The children who participated in the murder of sylvia likens were not merely sanctioned, but were even directed, by an adultthe divorcee gertrude baniszewski. Monster mom gertrude baniszewski and teen cohorts torture. In researching this case, i find the movie light on the true depth of this crime. The torture and murder of sylvia likens the indiana torture. In 1966 star reporter john dean, who covered the trial, wrote a book. The torture and murder of sylvia likens the indiana torture slaying. The torture didnt end until likens was dead, and along the way. Sylvia likens was entrusted to a family friend, gertrude baniszewski, while her parents traveled. She explained to me at that time that sylvia was a real girl who lived through a horrid time. Oct 24, 20 it has been the most enduring nightmare in indianapolis true crime history the oct. Resident gertrude baniszewski told authorities that a group of boys had beaten and killed likens. A compelling true story about the tortured life and death of sylvia likens. Likens, aged 16, was held captive and subjected to increasing levels of child abuse and torturecommitted over a period of almost three monthsby her caregiver, gertrude baniszewski, many of baniszewskis children, and several other neighborhood children, before ultimately succumbing to.
Gertrude baniszewski oversaw and facilitated the torture and eventual murder of sylvia likens. She was starved, beaten, burned and had the words i am a prostitute and proud of it carved into her stomach. On october 25, sylvia managed to make it just outside the front door of the home before baniszewski caught her, punished her with a scalding hot bath and beat her. The brutal murder of sylvia likens the scare chamber. Monster mom gertrude baniszewski and teen cohorts torture sylvia likens to death in indiana boarding house of horror. However, in my opinion the movie does not portray the abuse of sylvia likens to the extent to fully represent the horror and suffering of her torture. Sylvia overheard a conversation between baniszewski and one of her sons, where the woman was explaining she had plans to blindfold sylvia and dump her body in the forest. The likens trial, presents a thorough, inside, daybyday recollection of a trial that captivated and horrified the state in 1966. Hadnt the likens family seen enough sorrow already. Sylvia and her sister jenny were subjected to emotional and physical torture and abuse at the hands of gertrude baniszewski banishevski during the summer and fall of 1965. Gertrude baniszewski, who came to be known as the torture mother, was an indiana divorcee. Jun 04, 2018 sylvia likens was a happy, beautiful 16yearold when her parents left her and her sister in the care of gertrude baniszewski while they went on the road for work.
Was it drugs, alcohol, or a medical condition that drove gertrude to murder sylvia. I said it before and i mean everything i say sylvia marie likens died a saint she fought a demon all that time and that demonic prescence was none other than gertrude banizewski. Feb 15, 2019 the murder of 16yearold sylvia likens in 1965 is called the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of indiana. An account of the sylvia likens murder trial, told from the point of view of one of the defense attorneys on the case. For four weeks the girl, sylvia likens, who had been left by her parents to board in the home of 37yearold gertrude baniszewski and her seven children, was. Sylvia likens, the teenager murdered by her caretaker and. The murder of sylvia likens, as told over 50 years ago. Sylvia marie likens 19491965 find a grave memorial.
What made gertrude freely discuss the murder of sylvia likens with one inmate. The murder of sylvia likens was a child murder which occurred in indianapolis, indiana in october 1965. This book is written in a journalistic and very literal manner. The book has been out of print for many years, and used copies fetched a pretty penny. The murder of sylvia likens 50 years later indianapolis monthly. The horrific torture and murder of 16 year old sylvia likens. I find the sylvia likens murder more comparable to the murders committed by the minions of charles manson than.
A tortured life and death in lets go play at the adams. I doubt you will meet anyone here who actually knew sylvia likens or anyone connected with the case, because it happened so many years ago. The murder of sylvia likens took place in indianapolis, indiana, united states in october 1965. After a few months, sylvia died from her injuries and malnutrition. I would just do the book here serene or start a new topic under the sylvia likens story or the complete picture. Instead, she was severely abused and killed at the hands of gertrude baniszewski. She encouraged her kids and the neighborhood children to hurt sylvia. This book offers the only insiders account of what happened i the courtroom. The 16yearold likens was tortured to death by gertrude baniszewski, baniszewskis children, and other young people from their neighborhood.
The horrific, tragic death of 16yearold sylvia marie likens. An iowa teachers aide is fired after her school district unravels her link to the torture and death of a girl in 1965. In the heart of indianapolis in the mid 1960s, through a twist of fate and fortune, a pretty young girl came to live with a thirtysevenyearold mother and her seven children. It is a lawyers book and far more difficult to read than john deans, but i think anyone familiar with the case will find it full of interesting information. In july 1965, lester likens decided to take up with the carnival again while his wife was jailed for shoplifting that summer. Sylvia likens was a happy, beautiful 16yearold when her parents left her and her sister in the care of gertrude baniszewski while they went on the road for work. The sylvia likens story the original paperback book was passed. Lawyers book retraces indys infamous sylvia likens. The poor girl was tortured to death and no one would help her. The torture and murder of 16yearold sylvia likens at the hands of the woman entrusted to care for her stands as one of the most harrowing and unthinkable atrocities in the annals of american crime.
The book s opening half covers the particulars of the case. Now valancourt books has rereleased it as part of their. On october 26, 1965, sylvia likens, a 16yearold teenager was found dead on a filthy mattress at 3850 east new york street. Dec 07, 2007 when i first heard the name sylvia likens it was in a childhood chant which was very disrespectful to her lifedeath. The ferocious murder of sylvia likens, the true story. Teenage children and neighborhood kids were involved in torturing, beating, mutilating, mentally. I have been reading forrest bowmans 2014 book sylvia. Horribly tragic story and i thought ellen page looked remarkably like sylvia likens. Sylvias brothers, danny and bennie, were put into the care of their grandparents. What began as a temporary childcare arrangement between sylvia likens s parents and gertrude baniszewski turned into a crime that would haunt cops, prosecutors, and a community for decades to. Gertrude baniszewski the murder case of sylvia likens the baniszewskis crime has been enduring nightmare of a true crime in the history of indianapolis. A republication of the 1965 beeline books nonfiction thriller that shocked the world.
He was the lawyer defending coy hubbard and john baniszewski. What began as a temporary childcare arrangement between sylvia likenss parents and gertrude baniszewski turned into a crime that would. Times are tough, and gertrudes financial needs cause her to make this arrangement before realizing how the burden will push her unstable nature to a. What began as a temporary childcare arrangement between sylvia likenss parents and gertrude baniszewski turned into a crime that would haunt cops, prosecutors, and a community for decades to. She was the odd child because she was born in between two sets of twins. It all began in july 1965, with sylvia likens and her younger sister jenny left by their carny parents in the care of 37yearold gertrude baniszewski and her seven children. Sylvia likens was tortured by her caretaker who convinced more than a dozen local kids to join in 16yearold sylvia likens before.
Disturbing books inspired by the 1960s murder of sylvia likens. Oct 25, 20 this included torture, rape, and beatings. Silvia was an angel a good person a craitor like banizewski and her followers are enraged by the catholic religeon because. Sylvia was more confident and went by the nickname cookie and had been described as pretty though she had a missing front tooth.
Sylvia likens was tortured by her caretaker who convinced more than a dozen local kids to join in 16yearold sylvia likens before staying with gertrude bansizewski and after being tortured to death. Sylvia and jennie fae likens, the two daughters of traveling carnival workers are left for an extended stay at the indianapolis home of single mother gertrude baniszewski and her six children. Both her older siblings, diana and danny, and her younger siblings, jenny and benny, were fraternal twins. The murder of 16yearold sylvia likens in 1965 is called the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of indiana. The murder of sylvia likens has been dealt with in at least five, and possibly six, works. Lets go play at the adams is one example of facttofiction crime. Sylvia likens project gutenberg selfpublishing ebooks. Gertrude nadine baniszewski september 22, 1929 june 16, 1990, also known as gertrude wright and nadine van fossan, was an indiana murderer who, with the aid of most of her own children and neighborhood children, oversaw and facilitated the prolonged torture, mutilation, and eventual murder of sylvia likens, a teenage girl she had taken into her home. Sylvia s brothers, danny and bennie, were put into the care of their grandparents. A 16yearold girl was brutally tortured by the family paid to care for her.
She originally read this poem at the dedication ceremony of the sylvia likens memorial at willard park in indianapolis back in 2001. The torture and murder of sylvia likens the indiana. I find the sylvia likens murder more comparable to the murders committed by the minions of charles manson than to the murders in lord of the flies. Sylvia likens was the abandoned child, left to a local family, with her sister, in the hopes of the children living a righteous life. Ive read the girl next door by jack ketchum and lets go play at the adams by mendal w. In october 1965, the body of sylvia likens was found in the basement of the baniszewski home, where she had been imprisoned. The easiest to get hold of is the basement by feminist kate millett. It has been the most enduring nightmare in indianapolis true crime history the oct.
In loving memory of sylvia marie likens home facebook. I first found out about sylvia likens while doing research on the life and death of lisa steinberg in 2004, and this story is one of the most depressing and unjust stories ive read in my entire life. Sylvia likens was tortured and ultimately killed by her caretaker, gertrude baniszewski, her children, and neighborhood kids. What began as a temporary childcare arrangement between sylvia likenss parents. When i finally got to the end and realised that all of these criminals basically walked away with a slap on t be wrist, i went off on a preteen jag of crying and depression. The death of sylvia likens is the most depressing story i have ever heard in my life. The story of how gertrude baniszewski and a coterie of neighborhood children tortured 16yearold sylvia likens to death in a lower middle class indianapolis home. Forrest bowman represented coy hubbard and john baniszewski. The children who helped her to torture and kill sylvia likens were given incredibly short sentences. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.
A 16yearold girl named sylvia marie likens had been found dead in a house on the east side of town. My first exposure to sylvia was the book the basement by kate millett, and it was so horrible that i almost couldnt finish it. The book justice from within why gertrude baniszewski. The notion of a killer torturing their victim is an incredibly disturbing one. Oct 21, 2014 almost 50 years later, forrest bowman jr. Three months later, on october 26, sylvia died following a prolonged regime of torture. Although the crime happened decades ago, many people who have lived in indianapolis for any significant time know about the sylvia likens homicide. Sylvia likens ordeal and death by john dean 189pp borf books 0960489479 after hearing of the story, and watching the movies, the indiana torture slaying was a hard book to pick up and start. Sylvia likens the complete picture house of evil book. Poor sylvia likens was the daughter of betty and lester likens.
Gertrude baniszewski violently tortured sylvia likens, a neighbors child whom she had been hired to babysit. The teens body had over 100 cuts and bruises and the words i am a prostitute were carved into her body. May 03, 2018 sylvia likens was born january 3, 1949 the third child of five to carnival workers lester cecil likens and elizabeth, betty, frances. Prior to starting this book, millett had put on several sculptural exhibitions inspired by the likens case. Books available on the torture and murder of sylvia likens.
I have pushed sylvia likens, several times down the stairs steps, i knocked her down the stairs once. Sylvia likens and her sister jenny were left in the care of a family friend who tortured sylvia mercilessly until the young woman died of her extensive, gruesome, injuries. On october 26, 1965, police found sylvia likenss emaciated corpsecovered with more than 150 wounds ranging from burns to cutssprawled. Gertrude baniszewski, who came to be known as the torture mother, was an indiana divorcee who oversaw and facilitated the prolonged torture, mutilation, rapes and eventual murder of sylvia likens, a teenage girl she had taken into her home. On october 26, 1965, sylvia likens torture finally came to an end, albeit at the cost of her life. Al hunter is the author of the haunted indianapolis and coauthor of the haunted irvington and indiana national road book series. There was a fair amount of information about the perpetrators life before the events but little about the likens sisters. This book is the interpretation of the torture, and eventual murder of a young girl named sylvia likens. School district fires aide upon learning of secret past. Sylvia died blindfolded and tied up in a basement, succumbing to her months of abuse with an official cause of death listed as brain hemorrhage, shock, and malnutrition. Sylvia likens the complete picture house of evil book here. Dec 03, 2019 gertrude baniszewski the murder case of sylvia likens the baniszewskis crime has been enduring nightmare of a true crime in the history of indianapolis. I wish we had more membersyou should be a moderator leading this story in all fairness.
The murder as told through indianapolis news archives. Over a period of three months shed been starved, beaten, burned with cigarettes, scalded in a tub of hot water. When my mother heard me, she asked why i was doing that and i said it was a spooky game. The murder of sylvia likens became an item of daily conversation as people read how she was beaten, burned, starved, scalded, tattooed and branded until death mercifully stepped in. Sep 09, 1979 for four weeks the girl, sylvia likens, who had been left by her parents to board in the home of 37yearold gertrude baniszewski and her seven children, was routinely scalded, kicked, beaten with. Gertrude baniszewski project gutenberg selfpublishing. Lawyers book retraces indys infamous sylvia likens murder case.
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