Carol Blair Vaughn

Posted: 13 May 2019 07:45 AM PDT John Felix Bender, an American multi-millionaire hedge fund manager was found dead in his bed in Florida de Baru, Perez Zeledon, Costa Rica, with a bullet through the back of his head, in January 2010. His widow, Ann Patton Bender, was the only one at home with him at the time of his death. Since that tragic night, Ann Bender has been through three trials for intentional homicide, has served nine months in Preventive Detention at El Buen Pastor Prison, had her jewels confiscated as evidence in a jewel smuggling case, lost her estate and nature reserve in the Southern Zone, lost her boyfriend under mysterious circumstances while she was in prison, and barely made it out of Costa Rica after she was acquitted at her third trial for John Bender’s murder. Could Costa Rica really be planning to bring her back for a fourth trial? According to those close to this case, that is exactly what the Fiscalia (Prosecution) intends to do. On June 23...

Posted: 13 May 2019 07:34 AM PDT Most expats and Ticos alike remember the infamous death of multi-millionaire hedge fund manager John Felix Bender in Florida de Baru in 2010, and the subsequent three trials of Bender’s wife, Ann Patton Bender, for Intentional Homicide. The Bender case put the Southern Zone of Costa Rica in the international news spotlight, and its infamy was spread far and wide by extensive television coverage on CNN,  48 Hours, CBS , and in the local press, most notably The Costa Rica Star. Ultimately, Ann Bender was released from all charges for insufficient evidence and less than state-of-the-art incriminating forensic proof. She now lives in the USA, where she has begun a new life, leaving behind the tragedy of her husband’s death and the loss of their shared fortune, estimated at $600 million. Boracayan has now come up for sale, for a cool $25 million. Boracayan in Spanish means … well, nothing. The Benders made up the word because they tho...