Crazy Jungle Love, the shocking tale of love and despair based on the true story of American millionaire John Felix Bender’s exploits in the jungles of Costa Rica, is now available on Amazon and Kindle.
Written by journalist Carol Blair Vaughn, Crazy Jungle Love makes use of Vaughn’s intimate knowledge of Latin America and her extensive coverage of the Bender saga for The Costa Rica Star.
Bender moved to the wildest part of lush Costa Rica with his exotic wife and 600 million dollars – then wound up shot dead in his own bedroom – his wife accused of his murder.
CNN, 48Hours, CBS News, and other international media outlets all covered this love/murder story, but Vaughn has fleshed out all the grim details of an American couple who came to Costa Rica with a dream of establishing a nature reserve, but their lives began to unravel and John wound up dead, leaving his wife penniless, with no passport, in a Costa Rican prison.
John’s mysterious death remains unsolved.
Wrote the Daily Mail (UK), “The story of John and Ann Bender’s marriage reads like a pulp fiction novel packed with every trope of the genre: astounding wealth, tales of alleged diamond smuggling, and bouts of madness set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise.” Reported The Costa Rica Star, “Craziest love story we’ve ever heard – and that’s even before the jewels, jungle, wild animals, mysterious deaths, armed guards and rampant corruption within the judicial system.”
Vaughn is the daughter of former Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs and US Ambassador, Jack Hood Vaughn. She lives in Costa Rica, not far from the Bender Estate, and is currently working on her next book Best Love Ever. She is a retired college professor of Performing Arts.
Crazy Jungle Love is available for purchase in San Jose, Costa Rica, at the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, Ave. 14 and Calle 42 HERE
Directly through the Crazy Jungle Love Facebook Page HERE with direct shipping anywhere in Costa Rica.
Amunet Tattoo and Piercing Studio, Centro Commercial Avalon ,Rio Oro, Santa Ana HERE
Written by journalist Carol Blair Vaughn, Crazy Jungle Love makes use of Vaughn’s intimate knowledge of Latin America and her extensive coverage of the Bender saga for The Costa Rica Star.
Bender moved to the wildest part of lush Costa Rica with his exotic wife and 600 million dollars – then wound up shot dead in his own bedroom – his wife accused of his murder.
CNN, 48Hours, CBS News, and other international media outlets all covered this love/murder story, but Vaughn has fleshed out all the grim details of an American couple who came to Costa Rica with a dream of establishing a nature reserve, but their lives began to unravel and John wound up dead, leaving his wife penniless, with no passport, in a Costa Rican prison.
John’s mysterious death remains unsolved.
Wrote the Daily Mail (UK), “The story of John and Ann Bender’s marriage reads like a pulp fiction novel packed with every trope of the genre: astounding wealth, tales of alleged diamond smuggling, and bouts of madness set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise.” Reported The Costa Rica Star, “Craziest love story we’ve ever heard – and that’s even before the jewels, jungle, wild animals, mysterious deaths, armed guards and rampant corruption within the judicial system.”
Vaughn is the daughter of former Assistant Secretary of State for Latin American Affairs and US Ambassador, Jack Hood Vaughn. She lives in Costa Rica, not far from the Bender Estate, and is currently working on her next book Best Love Ever. She is a retired college professor of Performing Arts.
Crazy Jungle Love is available for purchase in San Jose, Costa Rica, at the Association of Residents of Costa Rica, Ave. 14 and Calle 42 HERE
Directly through the Crazy Jungle Love Facebook Page HERE with direct shipping anywhere in Costa Rica.
Amunet Tattoo and Piercing Studio, Centro Commercial Avalon ,Rio Oro, Santa Ana HERE
