Local officials seek Bender parole denial

VW independent/submitted information

Van Wert County officials are assisting Judy Youngpeter Sudduth, survivor of a brutal murder attempt that killed her husband and father-in-law, with her efforts to keep convicted murderer Robin Bender in prison. County Prosecuting Attorney Charles F. Kennedy is also asking for area residents’ help.

On July 17, 1974, Robin Bender brutally murdered two members of the Van Wert County community during a home invasion near Delphos. Bender used a shotgun at point-blank range to murder both Kenneth Youngpeter and his father, Louis Youngpeter.

Sudduth, Kenneth Youngpeter’s widow, was badly wounded.

“Bender left two women without their husbands and two young children without their father,” Kennedy notes. “Bender has had multiple attempts at parole and has been denied each time.”

Prosecutor Kennedy points out that Bender’s next parole hearing is scheduled for April of this year, is the prosecutor urges the Van Wert County residents to help stop Bender’s parole effort.

Those interested in keeping Bender in prison can go to the website www.blockparole.com, follow the link to, and then click on “Parole Petitions” and “The Youngpeters” to access a short easy-to-use form that people can fill out and submit over the Internet.

In addition to Kennedy’s efforts, the Van Wert County Board of Commissioners will be meeting next Tuesday to also look at formally requesting that the Ohio Parole Board turn down Bender’s parole request.

Bender was sentenced to life in prison for murdering the Youngpeters, but his case is reviewed every five years to ascertain whether he is eligible for parole. Local efforts by Sudduth and others on behalf of the slain Youngpeters has kept Bender in prison for more than 30 years, but Sudduth has said in the past she fears for her life should Bender, who vowed to kill her, be released.