Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts
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About This Podcast
A young Wall Street genius lands in the Costa Rican jungle with a vast fortune and visions of paradise - but ends up in hell. He and his wife build a spectacular circular mansion deep in the rainforest - a sanctuary for themselves and for endangered wildlife. But sinister forces soon have the couple fearing for their lives. As paranoia takes root and shadows close in, the troubled pair steadily lose their grip on reality. They transform their paradise home into a fortress surrounded by armed guards. The story reaches its bloody climax in an open air bedroom lit by 400 Tiffany lamps. A single gunshot leaves one of them dead, igniting three explosive murder trials - and a baffling mystery. Over eight compelling episodes this is the unmissable story of John and Ann Bender - a true tale of wealth, isolation and obsession. From Exactly Right Media and iHeartPodcasts, and produced by Blanchard House, Hell in Heaven is hosted by award-winning journalist Becky Milligan.
Also in this feed is host Becky Milligan's true crime limited series, The Butterfly King: A WWII Murder Mystery. When King Boris III of Bulgaria dies amid mysterious circumstances during World War II, there's no shortage of suspects. But eighty years later, his death remains unsolved. Award-winning journalist Becky Milligan follows a trail of dissidents, poisoners, soldiers and spies to unravel eighty years of lies and cover-ups. This tragic family saga of a doomed royal dynasty is a story of treachery, deceit and a quest for the truth. Who killed the Butterfly King? The Butterfly King is a podcast from Exactly Right, produced by Blanchard House.
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Recent Episodes
Introducing Two-Faced: John of God
For decades, João Teixeira de Faria — known as John of God — was revered as a spiritual healer who claimed to perform miraculous surgeries without anesthesia. Desperate people from around the world…
S2E8 8: At Last
Ann contemplates leaving Costa Rica forever. A drug bust and a prison visit lead to speculation about the Benders’ former head of security and his role in events. Everyone drawn into the couple’s…
S2E7 7: A Second Chance
The second trial concludes with a verdict that stuns Costa Rica. Ann Bender adjusts to a completely new way of life as a terrible tragedy shatters her world further. Meanwhile, public opinion…
S2E6 6: The Folly of Two
John Bender’s death soon becomes a cause celebre. But the woman at the centre of police suspicion is now the hospital. Ann’s psychiatrist is shocked at her physical and mental state. As the full…
S2E5 5: The Night Of
It’s midnight in the jungle. The Benders are alone. A single shot rings out. One person is dead. As police arrive on the scene, they initially conclude it’s a suicide. But suspicion grows and the…
S2E4 4: A Beautiful Mind
Before Costa Rica, there was Wall Street. John Bender has a mind built for numbers - and makes a vast fortune betting against the crowd. Friends describe him as brilliant, a little arrogant - and…
S2E3 3: The Ambush
On a routine excursion, the Benders are ambushed. Guns are drawn. Is it a robbery, or something far more sinister? The couple are certain they’re about to be kidnapped. In the aftermath, they ramp up…
S2E1 1: The House of Secrets
A jungle compound. A midnight emergency call. The mystery begins. At the centre of it all: John and Ann Bender. Young, brilliant and impossibly rich, they set out to build a vast mansion and wildlife…
S2E2 2: Trouble in the Valley
Dark forces gather as the Benders’ presence grows more controversial. The couple’s jungle fortress stands apart from everything around it - lavish, secretive and utterly out of place. Neighbours…
Introducing Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise
John and Ann Bender had hundreds of millions of dollars and one dream: to build a glittering glass mansion deep in the Costa Rican jungle. But paradise soon gave way to paranoia — with abduction…
S1E8 The Butterfly King - 8: The Rest is History
Host Becky Milligan hears about the king’s last supper and wonders if revenge really is a dish best served cold. She learns what happened to the royal children when they returned from exile and…
S1E7 The Butterfly King - 7: The Heart of the Matter
When host Becky Milligan receives a surprise call from a crucial witness, she realizes she must revisit King Boris III’s autopsy. Shocking new evidence about his death comes tantalizingly close to…
S1E6 The Butterfly King - 6: An Inside Job
Accusations fly like bullets as host Becky Milligan discovers that King Boris III has been a hunted man for most of his life and has dodged more assassination attempts than James Bond. Did he ignore…
S1E5 The Butterfly King - 5: Caught Red Handed
It’s 1946, three years after King Boris III’s death and a heavy Iron Curtain has fallen over Bulgaria. What dark secrets does it conceal? Host Becky Milligan learns some disturbing facts about the…
S1E4 The Butterfly King - 4: A Snake is Still a Snake
We’re back at the Vrana Palace in Sofia, Bulgaria, where King Simeon II and Princess Maria Luisa tell host Becky Milligan about their narrow escape from targeted Allied bombings after their father’s…
S1E3 The Butterfly King - 3: Snake in the Grass
Can you trust anyone in wartime? Host Becky Milligan meets a man in Sofia, Bulgaria, who shows her a side of King Boris III that makes her question whether he’s really the hero of this story. As…
S1E2 The Butterfly King - 2: Lies, Lies, Lies
Host Becky Milligan meets King Boris III’s children at Vrana Palace, a royal residence on the outskirts of Sofia, Bulgaria’s capital city. The children share the details of their father’s strange and…
S1E1 The Butterfly King - 1: The Mender of Broken Dishes
It’s 1943 during a crucial turning point in the Second World War. Caught in the crossfire, King Boris III of Bulgaria has a make-or-break meeting with a key ally. Boris is a reluctant politician and…
Introducing: The Butterfly King
Introducing The Butterfly King, a World War II murder mystery from Blanchard House and Exactly Right Media, home of My Favorite Murder, premiering Thursday, March 21. Award-winning journalist Becky…
Frequently Asked Questions
Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise has published 19 episodes since February 2024, covering topics in True Crime.
Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise is currently dormant with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 41m.
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