Charles Bannon was born in 1909 in North Dakota. At the age of 22, he worked as a hired hand on the Haven family farm near Schafer, North Dakota. The Haven family, comprising Albert (50), Lulia (39), and their children Daniel (18), Leland (14), Charles (2), and Mary (2 months), had been residents of the area for over a decade. They were known to be well-off, owning livestock, machinery, and household items like a piano and a radio.

On February 10, 1930, the Haven family vanished. Bannon continued living on their farm, claiming they had moved to Oregon and left him in charge. Suspicion grew when he began selling the family's property. In December 1930, Bannon was arrested for grand larceny. During the investigation, he confessed to murdering the entire Haven family.

In his confession, Bannon stated he accidentally shot Daniel Haven during an argument. Fearing the consequences, he proceeded to kill the remaining family members. He buried their bodies in a cow shed and attempted to cover up the crime.

On January 29, 1931, before he could stand trial, a mob of over 75 masked men broke into the Schafer jail, overpowered the sheriff, and took Bannon. They initially attempted to hang him at the Haven farm but were deterred by the caretaker. Subsequently, they hanged him from the Cherry Creek bridge, making it the last recorded lynching in North Dakota.