, and his family was worried the cold could trigger problems for Ben’s sickle cell anemia.
Because Ben left his cell phone behind, the police were not able to get a precise location to begin their search, so they began by looking through a wide sweeping wooded area around the Keita home.  Experienced searchers, including a dog trained to detect human remains, were deployed.
The search for Ben stretched on for days, and then to weeks.
Six weeks passed with no sign of Ben. Then, on January 9, 2017, a group of teenagers wandering into the woods stumbled across an awful sight. About 12 to 14 feet from a trail, and about 10 feet from the nearest backyard fence was the body of Ben Keita. He was hanging from a rope strung over a tall branch in a densely wooded area just blocks from his home. Disturbingly, his body was found in an area that was previously searched multiple times in the days after his initial disappearance.
One end of the rope was fashioned into a noose around Ben’s neck; The other end was attached to a branch that was estimated to be 50 feet in the air. Ben’s feet were 2 and a half feet off the ground. Incredibly his neck was not broken. His official cause of death was recorded as asphyxiation.
Despite the odd circumstances, based on the fact there were no other evidence of trauma, the Snohomish County Medical Examiner determined the manner of death to be suicide.
But Ben’s parents immediately objected to this finding. His family said there was no reason to suspect anything was bothering Ben to the point that he would take his life. Ben was a young black man being raised in the Muslim faith. To Ben's family, Ben's cause of death was nothing short of a lynching.
What happened to Ben Keita?
 
Sources:
Victim Connect Resource Center. (2024, October 29). Victim Connect Resource Center - Confidential referrals for crime victims. https://victimconnect.org/
King, R. (2017, March 9). Parents again call for FBI to investigate death of Ben Keita | HeraldNet.com. HeraldNet.com. https://www.heraldnet.com/news/parents-again-call-for-fbi-to-investigate-death-of-ben-keita/
Hanna, J., & Hassan, C. (2017, March 4). Family asks FBI to probe black Muslim teen’s hanging. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2017/03/03/us/washington-teen-ben-keita-hanging/index.html
Staff, C. (2017, March 3). FBI reviewing case of Muslim teen found hanging from tree. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-reviewing-case-of-muslim-teen-found-hanging-from-tree/
Green, S. J. (2017, March 14). Hate-crime suspicions cloud death of Muslim teen in Lake Stevens. The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/hate-crime-suspicions-cloud-death-of-black-teen/
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 78: The Monsters and Mysteries of Christmas

Merry Christmas Day from The Dark Oak!
Christmas traditions run deep in every culture and every family. In America, the legend of St Nicholas reigns supreme. But it turns out that Santa Claus is only one of the many fables, legends and haunts that come alive around the celebration of Christmas. So, today I present to you, The Monsters of Christmas. Join us for discussions of The Tomten, The Yule Family (including the Yule boys and the Yule Cat), Mari Lwyd, Belsnickel, Krampus, and more!
 
Sources:
December 15). The Monsters of Christmas. Atlas Obscura. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/monsters-of-christmas
Palmer, A., & Palmer, A. (2021, December 20). Mari Lwyd, or “Caroling with Zombie Horses”: A Christmas Story - Weird Little Worlds Press. Weird Little Worlds Press -. https://weirdlittleworlds.com/mari-lwyd-or-caroling-with-zombie-horses/
Little, B., & Little, B. (2023, December 12). Meet Krampus, the Christmas devil who punishes naughty children. HISTORY. https://www.history.com/news/krampus-christmas-legend-origin
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 77: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey - Part 2 of 2

We know the tragic story well: a 6-year-old beauty queen is found murdered in her upscale home the day after Christmas. Police and the media immediately zero in on the usual suspects...the remaining three members of the Ramsey family. 
Nearly three decades later we have learned that much of what we were "fed" in the days, weeks, months and years since JonBenet's death has been skewed to fit a particular narrative. Unfortunately, the downside of having a case so widely covered is that much of the widespread information can be incorrect. At The Dark Oak we understand that sometimes it can feel like the victim is lost in the chaos of the investigation and the media frenzy that surrounds it. 
In this episode, Cynthia and Stefanie want to remember JonBenet the person, while exploring the facts surrounding her murder investigation.  
 
Sources: 
The ransom note – a short life in the spotlight. (n.d.). https://sites.gsu.edu/moyasfinalproject/support-1/
JonBenet Ramsey Murder - The 911 Call - Statement Analysis®. (n.d.). https://www.statementanalysis.com/jonbenet-ramsey-murder/
Lovitt, B. (2018, June 25). Who killed JonBenet Ramsey? 8 possible suspects. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/who-killed-jonbenet-ramsey-8-possible-suspects-129125/the-mother-129180/
JonBenet Ramsey murder case: The Denver Post. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon031400.htm
https://pherson.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/JonBenet-Ramsey-Case-Study.pdf
https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-mistakes-jonbenet-ramsey-investigation-noted-police-chief/story?id=29247378
Kenton, L. (2023, August 6). JonBenét Ramsey’s father reveals beauty pageant regrets as he recounts final show on what would be her 33. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/8758625/jonbenet-ramsey-birthday-beauty-pageant-regrets-dad/
Jon Benet Ramsey Investigation: The Denver Post Online. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon22.htm
https://www.walteradavis.com/works/2005/02/essay_there_is_.html. (n.d.). https://www.walteradavis.com/works/2005/02/essay_there_is_.html.
The Denver Post Online: Today’s news. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon102.htm
JonBenét Ramsey’s Murder: Timeline of the Child Pageant star’s death and investigation. (2020, November 17). Biography. https://www.biography.com/crime/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-investigation-timeline
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 76: The Murder of JonBenet Ramsey - Part 1 of 2

We know the tragic story well: a 6-year-old beauty queen is found murdered in her upscale home the day after Christmas. Police and the media immediately zero in on the usual suspects...the remaining three members of the Ramsey family. 
Nearly three decades later we have learned that much of what we were "fed" in the days, weeks, months and years since JonBenet's death has been skewed to fit a particular narrative. Unfortunately, the downside of having a case so widely covered is that much of the widespread information can be incorrect. At The Dark Oak we understand that sometimes it can feel like the victim is lost in the chaos of the investigation and the media frenzy that surrounds it. 
In this episode, Cynthia and Stefanie want to remember JonBenet the person, while exploring the facts surrounding her murder investigation.  
 
Sources: 
The ransom note – a short life in the spotlight. (n.d.). https://sites.gsu.edu/moyasfinalproject/support-1/
JonBenet Ramsey Murder - The 911 Call - Statement Analysis®. (n.d.). https://www.statementanalysis.com/jonbenet-ramsey-murder/
Lovitt, B. (2018, June 25). Who killed JonBenet Ramsey? 8 possible suspects. Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/who-killed-jonbenet-ramsey-8-possible-suspects-129125/the-mother-129180/
JonBenet Ramsey murder case: The Denver Post. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon031400.htm
https://pherson.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/JonBenet-Ramsey-Case-Study.pdf
https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-mistakes-jonbenet-ramsey-investigation-noted-police-chief/story?id=29247378
Kenton, L. (2023, August 6). JonBenét Ramsey’s father reveals beauty pageant regrets as he recounts final show on what would be her 33. . . The US Sun. https://www.the-sun.com/news/8758625/jonbenet-ramsey-birthday-beauty-pageant-regrets-dad/
Jon Benet Ramsey Investigation: The Denver Post Online. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon22.htm
https://www.walteradavis.com/works/2005/02/essay_there_is_.html. (n.d.). https://www.walteradavis.com/works/2005/02/essay_there_is_.html.
The Denver Post Online: Today’s news. (n.d.). https://extras.denverpost.com/news/jon102.htm
JonBenét Ramsey’s Murder: Timeline of the Child Pageant star’s death and investigation. (2020, November 17). Biography. https://www.biography.com/crime/jonbenet-ramsey-murder-investigation-timeline
 
Join The Dark Oak Discussion:
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

Episode 75: The Murder of Patricia Jeschke and Wrongful Conviction of Sandra Hemme

Sandra Hemme, is the longest known wrongfully convicted woman in the United States. Sandra was just 20 years old when she was found guilty of the murder of Patricia Jeschke, despite no solid evidence that she committed the crime. She didn’t know the murder victim, there were no witnesses, and no DNA evidence ever connected to her.
We will give you all the information on Sandra, Patricia's murder, Sandra's conviction and exoneration, and maybe most shockingly of all, the person suspected of being Patricia’s true killer.
 
Sources:
8 facts about Sandra Hemme’s case you need to know - Innocence Project. (2023, May 1). Innocence Project. https://innocenceproject.org/8-facts-about-sandra-hemmes-case-you-need-to-know/
Zeff, S. (2024, October 9). Missouri released Sandra Hemme from prison, so she’s spending time with her dying father. KCUR - Kansas City News and NPR. https://www.kcur.org/news/2024-07-23/missouri-sandra-hemme-innocence-prison-freed-attorney-general-andrew-bailey
Ozarks True Crime — Anne Roderique-Jones. (2023, June 13). Anne Roderique-Jones. https://www.anneroderiquejones.com/ozarks-true-crime
Nov 14, 1980, page 1 - St. Joseph Gazette at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/563725892/?match=1&terms=Patricia%20Jeschke
Dec 13, 1980, page 13 - St. Joseph News-Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/562524263/?match=1&terms=sandra%20hemme
8 facts about Sandra Hemme’s case you need to know - Innocence Project. (2023, May 1). Innocence Project. https://innocenceproject.org/8-facts-about-sandra-hemmes-case-you-need-to-know/
Apr 10, 1981, page 1 - St. Joseph News-Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/562058591/?match=1&terms=sandra%20hemme
Mar 31, 1983, page 7 - St. Joseph Gazette at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/563837303/?match=1&terms=sandra%20hemme
Apr 16, 1983, page 27 - St. Joseph News-Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/562460478/?match=1&terms=sandra%20hemme
Jul 19, 2024, page A6 - Johnson City Press at Newspapers.com. (n.d.). https://www.newspapers.com/image/1126157909/?match=1&terms=sandra%20hemme
 
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep