Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise

Podcast: Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Host: Becky Milligan (Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts)
Episode: Introducing Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Date: September 25, 2025

Episode Overview

In this gripping introductory episode, award-winning investigative journalist Becky Milligan teases the true crime story of John and Ann Bender—an affluent American couple who retreat to the remote Costa Rican jungle in search of utopia, only to descend into isolation, paranoia, and ultimately, tragedy. The series promises a complex exploration of wealth, obsession, and the thin line between paradise and hell, culminating in a mysterious death and a string of dramatic murder trials.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Setting: Paradise Found and Lost

• “Two rich young Americans move to the Costa Rican jungle to start over. But one of them will end up dead and the other tried for murder three times from the start. The omens are bad.”
  (A, 00:03)
  • Milligan sets the stage: two wealthy, idealistic Americans seeking escape, only to face dire consequences.
• “That place is the darkest jungle you've ever seen in your life. You have no clue.”
  (B, 00:19)
  • The Costa Rican jungle is established as both alluring and menacing.

2. The Benders: Wealth, Vision, and Devotion

• Profiles:
  • John Bender: Wall Street "whiz kid," “movie star handsome”—charismatic and brilliant.
  • Ann Bender: Equally devoted, described as attractive and closely bonded to John.
• “They set up a nature reserve and build a strange new home. It's like a spaceship's landed on the top of a hill in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica.”
  (A, 00:37)
  • The couple’s vision takes material form in an extraordinary, circular mansion that doubles as a wildlife sanctuary.

3. Dream Fraying into Nightmare

• “But slowly, their dream starts to crumble. It was just doomed. Just doomed.”
  (A, 00:47)
  • The idyllic vision unravels amid growing tension and unease.
• “Even out here in the jungle, you can run, but you can’t hide.”
  (A, 01:15)
  • Milligan hints at inescapable troubles, foreshadowing the darker turns ahead.

4. Descent into Paranoia and Isolation

• “And all of a sudden, there’s guys with guns, lots of men with guns.”
  (B, 01:21)
  • Armed security and fear become part of daily life.
• “They were saying, help, Help. They're kidnapping us. As their past catches up with them, our couple retreat from reality.”
  (A, 01:25)
  • Paranoia grows, and the Benders become increasingly isolated from the outside world.
• “They lose it.”
  (B, 01:34)
• “They sort of went nuts. Until one night, everything spins out of control.”
  (A, 01:36–01:45)

5. The Violent Climax and Legal Aftermath

• “He says, colonel, we heard a shot inside the boss's house, and I could see the gun on the floor and the trail of blood.”
  (B, 01:45)
  • A harrowing, bloody incident in their fantastical mansion—specifically in an open-air bedroom illuminated by 400 Tiffany lamps.
• “And one of them will end up being tried for murder. Not once—people gasped. Not twice—stunned. But three times. We were all looking at each other just in total disbelief.”
  (A, 01:53)
  • The narrative teases the extraordinary legal drama and the enduring mystery surrounding the case.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “That place is the darkest jungle you've ever seen in your life. You have no clue.”
  (B, 00:19)
• “It's like a spaceship's landed on the top of a hill in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica.”
  (A, 00:37)
• “It was just doomed. Just doomed.”
  (A, 00:47)
• “Even out here in the jungle, you can run, but you can’t hide.”
  (A, 01:15)
• “All of a sudden, there's guys with guns, lots of men with guns.”
  (B, 01:21)
• “They lose it.”
  (B, 01:34)
• “He says, colonel, we heard a shot inside the boss's house, and I could see the gun on the floor and the trail of blood.”
  (B, 01:45)
• “Not once—people gasped. Not twice—stunned. But three times.”
  (A, 01:53)

Important Timestamps

• 00:03 — Introduction to the case and its ominous beginnings.
• 00:24 — Characterization of John and Ann Bender and their unique bond.
• 00:37 — Description of their futuristic jungle home.
• 01:21 — The sense of threat and intrusion (armed guards appear).
• 01:45 — The night of the murder and the shocking aftermath.
• 01:53 — Revelation of the three murder trials and the ongoing mystery.

Tone and Style

• The host, Becky Milligan, combines somber intrigue with a sense of awe at the bizarre twists of the case.
• The language is vivid, at times cinematic (“like a spaceship’s landed on top of a hill”), reflecting both the setting and the larger-than-life characters.
• An undercurrent of unease and suspense is present throughout, setting the stage for a deeply compelling series.

Summary

This teaser episode expertly sets up the mysterious and tragic saga of John and Ann Bender. With atmospheric storytelling and evocative details, Hell in Heaven promises to delve deep into the corrosive effects of wealth, total isolation, and unchecked fear in the heart of the jungle. The preview closes with tantalizing hints about the life-and-death stakes and unresolved questions that will be unraveled in the episodes to come.