The murderer Sawney Bean and his “demonic family” of 48 members killed and cannibalized over 1,000 innocent people…
Sawney Bean is one of the most terrifying serial killers in human history. In just 25 years, Bean and his family killed and cannibalized over 1,000 innocent people. To this day, the name Sawney Bean sends shivers down the spines of the people of Scotland.
From a Lazy Farmer…
Alexander Sawney Bean was born in East Lothian, Scotland, in the early 15th century. Bean’s father was a farmer, and initially, Bean attempted to follow the family’s traditional occupation. However, he quickly realized that honest labor was too difficult to achieve wealth and prosperity at that time.
Bean left home and wandered with a woman, living together as a couple. After a while, Bean found himself in the coastal area of Bennane, where he discovered a series of strange caves. These caves extended 200 meters deep, with many twists and turns like a labyrinth. Notably, due to the “reverse tide,” the cave entrance was submerged during high tide in the morning but revealed itself at night.
Thanks to the strange structure of the cave, the Bean family could safely hide from the royal army during the day
From there, Bean devised a wicked plan. He and his wife moved into the cave, hiding during the day and carrying out bloody robberies against the local people and travelers between Bennane and Lothian at night.
… to Terrifying Crimes
Not only did the Beans steal valuables and money, but they also derived pleasure from torturing their victims. Most of the bodies brought back to the cave were dismembered and turned into… food for the Beans. Even more horrifying, this couple salted many body parts of their victims to eat later.
Bean and his family organized attacks on innocent people to rob and cannibalize
As they found their life relatively stable and sufficient, Bean and his wife had children. This family had 8 sons and 6 daughters. Later, the children of the Bean family engaged in incest, producing an additional 18 sons and 14 daughters.
With such a large number, the “demonic family” became extremely aggressive, ambushing large groups of people with deadly traps. They had no hesitation in attacking several small villages in the area to steal food and weapons.
Corpses and large pools of blood were scattered throughout the Bennane area. Many villages seemed to be wiped off the map overnight, with all the residents mysteriously disappearing.
Yet, no one could uncover the cause. Bean was a very cautious person, gathering information carefully and executing robberies in the fastest and safest manner.
Bean allowed family members to engage in incest to satisfy their desires
When he sensed a crackdown by the royal army, Bean would keep his family hidden in the dark cave for nearly a month. The increasing fear due to rampant attacks and mass murders left the army utterly powerless, causing the local populace to begin moving away in growing terror.
Innocent purges occurred indiscriminately as the locals began to suspect and blame each other, leading to increasing chaos in the Bennane area.
Facing Justice
Everything ended when Bean ambushed a couple on their way to Bennane. Unfortunately for this ghostly family, the husband was an experienced former soldier. Armed with only a sword and a pistol, he repelled the attack from the Bean family, taking down several of the evil members of the “demonic family.” However, Bean managed to shoot an arrow and kill the former soldier’s wife.
Furious, the husband pretended to flee but secretly returned to follow and discovered the cave where the Bean family was hiding. He quickly went back to inform the local authorities. A few hours later, a large group of local youths gathered at Bean’s cave. With their overwhelming numbers, they quickly subdued the “demonic family.”
Those present in the cave witnessed a horrifying scene. The cave was filled with severed heads hanging, with countless jars of salt containing the limbs of victims.
By that time, the estimated number of victims at the hands of the Bean family had reached up to 1,000. Shocked by the crimes of the Bean family, King James VI immediately ordered the execution of all family members.
The Bean family with 48 members haunted Scotland for a long time
Bean and his sons had their hands and feet chopped off and bled to death. The women in the Bean family were burned alive after witnessing their father and brother “die slowly.” Yet, all members of this “demonic family” showed no fear or pain before their execution; even in their last breaths, they vowed to return for revenge in the next life.
“The legend” of Sawney’s family has inspired many horror films worldwide. Although many contemporary historians in England assert there is no evidence of Sawney’s existence, the story of the “demonic family” continues to be passed down through generations.
Today, the cave where Bean killed countless people has become an intriguing tourist destination, attracting many visitors each year. Occasionally, people claim to see white shadows moving or hear strange screams emanating from this haunted cave.
