My Favorite Murder Presents…Hell in Heaven
Podcast: My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
Episode: MFM Presents…Hell in Heaven
Date: October 17, 2025
Host: Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
This episode celebrates the release of the new limited series “Hell in Heaven,” a true crime story produced in partnership with Blanchard House. Hosts Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark interview award-winning investigative journalist Becky Milligan, who unpacks the mysterious and chilling case of John and Anne Bender—a wealthy American couple who retreated to the Costa Rican jungle to build an extravagant, isolated sanctuary, only for dreams of paradise to spiral into tragedy. Becky shares the origins of her investigation and teases the unraveling human mystery within a high-stakes, atmospheric setting. The episode then transitions into the premiere of "Hell in Heaven" Episode 1, which sets up the couple's dream, the unique house, and the enigmatic events leading up to a suspicious death.
Key Interview Segments and Insights
Intro: The Case and Becky Milligan
[02:03]–[04:55]
- Karen and Georgia introduce the limited series “Hell in Heaven,” highlighting the bizarre and tragic story of a wealthy American expat couple in Costa Rica and the mysterious death that followed their retreat into the jungle.
- Becky Milligan joins to discuss her investigative journey.
“It's a true crime story about a rich American couple who escaped to the Costa Rican jungle to build their dream home... But their dream turns into a nightmare as isolation and paranoia leads to a mysterious death.” — Karen ([02:11])
The Story’s Origins
[02:57]–[03:22]
- Becky discovered the story through a tip from a friend and was captivated by its depth after further research, including a book about the case.
“It just has everything. And we thought we'd pursue it then and just see what we could do with it.” — Becky Milligan ([03:19])
Reporting on the Ground (Jungle Isolation & Security)
[03:22]–[04:55]
- Becky describes the intense experience of visiting the remote compound, complete with armed security and jungle noises.
- She admits feeling genuine fear during the visit, despite her profession.
“When I see guns, I just think, let's get out of here. ...I was the one who was, ‘Guys, there's a guy with a gun. It's actually pointed towards. We've got to get out of here.’” — Becky ([03:40])
The House as a Character
[05:10]–[06:05]
- Becky views the isolated hilltop house as pivotal, calling it “so symbolic of the story”—representing beauty, isolation, and threat all at once.
“...both beautiful, but also isolated and a bit of a threat.” — Becky ([05:55])
The Human and Investigative Element
[06:05]–[07:34]
- On-the-ground reporting led to spontaneous interviews and local gossip, adding authenticity and complexity to the story.
- Locals often colored the history with their own conspiracy and legend.
“Serendipity steps in when you're on the ground... just knocking on doors and saying, ‘Hey, what about this? What about that?’ ...they filled [gaps] with gossip and with their own theories...” — Becky ([06:26])
Why Focus on True Crime Mysteries?
[07:34]–[09:14]
- Becky is drawn to the human aspect and lingering mysteries beneath the surface.
- She recounts a powerful interview with one victim’s grieving parents, grounding the narrative in real loss.
“...it brings you straight down to earth at that point, because it is terrible, terrible grief and a grief that isn't over and it never will be... it makes you really realize that this is a very human story.” — Becky ([08:46])
Memorable Jungle Moment
[09:48]–[10:41]
- Becky recalls a frightening encounter with what turned out to be a wild cat, not a predator, and her strategy of staying on safe paths.
“Hell in Heaven” Limited Series Premiere
Chapter One: The House of Secrets
[11:26]–[53:38]
The Event: Suspicious Death at Boracayan
[11:26]–[12:40]
- January 7, 2010: Ambulance driver Carlos finds a disturbing scene at the Benders’ mansion—one of them dead from a gunshot, details immediately casting doubt on the suicide theory (entry wound and gun placement do not align).
The Benders’ Arrival in Costa Rica and Their Dream
[13:50]–[19:41]
- John and Anne Bender, in their 30s, bring a Wall Street fortune to Costa Rica with visions of creating a wildlife sanctuary.
- The overwhelming wealth and eccentric house design initially inspire awe but later serve as the backdrop for tragedy.
- Neighbor John Corvick and other locals hint at ominous energies and isolation-induced madness tied to the land.
“A lot of people die off there and a lot of people go kind of crazy. They lose it.” — John Corvick ([19:48])
The Compound: Design, Luxury, and Rumors
[21:24]–[38:17]
- The four-story, spaceship-like “Boracayan” house is built with no walls, open to the jungle, bristling with armed guards, and accessible by helicopter.
- Locals nicknamed it “the Dome” and speculated wildly about the Benders’ money and intentions.
- Despite its grandeur, the house later stands empty, for sale, haunted by the past.
- The couple’s early years are celebrated by locals and workers, but social withdrawal soon sets in.
“It was just enormous. It’s like a spaceship’s landed on the top of a hill in the middle of the jungle in Costa Rica...” — Becky ([23:24])
The Human Side: The Benders’ Family and Staff
[33:02]–[38:39]
- Interviews with John’s parents reveal pride, worry over his chosen lifestyle, and reminiscence about house construction.
- Staffer Osvaldo and neighbors describe the couple’s arrival, their private but charismatic personas, and their focus on animals and the sanctuary.
The House’s Unique Features and Social Impact
[37:13]–[38:39]
- The house, open on all sides except for screens, becomes symbolic of openness and vulnerability.
- The construction brings prosperity and attention to an otherwise abandoned area.
A Menagerie and a Quest for Eden
[42:52]–[44:30]
- John and Anne live surrounded by rescued animals, trying to reunite with nature and restore the land’s wildness.
- Their devotion to animals—and preference for them over people—becomes a motif.
Glimpses Inside: Visitors React
[44:36]–[49:04]
- Friends Zach Schwager and his father recall their surreal visit to the Bender estate amid splendor and security, struck by John's intelligence and warmth.
- The idyllic setting, at first “perfect,” is overshadowed by the tangible presence of armed guards.
The Security—and Paranoia—Intensifies
[49:04]–[51:44]
- The compound’s increasingly extreme security—perimeter fences, armed patrols, hostility to outsiders—fuels rumors of drug money or criminal ties.
- Locals recount fears, conspiracy theories, and the sense that the couple was “hiding something.”
- The house becomes not just a setting but a character—a fortress, a cage, a secret-holder.
“Bora Kayan was the perfect place to live in splendid isolation and that, in the end, was at the root of everything that was to follow... the house with no walls was full of secrets.” — Becky ([51:44])
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
- “When I see guns, I just think, let's get out of here.” — Becky Milligan ([03:40])
- “...both beautiful, but also isolated and a bit of a threat.” — Becky Milligan ([05:55])
- “A lot of people die off there and a lot of people go kind of crazy. They lose it.” — John Corvick ([19:48])
- “The house has no walls... there are screens that are pulled down from the ceiling at night that keep bugs and animals out, but during the day, it was wide open.” — Carol Vaughan ([37:13])
- “Oh, there's poachers everywhere. I used to hunt the poachers. ...Those poachers are sons of bitches.” — John Corvick ([50:18])
- “Bora Kayan was the perfect place to live in splendid isolation and that, in the end, was at the root of everything that was to follow. ...the house with no walls was full of secrets.” — Becky Milligan ([51:44])
Episode Structure and Flow
- [02:03]–[11:03]: Interview with Becky Milligan (origins, process, emotional dimensions, teases of the story’s depth)
- [11:26]–[53:38]: "Hell in Heaven" Episode 1 (immersive storytelling: the crime, background, setting, characters, and rising tension)
- Throughout: Authentic voices (locals, parents, workers), atmospheric reporting, and investigative depth that balances facts with human emotion
Summary Takeaways
- “Hell in Heaven” is a true crime story rich with atmosphere, psychological tension, and mystery, focused on the real-life saga of John and Anne Bender’s jungle compound, their complicated personalities, and their tragic fate.
- The episode expertly weaves interview, local color, and narrative podcasting to set up an unnerving, compelling mystery with both universal and deeply personal stakes.
- The house itself becomes an integral character—the dream and the downfall—against the haunting backdrop of the Costa Rican rainforest.
For listeners new to the story, this episode provides an evocative introduction filled with suspense, human emotion, and insight into the intersection of paradise and darkness—inviting you to continue exploring the mystery with “Hell in Heaven.”