The Murder of Sylvia Likens

The Backroom

Send us a text

Between July and October 1965, sisters Sylvia and Jenny Likens was placed under the care of Gertrude Baniszewski by their parents who were carnival workers. The Likens' parents planned to come get them that November. The next four months would be hell on earth for the sisters, primarily Sylvia. As an agreement, Likes' father was to pay Gertrude $20 a week, but after two weeks, payments were a day or two late. Gertrude and her daughter Paula began to physically and mentally abuse the Likens Sisters. They shifted most of the abuse to Sylvia. She was burned, scalded, punched, kicked and hit with objects by the pair. It escalated to Gertrude allowing neighborhood kids to join in on the abuse for a fee of five cents. Gertrude would call Sylvia a prostitute and have her kids spread rumors that she was a sinner. Sylvia would suffer for no reason at all. She was malnourished since she was served expired food or denied food completely. She was incontinent and began urinating herself. Her body, littered with lacerations and bruises, grew weak as time went on. Her abusers would rub salt on Sylvia's wounds until she screamed. Jenny had no other option but to sit there and watch with tears in her eyes. In late October, Gertrude used a heated needle to etch and insult into Sylvia's abdomen. On October 26, 1965, Sylvia Likens died from her extensive injuries. Authorities believed Sylvia died eight hours before a call to police was made. Gertrude, her children Paula and John Jr. and two other neighborhood boys were tried together for Sylvia's murder. All five were found guilty with Gertrude and Paula receiving life sentences. The three boys spent two years in a reformatory since they were minors. All five were paroled, changing their identities and living out their days elsewhere.