Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Episode 8: At Last
Date: November 20, 2025
Host: Becky Milligan
Production: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts, produced by Blanchard House
Overview
The final episode of "Hell in Heaven" brings the remarkable, twisting saga of John and Ann Bender to a close. After years of murder trials, international intrigue, and unresolved questions, Becky Milligan explores the aftermath of Ann's final acquittal, the fates of those entwined in the Bender story, and the ultimate legacy of their dream-turned-nightmare in the Costa Rican jungle. The episode is both a resolution and an acknowledgment that some mysteries – particularly those involving great wealth, isolation, and obsession – may never be fully solved.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Drug Bust and Its Hidden Connection
[02:10]
- In June 2017, police in Costa Rica intercepted a cattle truck and SUV carrying 237 kilos of cocaine, night vision goggles, a gun, and more—evidence of cartel activity (worth nearly $20 million).
- One arrested was Jose Pizarro, former head of Costa Rican police and, notably, the Benders' head of security.
- This bust throws new light on the potential dangers swirling around John and Ann Bender during their years of seclusion.
2. Ann Bender’s Final Acquittal
[04:45]
- In 2015, Ann faced her third murder trial for John’s death—uncertainty and suspense gripped the court.
- At 9:15 am, the chief judge acquitted Ann. The tension broke as her lawyer reached for her hand, and Ann wept in the courtroom.
- "She lowered her head and started to cry. She was weeping. At last she was able to release all that tension." – Cameraman Kevin Serrano ([06:27])
- Ann immediately planned to leave Costa Rica, aware authorities might attempt another retrial.
3. Theories Persist: Was John Murdered?
[09:30]
- Despite acquittal, suspicions remain. Who killed John Bender if not Ann? Rumors and theories swirl among friends, neighbors, and those involved in the case, with some convinced an external party was responsible.
- "Someone that wealthy at that house. I don’t think his wife pulled the trigger..." – Neighbor John Corvick ([10:41])
- Sightings of people fleeing the Bender estate the night of the shooting feed enduring speculation.
4. Jose Pizarro (El Toro) – Security Chief, Convict, and Enigma
[16:10]
- Milligan visits Pizarro in prison for his first interview since Ann’s acquittal. He maintains Ann’s innocence and claims John’s suicide was due to losing control of their fortune in a trust.
- Pizarro expresses shame for his crimes (unrelated to the Benders’ case):
“I come from humble beginnings... Then I made a mistake. No, I committed a horror. I feel ashamed... But as a human being, I might have failed, but as a member of the police force, I never did.” ([23:08])
- Both Kevin (cameraman) and Carlos (ambulance driver) wonder if Pizarro’s cartel ties intersected fatally with the Benders, though hard evidence is lacking.
5. Ann’s Post-Trial Escape and Aftermath
[29:15]
- Ann, using a replacement passport, attempts to leave Costa Rica. Briefly held by a no-fly list, her lawyer secures her departure within eight days. She has never returned.
6. The Fate of the Bender Mansion
[31:05]
- With the Benders gone, their futuristic, wall-less mansion is reclaimed by the rainforest; animals move in, pools turn to frog ponds.
- Local hoteliers retrieve keepsakes—orchids, a swing bench, Ann’s designer clothes, symbolic remnants of paradise lost.
- “A lover’s wooden swing seat... Now it’s in the hotel garden. A little weathered but still usable.” ([32:27])
7. Enduring Legal and Financial Battles
[35:21]
- Costa Rican prosecutors attempt a fourth trial in 2017, securing an international arrest warrant for Ann and trapping her in the US.
- Ann wins a protracted fight over the trust, exposing her legal adviser for fraud and discovering $40 million was missing.
- The fate of the Benders’ gemstone collection (once valued at $20 million) remains murky, with only a fraction returned to Ann.
8. Final Legal Closure
[39:42]
- In 2023, Costa Rica’s Supreme Court rules Ann can never be retried for John’s death, ending her legal limbo.
- For Ann and others, however, the personal and emotional ramifications persist.
9. The Cast of Characters: Where Are They Now?
[47:35]
- Michael the Mercenary recalls being hired to abduct John Bender and observing mysterious surveillance on him.
- Jesse and Mattie, former neighbors (Mattie the clairvoyant), still wonder about John’s death; Mattie claims John’s spirit confessed suicide out of guilt.
- Dr. Lozano, Ann’s psychiatrist, recalls confusion about Ann’s health and John’s attempts to heal her with supposed water injections.
- John Corvick settles in Florida, still occasionally pondering the case.
- Others (hotel owners, maintenance man, ambulance driver) have moved on, but retain pieces (physical and emotional) of the Benders.
- “There’s something about this story which seems to stay with people, get under their skin.” – Rosemary ([55:40])
10. The Bender Family Reflects
[50:15]
-
John’s parents, Margie and Paul, never had a funeral for their son; they're resigned and philosophical:
“What’s the point of worrying about things that have happened and there’s nothing you can do about them anymore?” – Paul Bender ([51:43])
-
Positive memories endure:
“The relationship with the animals and with the land... That was just wonderful to see. And then it all comes crashing down. But it was very, very successful. And he did that all on his own.” – Paul Bender ([53:10])
11. A Love Story, a Mystery, and a Tragedy
[54:30]
- The Benders’ relationship, mirrored in John’s parents’ own romance, is highlighted as central to the saga.
- The mansion—now renamed Sea Ridge Reserve and on sale for $12 million—stands empty, perhaps waiting for a new chapter.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “She lowered her head and started to cry. She was weeping. At last she was able to release all that tension.” – Cameraman Kevin Serrano ([06:27])
- “Someone that wealthy at that house. I don’t think his wife pulled the trigger.” – John Corvick ([10:41])
- “Where I live, everyone knows me by the name Toro... Some don’t even know my real name.” – Jose Pizarro ([18:47])
- “I feel ashamed for having committed such a thing. I humbly ask for forgiveness...” – Jose Pizarro ([23:08])
- “All I want for Ann is that she finds peace and tranquility...” – Jose Pizarro ([24:52])
- “There’s something about this story which seems to stay with people, get under their skin.” – Rosemary ([55:40])
- “What’s the point of worrying about things that have happened and there’s nothing you can do about them anymore?” – Paul Bender ([51:43])
- “The whole development of the place was something that I never thought would happen. And it did. That was just wonderful to see.” – Paul Bender ([53:10])
Timestamps of Important Segments
- 02:10 – The drug bust and its cartel ramifications
- 04:45 – Ann Bender’s acquittal on the murder charge
- 09:30 – Unanswered questions and enduring theories of murder
- 16:10 – Interview with Jose Pizarro in prison
- 23:08 – Pizarro's confession and emotional breakdown
- 31:05 – The state of the Benders’ mansion after their departure
- 35:21 – Ann's legal and financial battles over the trust and gems
- 39:42 – Costa Rica Supreme Court’s final closure on Ann’s prosecution
- 47:35 – Updates on the key people entwined in the saga
- 50:15 – Reflections from John’s family
- 54:30 – The romance at the story’s heart, and the house’s fate
Tone & Closing Thoughts
The episode is investigative but reflective, weaving emotion and unresolved intrigue with factual closure. Becky Milligan maintains a tone of respect—empathetic to the suffering and confusion of everyone touched by the Benders’ tragedy, but alert to the ambiguities and lingering shadows. In the lush but haunted setting of Boracayan, paradise proved as treacherous as it was beautiful, and the legacy of John and Ann Bender endures: a story of love, obsession, and a paradise found—and lost.