The Hello and welcome to episode two of Criminal Broads, a podcast about wild women on the wrong side of the law.

I'm Tori Telfer and I'm here today to tell you the story of one of my favorite female

criminals. Now, air quotes around favorite. I obviously do not condone her actions but I love this story I love telling this story I love this story I love this story because

This story feels like fiction it does not seem like it should be true.

It seems like a legend that sprung out of the Wild Wild West, you know?

It really feels like something our grandmothers would have told us to warn us about

encountering strangers on the open road in the dark. But it's true. It really

happened.

So let's go to Kansas in the 1870s

when a very, very strange family came to town. Do you know about the

the

do you know about the concept of the golden child? Some families just seem to have one kid that's a lot more special than the others. It's kind of a cruel concept, but it is sometimes true.

The Golden Child just sort of exudes success

and effortlessness and kindness and charm.

The Golden Child is usually attractive and also knows how to make other people feel attractive and comfortable and happy.

Above all, I would say the golden child knows the rules of society and knows how to move

through society. This is not a gift all of us have and this is a very useful gift.

Kate Bender was the golden child of her family.

At least, she looked that way to the outside world, which is another trick the golden child has, the trick of appearing a certain way.

Kate's family knew her far too well to be fooled by her charms.

They'd seen the dried blood in the creases of her knuckles.

They knew exactly what she looked like when she dumped a body through a trapdoor.

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