Jacob Bentz

Case information

Jacob Bentz was the second husband of Sophia Eberlein. Sophia Eberlein was beaten to death by Jacob Bentz in her home in Harvey, North Dakota.

Timeline

• 1889 — Sophia Eberlein was born in Russia.
• 1928 — Hugo Eberlein died; Sophia Eberlein later married Jacob Bentz.
• 1931 — Sophia Eberlein was beaten to death by Jacob Bentz in her home in Harvey, North Dakota.
• June 3, 1944 — Jacob Bentz died in prison.
• 1990 — A new library was built on the site of the former Eberlein house.
• 2008 — Heather K. Adams of the North Dakota Newspaper Association reported in February 2008 on experiences described as part of the legend.
• February 2008 — Heather K. Adams reported on the background of the legend and experiences of librarians.

Background

Sophia Eberlein (1889–1931) was born in Russia and emigrated to the United States. She married Hugo Eberlein, a well-known Harvey businessman, and had two daughters, Lillian and Alice. After Hugo’s death in 1928, Sophia married Jacob Bentz.

The offence

Sophia Eberlein was beaten to death by her second husband Jacob Bentz in her home in Harvey, North Dakota. Jacob Bentz bludgeoned Sophia to death while she slept.

Jacob Bentz tried to clean up the scene of the crime and attempted to make Sophia’s death look like a car accident. When Sophia’s daughter Lillian came home for the funeral, she found blood in the house and reported her findings to the police.

Jacob Bentz stated that he and Sophia were on a business trip early in the morning of October 2. He claimed Sophia was driving, the car jumped the road, took the ditch, and caught fire. He also claimed to have attempted to save Sophia but could not. When evidence pointed to murder, Jacob Bentz confessed that he had killed his wife. He said that he and Sophia quarreled and that he struck her several times with a hammer. It was believed that she lived a short time after he attacked her.

A 1931 article from the Harvey Herald newspaper said:

“busied himself in cleaning up the murder chamber. Blood had flowed over the bedding, upon the floor, and was splattered upon a portion of the wall.”

Investigation and confession

During the investigation, Jacob Bentz admitted the crime.

Trial and sentencing

Jacob Bentz was sentenced to life in prison.

Aftermath

Jacob Bentz died behind bars in the state penitentiary.

Library and legend details

In 1990, a new library was built on the site of the former Eberlein house. Locals believed that the ghost of Sophia Eberlein haunts the local library.

The librarian’s office was described as built directly over the site where Eberlein’s bedroom had been. Librarians reported cold chills whenever the librarian sat in her office, even in the middle of summer. Librarians reported that the library door “mysteriously relocks itself” after it had been opened. Librarians also reported lights blinking on and off in the library. On one occasion, an entryway light remained mysteriously on after the librarian flicked off the other lights. One night after everyone had left, a heavy library cart filled with books was moved to block a doorway, and the librarian and her assistant were unable to move it back by themselves.

Heather K. Adams of the North Dakota Newspaper Association reported on the background of the legend and described experiences reported by librarians in February 2008:

“Ask anyone in Harvey. The haunted place in Harvey to visit is the Harvey Public Library, located just off Harvey’s main street. Flickering lights, misplaced items, even unexplainable computer glitches have been reported.”

Adams described the phenomenon as potentially explained by the presence of a spirit, which both librarians at Harvey Public Library were said to believe. She said they knew who was haunting their workplace: Sophia Eberlein-Bentz, or “Sophie” as she had been nicknamed. The description included:

“Sophie was brutally murdered by her second husband, Jacob Bentz, on the morning of Oct. 2, 1931, in their home, located at the site now occupied by the Harvey Public Library.”

A quote attributed to Librarian Marlene Ripplinger from a 1997 article in the local newspaper, The Herald-Press, stated:

“We moved into the new library on the anniversary of Sophia’s funeral, in October 1990.”

A quote attributed to Ripplinger described an incident with computers:

“I was working feverishly one afternoon on the computer on some reports that needed to be done,” Ripplinger said, “when suddenly, all my work was gone.” It was described that the local computer technician could not retrieve the file and that “All that remained was a big, bold S.”

The account also included that strange keys had unlocked doors, lights flickered six times, and documents had disappeared. Lights flickered six times was linked to “Sophie has six letters in her name.” An assistant librarian, Stephina Gisi, was described as recounting additional haunted places in Harvey connected to Sophie, and it was said that no one wanted to discuss them.

A further quoted remark attributed to Ripplinger said:

“She’s unhappy here, and she wants to leave.”

It was described that a group from Fargo, North Dakota, “may travel to Harvey and ‘release’ Sophie’s ghost later this year.”

Other details

Sophia Eberlein was described as a 41-year-old mother of two girls. Lillian and Alice were named as Sophia’s daughters. Jacob Bentz’s cover story and later confession were described as involving a hammer and a claim that Sophia lived a short time after he attacked her.

Ripplinger and Gisi were described as “regaled” with tales of “the infamous Sophie,” and Ripplinger was described as working in her office where Sophie’s bedroom once stood. Gisi was described as saying there were plenty of other haunted places in Harvey but that no one wanted to discuss them.