498 - Tugboat Cat

Summary

My Favorite Murder – Episode 498: "Tugboat Cat"

Release Date: September 18, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast Network: Exactly Right & iHeartPodcasts

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Overview

This episode of "My Favorite Murder," titled "Tugboat Cat," centers on the fascinating story of Frank Bender, an unconventional hero who used his artistic talent to solve cold cases and give names back to John and Jane Does. Georgia brings listeners the true crime life of Bender, the legendary forensic sculptor whose intuitive busts have brought closure to countless families and assisted law enforcement—despite his lack of formal training or a badge. With Karen along for the ride, this episode is a blend of awe, laughs, and inspiration—kicking off the spooky season with a heartfelt tribute to a truly unique investigator.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banter, Nervous Habits, and Merch Updates (01:03 – 07:44)

• The hosts open with their signature self-deprecating humor about nervous habits (“You keep putting your hand to the back of your face and grabbing your own nose...” – Karen, 01:40) and the perils of seeing oneself on video.
• They express gratitude for their community (“You guys are the best.” – Karen, 04:07; “Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.” – Georgia, 04:11), discuss recent live shows, and highlight their tour’s unique city-specific merch.
• There's an enthusiastic plug for spooky season and new Halloween merchandise—notably Mothman-themed items and skeleton joggers. Karen confesses to wearing their merch in public despite her usual “be cool” stance (07:06–07:26).

“I was in Nicole’s office...she had these skeleton sweatpants...I have worn them in public so many times because they’re so cozy that I don’t care that I look like a cornball.” – Karen, 07:13

2. Introduction to Frank Bender: The Forensic Sculptor (08:45 – 10:38)

• Georgia teases the main story: the life and impact of Frank Bender, a fine artist turned forensic sculptor who helped provide identities for the unnamed dead and capture fugitives, relying on intuition and technical talent.
• The episode references past MFM coverage of Bender (Episode 29) and his iconic “busts” seen on shows like Unsolved Mysteries.

3. Frank Bender’s Unlikely Path (10:38 – 13:34)

• Born in Philadelphia, Bender rejected an art scholarship to join the Navy, later becoming a photographer.
• He frequented the Philly morgue to practice figure drawing—a decision leading to his fateful encounter with an unidentified woman’s body.
• Despite knowing nothing about forensic science, he felt an inexplicable connection and confidence:

  “I know what she looks like.” – Frank Bender (quoted by Georgia, 12:46)

• He sculpts a lifelike bust from memory, which leads authorities to identify murder victim Anna Duvall, directly leading to the killer’s prosecution.

4. The Power of Art in Justice (13:34 – 17:08)

• Bender’s “forensic venture” redefines art’s purpose for him:

  “This isn't gonna hang on… I can give back to the people instead of to art collectors.” – Bender (quoted, 15:44)

• He becomes a go-to for law enforcement, expertly reconstructing faces from minimal remains—often without a skull or only anthropological notes.
• Bender describes his process as both scientific and intuitive:

  “I just see the image in my head, then I let my fingers do the sculpting.” (quoted, 16:44)

5. Supernatural Instincts & High-Profile Successes (17:42 – 25:25)

• Bender’s almost psychic abilities are detailed via case studies:
  • Linda Keyes (1980): Identified via a single-lens bust match (19:35).
  • Rosella Atkinson (1987): Family recognized the victim’s signature hopeful pose in Bender’s sculpture (21:05).
  • John List (1989): Fugitive captured after Bender aged his likeness through imagination and psychological profiling, topping it with telltale thick glasses:

    “The guy wore a suit and tie when he mowed the lawn.” – Bender, explaining his choices (23:52)

“He’s arrested...and that’s largely thanks to Frank Bender’s uncanny bust.” – Georgia, 24:57

6. Life on the Margins and the “Tugboat Cat” (26:01 – 26:57)

• Despite changing dozens of lives, Bender refused riches, living simply and taking odd jobs—including working on a tugboat; hence the episode’s title.
• Comedic riffing on the idea of cats aboard tugboats (“If you captained a tugboat, please write in...If you’re a tugboat cat, please write in...” – Hosts, 26:52).

7. Founding the Vidocq Society (26:57 – 28:19)

• Bender co-founds the influential Vidocq Society—a group of cold case experts, pivotal in solving cases like “The Boy in the Box” (Joseph August Zarelli, ID’d in 2022).

8. Bender the “Spooky Dude” & Eccentric Legend (28:19 – 29:50)

• Esquire’s Brendan Vaughn describes Bender:

  “It’s spooky how his answering machine invites you to leave a message for the Recomposer of the Decomposed. And…it’s even spooky how he listens. But the spookiest thing about Frank Bender is…Frank Bender sees dead people.” (29:00)

• Bender’s peculiar charm and dedication make him a law enforcement legend.

9. Late Life, Legacy, and Perspective (30:23 – 33:50)

• Battling cancer, and with his wife’s simultaneous illness, Bender insists:

  “I’m used to being surrounded by death. I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do…” (31:10)

• The hosts reflect on mortality, perspective, and gratitude—tying Bender’s legacy back to life lessons learned from years covering tragedy.

10. Impact Statistics and Final Reflections (32:10 – 34:33)

• Bender created approximately 40 busts with a success rate as high as 85% (ABC News), leading to breakthroughs in “almost every single case” (Philadelphia Inquirer).
• In a fitting final quote:

  “...Whenever [sinister men] did [attack me in dreams], the unnamed dead rose up in my defense.” – Bender (cited from NYT obituary, 33:42)

• The story closes with deep respect, admiration, and recognition of Bender’s fate-driven contribution.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You keep grabbing your own nose…It’s like an I got your nose, but to yourself.” – Karen (01:40)
• “Frank Bender doesn’t look like someone you’d find hanging around with the cops…more like one of those guys along the Seine with an easel.” – Georgia (10:36)
• “I just see the image in my head, then I let my fingers do the sculpting.” – Bender, as cited by Georgia (16:44)
• “Frank Bender sees dead people.” – Brendan Vaughn via Georgia (29:00)
• “This is where I belong...I can give back to the people instead of to art collectors.” – Bender (15:44)
• “You would never know unless you…walked into a morgue to do art.” – Karen (29:21)
• “I’m used to being surrounded by death. I’ve done everything I ever wanted to do.” – Bender (31:10)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:03 – 04:13: Host banter, nervous tics, gratitude for fans
• 05:04 – 06:42: Tour, merch, and Halloween season discussions
• 08:45 – 10:38: Introduction to Frank Bender and his unconventional path
• 11:39 – 14:21: Bender’s first bust & the identification of Anna Duvall
• 17:32 – 19:47: Nickname “Recomposer of the Decomposed” and profiling skills
• 21:05 – 24:57: Iconic fugitive John List case & Bender’s legacy in busts
• 26:27 – 27:24: Working on tugboats, riffing on “tugboat cats”
• 26:57 – 28:19: Founding of the Vidocq Society and other historic cases
• 28:19 – 29:50: Esquire’s “spooky dude” description of Bender
• 30:23 – 33:50: Final years, cancer diagnosis, Bender’s perspective
• 32:10 – 33:50: Statistical impact and obituary reflection
• 33:52 – 34:33: Hosts’ emotional reaction and legacy remarks

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Episode Tone & Style

This episode balances MFM’s trademark irreverent humor and heartfelt awe in discussion of Bender’s legacy. Georgia guides the narrative with curiosity and thorough research, while Karen interjects with relatable reactions, jokes, and reflections about death, art, and fate. The conversational style is engaging, at times playful, but ultimately respectful of the gravity and wonder of Frank Bender’s unique role in true crime history.

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Summary

“Tugboat Cat” is a stellar entry in the My Favorite Murder library—highlighting the impressive work and quirky character of Frank Bender, the forensic sculptor who literally put a face to the unknown. The episode explores how unexpected skills and callings can transform cold cases, letting listeners marvel at the “sixth sense” and empathy that allowed an ordinary artist to produce extraordinary results. It’s a tale of fate, grit, and the strange intersections between creativity, justice, and memory—perfect for kicking off a new season of chilling stories.

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Stay sexy and don’t get murdered.

[For more information on the Vidocq Society and other cases covered, see episode notes and exactlyrightmedia.com.]

Transcript

[Georgia Hardstrof]

This is exactly right. This episode of My Favorite Murder is brought to you by ABC's high back for season two. The hit drama stars Caitlin Olsen as Morgan, a single mom whose wit and charm take her from working as a janitor in the police department to a consultant in the major crimes unit. With an IQ of 160, she partners with a by the book LAPD cop to crack the most challenging cases. It's fun, relatable, and totally unpredictable. Morgan's story isn't so far off from today's story about an outsider who helps law enforcement find justice. High Potential celebrates unconventional detectives who think differently and get results. New episodes of High potential Tuesdays at 10, 9 Central on ABC and stream on Hulu. Goodbye.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Hello and welcome to My Favorite Murder.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's Georgia Hartstroff.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's Karen Kilgariff.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And we're gonna do some podcasting at you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I hope you're ready for podcasting.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

In your rear.

[Karen Kilgariff]

In your rear. We're gonna show you how it's done.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Get ready and write this down.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Get ready with me. To podcast.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

To podcast. It's a Get ready with me. When they just put huge headphones on.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And that's it. And then just talk about themselves for two hours. Do you know you have a new. I don't wanna know what to call it, like a new nervous habit or a new. What's the word? Not twitch.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Just say what it is.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You keep going like this.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Oh, no.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You keep putting your hand to the back of your face and grabbing your own nose and your pointer finger and middle finger. Just a little. You've been doing it for a while.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I don't know what it is. How many did I do it? Like a bunch on the last record?

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, but I've noticed you doing it a few times. Every time I see you.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I just wanted to impress you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But what is it?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I have no fucking.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's like an I got your nose, but to yourself.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's how I comfort myself.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Why are you taking your nose? Why are you taking your nose?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I mean, that's a crazy thing to hear about yourself. I know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Probably right?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Also, it's funny because being doing this podcast on video Nightmare. There was one video where they were. I can't remember what the whole video was about. Something else. But like, they were using this thing that was an outtake basically where I did this super weird, like, upper body stretch before we started. Oh, no. But at the same time when I watched it, I was like, it really sucks to have to edit yourself to have to give notes on. That's mine.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's a whole different thing. You shouldn't be watching. What are you doing? Yeah, you should get yourself banned.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

We're getting there. But that's really. I'll make up a new one.

[Karen Kilgariff]

No, I like it. I just like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

A thinking thing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's definitely like a give me a moment thing.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. Two seconds, please.

[Karen Kilgariff]

But somehow, like, squeezing the two of your. Oh, no. Should I not have told you that?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I mean, I just been.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I can't stop noticing it now.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I would like to stop doing it for sure. So that's fine with me. This is the thing. When we film this, when we do our show, our podcast, we also are doing video, but often I'm working right up until I walk down to do it. So I have a real fast makeup problem. I also have a. This foundation is too light for me. Oh, well, I'll use it anyway problem. So I think I'm also thinking that, like, almost I'm giving myself last second contour or some kind of.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Or you're remembering your face is like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It goes to here, stops here. I don't know.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Once I noticed it, I couldn't stop noticing. I'm like, I should tell her. But what for?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yes, please tell me. But what for? It's the same as when you. To what end you do that thing where you go, I know, because my hair always sticks out.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Or I do this and you go, me? Like, no, my. Literally me.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Cause it always sticks out.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, of course.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Always this goddamn job.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Everything about it. No, this is the fucking best this week. You guys are the best.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Thank you for coming to our live shows. We're having so much fun.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

We are so happy to see you again.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We have rad merch, too.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

The merch at the live shows is people are talking about it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, it's gorgeous.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's so cool.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I know.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's Daphna Sabane.

[Karen Kilgariff]

She's an incredible artist and Murderino, and she's been designing our tour. And every city has its own version of the tour poster based on things from that city or state. So, like, flowers and animals and, like, I mean, it's just so thoughtful and beautiful.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's so great. And also it's like, not the most typical. So it's like, just because it's Pasadena doesn't mean it's like the golden air, whatever. But it's like, it's just really smart and really cool. And I think people were super excited in Denver to see, like, how original.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It is so good.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Speaking of our tour.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We still have some limited tickets in certain cities.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Including some gold VIP packages which come with an exclusive merch bundle and one of those tour posters signed by us.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's us.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's us. So grab your tickets [e-mail] live and.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

We'Re posting all the tour fun from backstage pics to audience shout outs. So please remember to follow my favorite murder on Instagram and of course over on TikTok so you don't miss any of it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right. And hashtag your own photos with MFM Live 2025.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Also, you can head over to the exactly right YouTube channel so you can watch full episodes and clips not only from the show My favorite murder, but also from Ghosted by Roz Hernandez. I said no gifts, buried bones, and more.

[Karen Kilgariff]

So go to YouTube.com exactlyrightmedia and please subscribe.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Please.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We appreciate it.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Also, just in time for spooky season. It's already spooky season.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. Holy shit.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Sorry. What's your costume gonna be this year?

[Karen Kilgariff]

I bought a vintage shirt that is the color Pat Candy corn.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So out of nowhere, done and done.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I fucking found it. And it's gorgeous.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I'm really jealous of that shirt.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I'll wear it on the show and then we can switch.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Okay. I'll wear it the day that I have a skeleton dress.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Great.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

We'll do that. Okay, so just in time for spooky season. Make your plants too. We got new and restocked Halloween merch. In the exactly right store.

[Karen Kilgariff]

There's a bunch of brand new Mothman stuff, which we of course love from MFM Animated. There's a Mothman unisex T shirt. The return of the Mothman zip front hoodie. The Mothman koozie.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's this one.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then skeleton joggers. And the skeleton pin that moves. The skeleton pin moves. And you have the joggers.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. And of course, all of those designs are by the great Nick Terry. I mean, we love this, man. You've seen the MFM animated on YouTube. If you haven't, please go watch them. They're pretty great.

[Karen Kilgariff]

They're so incredible.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

They're a lot like this, but they move. They're articulated. I have to admit something. What? Georgia proudly wears our merch everywhere she goes. Not me, though. I'm a very Kurt Cobain yelling at me all the time. You know, Be cool.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's not cool if you wear your own merch.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah, exactly. But I was in Nicole's office one day and she had these skeleton sweatpants sitting there and I was like, I need those skeleton sweatpants. And she gave them to me. I have worn them in public so many times because they're so cozy that I don't care that I look like a cornball.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, no.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Or whatever way I'm judging myself.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I love it. It's good. I think it's good to support your.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

School and your podcast also. But just know that when Nicole picks the blanks for our merch, she is going for the best of the best.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right. Go to exactlyrightstore.com to grab your stuff today.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Today, this episode of My Favorite Murder is brought to you by ABC's High Potential back for season two. Today's story is about an outsider who helps law enforcement find justice. No badge, no formal training, just talent, curiosity, and an eye for detail. It's a story that perfectly captures spirit of citizen detectives who see what others miss. Just like ABC's hit series High Potential, Caitlyn Olsen stars as Morgan, a single mom and LAPD consultant who notices the details others overlook. With her high iq, sharp wit and unconventional instincts, she consults for the Major Crimes Unit and often outsmarts the professionals on their most challenging cases. Morgan's creative rule breaking approach collides with her partner's by the book style, creating smart, twisty storytelling full of humor, suspense, and offbeat detective energy. New episodes of High potential, Tuesdays at 10, 9 Central on ABC and stream on Hulu. Goodbye.

[Karen Kilgariff]

All right. You're solo. Yes, I can sit back.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. Just relax.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Thank you. God damn it.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I'm gonna tell you a story about a person who is extremely good at one specific thing. And because of that, he became an unlikely partner to investigators in not only this country, but beyond. His work not only helps catch fugitives, but it also gives many John and Jane does their name back. He isn't a cop or a forensic scientist. He's a fine artist whose work predates the modern use of genetic genealogy. We've mentioned him on the show back in episode 29, which was spelled episode 20. Nein.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

This is the story of forensic sculptor Frank Bender.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God. Like I'm having flashbacks to my childhood and watching Unsolved Mysteries and I might recognize the busts and the sculpture that was made of this missing person or this skeleton that was. And maybe I could solve the case.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Is that what we're talking about?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yes. You are being called as a seven year old to please help the authorities.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Incredible.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then. Yeah, these are. I love these.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Okay, great. So the main sources used in this story today are 2004 Esquire article by Brendan Vaughan entitled Man of the Month Frank bender, and a 1995 New York Times article by Karen DeMasters entitled Solving Sculptor Recreates Faces of Tragedy. And the rest of the sources are in our show notes. So we'll start with that New York Times article. They describe Frank Bender as, quote, an elfin man with a, quote, bald head, fierce gaze, and Van Dyke, which is Van Dykes are for the children. The formal name of a little mustache beard combo that you've seen on many, many vape salesmen. Sometimes they call it a goatee. Incorrect.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Cause mustache is there too.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yes, exactly. So all that's to say that Frank Bender doesn't look like someone you'd find hanging around with the cops. More like one of those guys that would be posted up along the Seine with an easel, you know, wearing a little black beret. And that's why it's so strange that in the late 70s, when he's 35 years old, he has this life changing moment at the Philadelphia morgue. So he's from Philly, he's born into a working class family, and he's been making art since he was very young. But when he gets exposed to the art world, he's kind of put off by it. So when he graduates high school, he actually turns down a scholarship to go to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and. And instead he joins the Navy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. But then when he gets out, he comes back home to Philadelphia and he actually becomes a professional photographer. But he also draws and he sculpts, and he's very devoted to the practice. So much so that when he wants to work on his figure drawing or brush up on his anatomy drawing skills, he goes and visits the morgue.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. So that's where he is on this fateful day in the late 70s when the medical examiner brings him in and shows him the body that they have that he can use to practice and draw on. This is a. Yeah, very intense.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's very macabre.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. But I mean, if you think about it like, there are few places you can actually go to really see human bodies like that. So the medical examiner brings him in and shows him the body they have, which is badly decomposed. It's a woman who'd been shot in the head. She's completely unrecognizable. So she has not been identified. And that means the investigators kind of have no way to find out who her murderer is, because they have no idea who she is. Nowhere to start. When Frank Bender sees her body, he actually says out loud in the moment, quote, I know what she looks like. So when Frank revisits this moment in interviews years later, he makes it sound like he was kind of like in a trance or like he was overcome by a powerful revelation. And he says that those words, I know what she looks like just sort of slipped out of his mouth.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Amazing.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. So when the ME asks if he knows anything about forensics, Frank responds, I don't even know what that word means. But the Emmy is intrigued by the confidence that he's shown about thinking he knows what she looks like. So he tells Frank to go home and try to create an image of what he thinks this Jane Doe could have looked like in real life. So Frank actually ends up going above and beyond. He ends up sculpting an incredibly like, life bust out of fiberglass. And then he paints the bust by hand, adding eyes, lips, skin tone, all the details he's seeing in his mind. And he says, quote, I saw every feature of her face and how the form of one part of her face flowed into all the other forms.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, if you've been studying art your whole life, then you paint people's faces. You know the structure so well.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. And he's also getting a sense of things, you know, he will later go on to, like, take in. Cause he doesn't always have a body, so it's very kind of intuitive with him. But he's like. He locks in and kind of like, tries to interpret what he can as an artist. It's great. So in this situation, it only takes him 8 hours to finish this bust. And when he's done, he's looking at the face of a woman who's around 60 years old with a prominent nose and a cleft chin. It's so lifelike that authorities decide to photograph this bust and feature it in local newspapers. And incredibly, it leads to this Jane Doe's identification.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Holy shit.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It turns out to be 62 year old Phoenix native Anna Duvall, who's gone missing after traveling to Philly to meet a friend about a real estate investment opportunity there. What's super weird is I went to high school with a girl named Anna Duvall, and she and her daughter listened to this podcast, so I bet it was super creepy for them to hear.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Hi, guys.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's so weird.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

You're in this story with us. Oh, my God, that friend, quote, unquote is a man named John Martini. And he'd already scammed Anna out of about $25,000 and lured her to Philadelphia under the pretense of a sham real estate deal. And when she gets to Philadelphia, he shoots her.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Jesus.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Years later, he is charged with Anna's murder, but by that time, he's already incarcerated for committing two other unrelated homicides. So he is.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Basically kind of a serial killer, but longer term, Right? More importantly, Frank Bender's sculpture gives Anna Duvall her name back. So this experience is incredibly meaningful for Frank. As opposed to the superficiality and the elitism of the art scene, this work makes him feel like his art actually made a positive impact in someone's life. And he'll later say, quote, when I stumbled upon this forensic venture, I said, that's my turf. That's where I belong. This isn't gonna hang on. Gr. I feel right about this. This is where I'm gonna put my energy, and I can give back to the people instead of to art collectors.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Amazing.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's pretty cool.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Love it.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Of course, when other investigators find out about the success of this bust, they enlist Frank's help on their cases. He continues creating busts for the John and Jane does in the city and around the country. And he becomes particularly skilled at creating lifelike sculptures, despite having little to. So in the best case scenario, Frank would be working from a skull that he could actually handle directly as he makes these busts. So when that's the case, he basically works the clay over the skull to create a mold, and then he removes the skull, and he pours plaster into that clay, and then he lets that set. And then he sands and shapes and paints the bust while referring back to the skull for any hints of the person's unique facial features.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. He'll later tell People magazine, quote, I just see the image in my head, then I let my fingers do the sculpting. But usually, Frank has nothing more than a picture of the unidentified person's remains, or sometimes only a report from an anthropologist suggesting what their sex, age, and race could be. Sometimes he has much, much less. Like a few strands of hair.

[Karen Kilgariff]

What the heck?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So what Frank does is equal parts creativity and science, and he's constantly referencing medical information and anatom to make sure that his busts are as realistic as possible. But, of course, he's also using his technical art skills, his intuition, and an unwavering dedication to reanimating the faces of the unidentified. I just love that idea. Like he found his lane.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Like, in this weird way, I hate.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The art world, but I still wanna do art. And here's a way that, like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And I see it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Which is a gift.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So this is how Frank eventually gets the nickname, quote, the recomposer of the decomposed. So he's clearly a gifted artist. And the more busts he creates, the more apparent his investigative and profiling skills become. He has an amazing talent for picking up tiny bits of information about a person, like a piece of evidence found near a crime scene or the attributes of their bones, and then using that to inform the creations that he makes. And to the investigators that he works with it, it feels almost supernatural. Reporter Brendan Vaughn writes in his Esquire piece on Frank that, quote, when you ask people in law enforcement to explain how Frank Bender does what he does, they speak of his intense interest in human nature. They mention his compassion for the victims. They point to his talent as a fine artist, his uncanny ability to read bones for clues. But really the essence of what they're saying is this. Frank bender has a sixth sense. Yeah. Here's one example of that sixth sense in practice. In 1980, Frank is asked to create a bust for an unidentified victim in a town called Slatington, Pennsylvania. So the remains were found by a hunter, and they're determined to have been deteriorating outside for 19 months. So Frank has very little to go off of. But he begins by analyzing the victim's skull and he builds a profile. And this analysis leads him to think that this person had an oval and wavy brown hair. And then he focuses on a piece of evidence that was found near the body. A single glasses lens. Frank finds a pair of brown frames that fit this specific lens to place on his bust when it's completed. And when an image of this bust is circulated in newspapers, a man calls the police and identifies the woman as his 23 year old daughter, Linda Keyes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Holy shit.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

She's been missing for more than a year.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Though Linda's cause of death is never determined, she's no longer a Jane Doe. And of course, her family has a little bit of relief.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Just a few Years later, in 1987, a group of kids discover the body of a young woman behind a Philadelphia high school. Oh, God. So soon Frank is working to identify her. And this is another case where the body is very decomposed. So he uses the evidence that's available to conjure up her faith. He'll later tell the Toronto Star that, quote, she was wearing a ship and shore Blouse. A nicely pleated blouse. Not a blouse someone her age would wear out in that neighborhood. To me, it told me she was looking for a way out. She was looking for a better life. So I had her looking up for hope.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I mean, he's interpreting anything he can, but also like putting it together with kind of logical steps. So it's not like, fanciful. Yeah, yeah. It's like, how do people really work?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Totally.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So a year later, in 1988, a woman sees this bust and recognizes her 18 year old niece, Rosella Atkinson, who'd been missing for more than a year after last being seen at a local bar. She'd left behind a devastated family and her beloved infant daughter. Rosella's aunt will say that one of the most spot on features of Frank's bust is how Rosella is holding her head up in that hopeful way, which is exactly how she held herself in real life.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's crazy.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I know, but I'm sure.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

But it tracks. It's just like it is logic based.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Totally.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Several years after Roselle is ID'd her killer, a man named Brian hall, finally comes forward and confesses. He claims that back in 1987, they'd left that bar together, hooked up, and then he realizes that he's missing money. He accuses her of stealing it from him. And when she tells him, you're wrong, I did not steal it, he goes into a fit of rage and strangles her to death and then hides her body.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Jesus.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So now, because of Frank's work, Rosella's murderer will face justice. And of course, the family's no longer wondering what happened to their daughter and their mother.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Right.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

But Frank's most famous bust is not a Jane or a John Doe case. Instead, it's a very famous fugitive case that I covered on episode 29. So I'll just recap it really quick. And also, we've done a rewind recently about this. So now we're doing kind of inception level podcasting where we're folding in a podcast upon a podcast. So in 1989, Frank is asked to recreate a bust of the famous family annihilator and fugitive, John List. John List had been on the run for 18 years after murdering his entire family in New Jersey. I think that might be in reflection now, my favorite murderer, because it has everything. There's the ironic ending of the Tiffany lamp or the Tiffany shade or whatever that was.

[Karen Kilgariff]

The skylight.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

The skylight that costs. That was worth so much money that would have gotten him out of debt. All the things.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And then just, like, going and living a normal life like you hadn't done anything when you were, like, just an evil person.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. You killed three of your children and your mother and your wife, and then.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Getting fucking caught this way, this way by this man.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's so good. Okay. So he's been on the run for 18 years after murdering his entire family in New Jersey. And the only thing Frank has to work on when the authorities come to him is decades old photographs and some bits of information about John's life and his personality that have been collected over the years.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Because he cut himself out of all the photos at home, right?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Smartly, purposely.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. He knew what he was doing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Erased any trace of what he would look like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Right. So they probably had to go scrape up some pictures, but they're all, like, almost 20 years old. So Frank gets to work, relying on his vivid imagination to guesstimate how John List could have aged over the last 20 years. He looks at the old photos and adds heavy jowls, removes some hair, then dresses his bust in a suit and tie because, as Frank puts it, quote, the guy wore a suit and tie when he mowed the lawn.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Frank even throws on a pair of thick, black rimmed glasses because, quote, he would want to look more astute, more in control than he really was.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Amazing.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Frank comes to this conclusion while consulting with his friend, criminal psychologist Dr. Richard D. Walter. The two spend several days walking around Philadelphia talking about what John List might be like today.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's just profiling. So interesting.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. So In May of 1989, Frank completes this bust of John List, and it's featured in an episode of America's Most Wanted. And as fate would have it, a woman in Richmond, Virginia, is watching that night, and she thinks it looks a lot like her neighbor, Robert Clark. Robert is an accountant who wears very thick rimmed glasses.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So she calls the police. A couple days later, they visit the Clark home. And when they fingerprint him, Robert Clark is quickly exposed as wanted murderer John List. He's arrested. He's given five letters, sentences, and that's largely thanks to Frank Bender's uncanny bust.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's so incredible.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Down to the fucking glasses.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. That he didn't even need that, like, he put on him for effect.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And it was real and true because of. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Cause also, it's kind of like if you pay attention to people, you get to know people. There's, like, certain amount of types of people in the world, and it's like this is the kind of guy who would want people to think he's, like, intelligent and successful. Big glass.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's so good. It turns out List had moved to Virginia and remarried. And it also turns out List was watching America's Most Wanted that same night. Remember that detail?

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's right. And his wife is sitting next to him.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Right. And he's just, like, watching.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

John List passed away in prison in 2008. But he's not the only wanted man who Frank helped track down, just to name a few. His bus are also credited with helping investigators track down New York mob boss Alphonse Prosecco and the leader of a violent outlaw motorcycle game, the Warlocks named Bobby Nas.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So as passionate as Frank Bender is about forensic sculpture, it's not his livelihood. Frank only makes between like, $1,200 and $1,700 a bust, and he only makes two or three a year. And the restraint here seems to be his choice. As you might have guessed, Frank isn't exactly chasing wealth. That's not his style. He basically pays his bills doing odd jobs like working on a tugboat and the occasional commission. Here.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God, what a life.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's almost like he's one of those people that's like, I want to be out and about among the people.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Totally.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And that's why he can do that job so well.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I want to work on a tugboat.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah, you can.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You think there are cats? I bet there's cats on a tugboat.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

They gotta keep the rats away. Or would the. Or would the. Oh, no, they don't fish off a tugboat. Totally different job.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

If you captained a tugboat, please write in and tell us. Many cats are on it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

If you're a tugboat cat, please write in at myfavoritemurdermail and tell us what it's like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow, meow. In his mind, it's his well intended investigative work that feels meaningful. So in 1990, he co establishes the V Doc Society, made up of detectives and profilers, forensic experts, pathologists, and other professionals who regularly meet with the hopes of cracking cold cases. I didn't realize that, but he. He basically is one of the founding members.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Amazing.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So good. We've also talked about this group on the show in episode. I think you talked about them, Right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Probably cold cases. Probably.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah, probably. It was in episode 362, a generous number of apples, your favorite, where. Oh, yes, you talked about. Sorry, it's right in the paragraph I knew. I love to, like, read this and go over it and then just be like casually making conversation. It was when you covered Pennsylvania's Boy in the Box case, right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yes, that's right.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So for years there was a boy. And the V Doc Society finally gave him his name back just a few years ago in 2022. He was four year old Joseph August Zarrelli. And this information is a huge break in the still unsolved case of his death.

[Karen Kilgariff]

I mean, that's one of those classic ones that the older it gets, the less likely it would seem that he would ever be identified. And the fact that he was is just incredible.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

V do amazing. So as accomplished as Frank Bender is as an artist and an unlikely investigator, it's also worth noting that he is a big character himself. His eccentricity is delightfully captured in the Esquire article that we sourced earlier, the one by Brendan Vaughn. And he writes, quote, frank Bender is a spooky dude. And not only because he knows what your skull looks like. It's spooky how his answering machine invites you to leave a message for the Recomposer of the Decomposed. And it's a little spooky how he returns your call from his clawfoot bathtub. It's spooky how he talks, and it's even spooky how he listens. But the spookiest thing about Frank Bender is also the thing that's made him a legend in the field of law enforcement. Frank Bender sees dead people.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That is so. I have chills.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

It's amazing.

[Karen Kilgariff]

It's incredible. I'm so glad you're telling this.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. Also, like, what if this is untapped in other people?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Totally.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That we could be helping each other with these cold cases and these horrible mysteries.

[Karen Kilgariff]

You would never know unless you. She walked into a morgue to do art.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Right.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So Frank doesn't seem to mind that these things get write ups or attention. And that's a good thing because he gets a lot of attention for it. He's been covered by 60 minutes, forensic files, 48 hours, written up in GQ, in the new York Times, and there's been an indie documentary made about him called Recomposer of the Decomposed. He's been featured on TV shows as far away as Japan and Germany. Presumably thanks to his willingness to travel. He's no stranger to flying somewhere far away and collaborating with foreign investigators. So the assignments, the media coverage, the successful identification seem to feed Frank's thirst for more investigative work. He continues accepting commissions and gets very attached to the cases that he works on, hoping that he can push them toward a resolution. Ted Botha, who wrote a book about Frank, even says, quote, he's a fighter for justice. He's almost like a little Captain America or something.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

So sweet. In 2009, Frank is diagnosed with cancer at the same time as his wife Jan, and she passes before him. Yeah. His doctor will later tell People magazine, quote, I'm completely baffled as to how he has remained so functional through what must be an unimaginable degree of pain. That is courage. But Frank is quite matter of fact about his mesothelioma diagnosis. Just a year after learning about it, in 2010, he tells a reporter, quote, I'm used to being surrounded by death. I've done everything I ever wanted to do. I drove a race car. I've skydived. I've helped identify a lot of people, including fugitives on the most wanted list.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah, I bet like being around death that much, makes you a little bit more aware of the important things in life.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yes.

[Karen Kilgariff]

And not waste time.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. Your perspective is. You'd think our perspective would be so much better. Ours been around a lot of you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

That's my anxiety. No, I think so. I think I pay attention more, I think. Don't you, like.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Oh. Over these last 10 years, I think there's a lot of lessons and a lot of kind of awareness and a.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Lot of being grateful because the fact that it's not us, by the grace of God, thank fucking God, there's no reason.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And it's that kind of thing of, like, we shouldn't live in fear. The idea of living in fear robs you completely. And there's no reason for it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Well, there's a lot of reason for it.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

There's reason for it, but. But most people are good, Right. So by this point, Frank has been working with investigators for around 30 years, since that very first bust he created to identify Anna Duvall. He's actually, since that time, it's estimated he's created about 40 more.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

He's done it 40 times. So many he doesn't keep an official tally. So that's why it's just an estimation. Over the years, Frank has proven he's well worth the. It's roughly $1,700 commission that he accepts for each sculpture he makes. It's hard to get an exact measure of how many cases he has helped solve, but ABC News has reported that he has an 85% success rate.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Holy shit. I know. He'd hate it. But I'd love to see a museum exhibit of all the busts.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

I know. And the whole story kind of rolled out of, like. Cause you know, when you do art, in whatever way you do it, it is about inspiration. It's just that his inspiration is very odd and specific and incredibly helpful and meaningful. The Philadelphia Inquirer, meanwhile, once reported that Frank's busts have led to breaks in almost every single one of the cases he's worked.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

That's wild. The New York Times is a bit more modest, but still impressive, putting his success rate at somewhere around 40%.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Wow.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

On a cold case.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. That has nothing. Totally.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. In 2011, Frank Bender succumbs to cancer at age 70. As the new York Times reported in his obituary, quote. Interviewers are often asked Mr. Bender whether his life among the dead gave him nightmares. Yes, he replied, but not in the way you think. For years, he explained, his dreams had been peopled by the dead and by sinister men invariably attacked him, Mr. Bender said. And whenever they did, the unnamed dead rose up in his defense.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Oh, my God.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And that's the story of the late and legendary forensic sculptor Frank Bender.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Incredible job, Frank Bender. That is so good. I'm so glad you did that.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Isn't that a good one?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Cause you assume, like, anytime when we did that story about John List, or anytime you think about it, you're just like, oh, that's a thing that the FBI developed, and it's amazing. And then there was a guy made.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This thing and removed.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Right?

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah. It's a true artist.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Yeah. And, like, not pursuing that on purpose and it just kind of happening to you. It's almost like, you know, fate.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Yeah, it's completely fate. He gets a vision of what this woman who's been shot in that head looks like.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Totally. Oh, my God. Incredible job.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Thank you.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Perfect start to spooky season, right? Jesus.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

We've done it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We did it again.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Look, we just keep doing it.

[Karen Kilgariff]

We won't stop until you take our microphones away. Never stop.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

God damn it. In closing, we just like to stay.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Stay sexy and don't get murdered. Goodbye, Elvis. Do you want a cookie?

[Georgia Hardstrof]

This has been an exactly right production.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Our senior producers are Alejandra Keck and Molly Smith.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Our editor is Aristotle Acevedo.

[Karen Kilgariff]

This episode was mixed by lady.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Our Researchers are Maren McGlashan and Ali Elkin.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Email your hometowns to my favorite murdermail.com.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

Follow the show on Instagram at. My favorite murder.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Listen to my favorite murder on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

And now you can watch us on exactly right's YouTube page while you're there. Please like and subscribe.

[Karen Kilgariff]

Goodbye.

[Georgia Hardstrof]

This episode of My Favorite Murder was brought to you by ABC's High Potential Season 2. Morgan isn't a cop, but her instinct, grit and brilliance make her a remarkable consultant. High Potential celebrates outsiders who see what others miss, like today's story about Frank Bender, the artist who helped solve murders without ever wearing a badge. New episodes of High potential Tuesdays at 10, 9 Central on ABC and stream on Hulu. Goodbye.