[89], That evening, Likens desperately attempted to alert neighbors by screaming for help and hitting the walls of the basement with a spade. [131], Two days later, Richard Hobbs testified in his own defense, describing how Gertrude had called Likens to the kitchen on October 23 and stated to her: "You have branded my children so now I'm going to brand you." [35] On one occasion, Likens was accused of stealing candy she had actually purchased. [137] Dr. Schuster was subjected to over two hours of intense cross-examination by Gertrude's lawyer, William Erbecker, although he remained steadfast that Gertrude was not and had never been psychotic. Over the course of two months, these groups collected over 40,000 signatures from the citizens of Indiana,[160] including signatures obtained from outraged citizens too young to contemporarily recollect the case. Following her 1972 parole, Paula Baniszewski assumed a new identity. [63] Likens remained silent about the matter, although Marie revealed this fact to her family in late September. [125], On May 2 and 3, Jenny Likens testified against all five defendants, stating that each had repeatedly and extensively both physically and emotionally abused her sister, adding that Likens had done nothing to provoke the assaults and that there had been no truth in either the rumors she had been falsely accused of spreading or the slurs each had made against Likens' character. George Rice, a Ph.d in psychology as well as a member of the bar, was Paula’s lawyer. The Campus Killer, “I was born with the devil in me. American Serial Killer, “I just wanted to see how it felt to shoot Grandma.”, "There is no happiness without tears,no life without death... Beware! 2.9 out of 5 stars 20. He admitted to having burned Sylvia with matches on several occasions, adding that his mother had repeatedly burned the child with cigarettes. [156], Over the course of the following 14 years, Gertrude Baniszewski became known as a model prisoner at the Indiana Women's Prison. Oct 25, 2019 - Explore Nabeeha's board "Sylvia Likens", followed by 184 people on Pinterest. Let them through, for they are the welcome ones! [21][n 2], In her teenage years, Sylvia Likens occasionally earned spending money by babysitting, running errands, or performing ironing chores for friends and neighbors—often giving her mother part of her earnings. Baniszewski was the third of six children, and her family was working class. Baniszewski was the third of six children, and her family was working class. Free with Kindle Unlimited membership Learn More Or $2.99 to buy. … The ones who aren’t afraid, control life itself.”, Richard Ramirez [20], Initially, Gertrude denied any involvement in Likens' death, although by October 27 she had confessed to having known "the kids"—particularly her daughter Paula and Coy Hubbard—had physically and emotionally abused Likens, stating that "Paula did most of the damage", and that "Coy Hubbard did a lot of the beating". Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski (September 19, 1929 – June 16, 1990), also known as Gertrude Wright and Nadine van Fossan, was an Indiana divorcée who, with the aid of some of her own children and neighborhood children, such as Ricky Hobbs and Coy Hubbard, oversaw and facilitated the prolonged torture, mutilation, and eventual murder of Sylvia Likens, a teenaged … [102] The three eldest Baniszewski children, plus Coy Hubbard, were placed in the custody of a nearby juvenile detention center; the younger Baniszewski children and Richard Hobbs were detained at the Indianapolis Children's Guardians Home. Copyright © 2012-2018 DarkDocumentaries. [62][n 6], Several weeks prior to this occasion, Sylvia and Jenny had encountered Dianna in the same park while in the company of 11-year-old Marie Baniszewski and Sylvia had been given a sandwich to eat when she had mentioned to her sister she was hungry. Erbecker then tapped his head to emphasize his reference to her state of mind, before adding: "If this woman is sane, put her in [the electric chair]. She began carving the words "I'M A PROSTITUTE AND PROUD OF IT" onto Likens' abdomen with a heated needle. She was afflicted with a notable limp and had to wear a steel brace on one leg. YouTube. That being said, a few years ago on the evening of my 21st … Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski (née Van Fossan; September 19, 1928—June 16, 1990) was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Molly Myrtle (née Oakley) and Hugh Marcus Van Fossan Sr., both of whom were originally from Illinois and were of American and Dutch descent. Gertrude then ordered Likens—who had defecated—to clean herself. Likens was then given toast to eat but was unable to consume the food due to her extreme state of dehydration. Stephanie waived her immunity from any potential impending prosecution[114] while agreeing to testify against her family and any other individuals charged with abusing and murdering Likens. Save 97%. Directed by Tommy O'Haver. The sadistic 'foster mother' was charged with murder, convicted and given a life sentence. Sidestepping the multiple instances of testimony delivered at trial describing Paula and her mother as by far the most enthusiastic participants in Likens' physical abuse, Rice claimed the evidence presented against his client did not equate to her actual guilt of murder. She hadn't eaten for a week! [115], At a formal pretrial hearing held on March 16, 1966, several psychiatrists testified before Judge Saul Isaac Rabb as to their conclusions regarding psychiatric evaluations they had conducted upon three individuals indicted upon Likens' murder. The service was officiated by the Reverend Louis Gibson, with more than 100 mourners in attendance. Upon hearing Judge Rabb pronounce the verdicts, Gertrude and her children burst into tears and attempted to console each other, as Hobbs and Hubbard remained impassive. An Iowa teacher's aide has been fired from her job following the revelation that she was a member of an Indiana family notorious for torturing and killing a girl in their basement in 1965. The Likens' sons regularly traveled with their parents in order to help out, but—due to concerns for their younger daughters' safety and education—they didn't particularly like Sylvia and Jenny traveling with them in this employment. [41], On another occasion, Paula beat Likens about the face with such force that she broke her own wrist, having primarily focused her blows upon Likens' teeth and eyes. SUBSCRIBE NOW. She was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski, Gertrude's children, and other young people from their neighborhood. ", --Section of Deputy Prosecutor Marjorie Wessner's. Stephanie punched her in response, but Likens apologized to her, in tears, and Stephanie then also began to cry. "[32] On one occasion, in late-August, both girls were beaten approximately 15 times on the back with the aforementioned paddle, after Paula had accused the sisters of eating too much food at a church supper the household children had attended. Almost immediately after Lester and Elizabeth had left the Baniszewski household on their final visit, Gertrude turned to face Likens and stated: "What are you going to do now, Sylvia? This initial abuse included subjecting Likens to beatings and being refused sufficient food (which would gradually lead to Likens eating leftovers or spoiled food out of garbage cans). At the time of her death, Jenny resided in Beech Grove, Indiana. The CO-ED Killer, “I just liked to kill, I wanted to kill.”, Ted Bundy Gertrude, however, was convicted of first degree murder again and given another life sentence. [36], On another occasion, in late-August, Likens was subjected to humiliation when she claimed to have a boyfriend in Long Beach, whom she had met in the spring of 1965 when her family lived in California. "[150], The trial of the five defendants lasted 17 days before the jury retired to consider its verdict. The last occasion Lester and Elizabeth visited their daughters was in late-August. [24], One of the first witnesses to testify on behalf of the prosecution was deputy coroner Charles Ellis, who testified on April 29 as to the intense pain Likens had suffered: stating that her fingernails were broken backwards, numerous deep cuts and punctures covered much of her body, and that her lips were "essentially in shreds" due to her having repeatedly bitten and chewed upon them. I am going to make you cry. STAY UPDATED! In response to this effort, Gertrude stamped upon Likens' head before standing and staring at her for several moments. Shortly thereafter, Lester Likens arranged for his daughters to board with Gertrude Baniszewski, the mother of two girls with whom the sisters had recently become acquainted while studying at Arsenal Technical High School, Paula and Stephanie Baniszewski. Both initially viewed Gertrude as an ideal caregiver for the Likens sisters and both had visited the Baniszewski residence on two occasions when the girls had been under Gertrude's care. [65], The immediate neighbors of the Baniszewski family were a middle-aged couple named Raymond and Phyllis Vermillion. [136] Another witness to testify on behalf of the prosecution, Grace Sargent, stated how she had sat close to Paula on a church bus and had heard her openly bragging about breaking her own wrist due to the severity of a beating she had inflicted to Likens' face on August 1. Gertrude was the third of six children. "[135] Dean has also likened the case to William Golding's novel Lord of the Flies, although he has stated Likens' increasing physical and emotional abuse was not a result of "children going wild; it was children doing what they were told". [93], In an attempt to wash Likens, a laughing John Baniszewski Jr. sprayed her with a garden hose brought to the house that afternoon by Randy Lepper at Gertrude's request. [78][79], When Gertrude was unable to finish the branding, she instructed one of the neighborhood children present, 14-year-old Richard Dean Hobbs,[80] to finish etching the words into Likens' flesh as she took Jenny to a nearby grocery store. The car was later … [31], Although Lester Likens had agreed to pay Gertrude Baniszewski $20 a week in exchange for the care of his daughters, these weekly payments gradually failed to arrive exactly upon the prearranged dates, occasionally arriving one or two days late. [66] Upon their second visit to the Baniszewski household, both observed Likens to appear extremely meek and somewhat "zombified" in nature. I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing...", H.H Holmes [46] With the active encouragement of Gertrude, these neighborhood children routinely beat Likens,[47] sometimes using her as a practice dummy in violent judo sessions,[48] lacerating her body, burning her skin with lit cigarettes in excess of 100 times,[49] and severely injuring her genitals. STAY UPDATED! Gertrude Baniszewski’s story was that she had been too sick and chronically tired to know all the terrible things going on in her own home. Her vaginal cavity was almost swollen shut, although an examination of the canal determined that her hymen was still intact, discrediting Gertrude's assertions Likens had been three months pregnant,[108] a prostitute, and promiscuous. I'm just going to have to go on a diet. Each one of [the] five defendants had first and foremost the responsibility to leave Sylvia Likens alone; we had the responsibility to bring all the evidence we could find that could explain this crime. I am happy about that. Paula pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and was paroled from prison in 1972. Likens' gray casket remained open throughout the ceremony, with a portrait of her taken prior to July 1965 adorning her coffin. In response, Gertrude forced the crackers into Likens' mouth before she and John Baniszewski beat her—particularly around the stomach. Sylvia's tragic murder and abuse must always be remembered". The abuse was inflicted by not only Gertrude, but the Baniszewski children and neighborhood kids as well. Gertrude was the third of six children. [126] He then visibly smirked as he confessed to having himself beaten Likens on anywhere between 10 and 40 separate instances. The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s. [152][153] The same day, Richard Hobbs, Coy Hubbard, and John Baniszewski Jr. each received sentences of 2-to-21 years, to be served in the Indiana Reformatory. Dennis Wright Jnr passed … [11] Shortly thereafter, Baniszewski filed a paternity suit against Wright for financial support of their child, although Wright was seldom able to pay for the upkeep of their son. The Killer Clown, “Hello from the gutters of New York City, which are filled with dog manure, vomit, stale wine, urine and blood.”, David Berkowitz Tap. During her testimony, Jenny stated the abuse her sister and, to a much lesser degree, she herself had endured began approximately two weeks after they had begun to live in the Baniszewski household, and that as the abuse her sister was forced to endure escalated, Likens had occasionally been unable to produce tears due to her acute state of dehydration. [69] Occasionally, she was tied to the railing of the basement stairs with her feet barely touching the ground.[70]. Likens, aged 16, was held captive and subjected to increasing levels of child abuse and torture—committed over a period of almost three months—by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, many of Baniszewski's children, and several other neighborhood children, before ultimately succumbing to her injuries and malnourishment on October 26. She was informed, "I can't tell you or I'll get into trouble. $1 for 3 months. Paula—herself overweight, three months pregnant and also jealous of her physical appearance—then participated in attacking Likens; knocking her off her chair onto the kitchen floor, shouting, "You ain't fit to sit in a chair! Shortly thereafter, Gertrude shouted for Likens to return to the kitchen, then ordered her to strip naked before proclaiming to her: "You have branded my daughters; now I am going to brand you." Those persons were sent to prison. She worked in the prison sewing shop[157] and was known as somewhat of a "den mother" to younger female inmates, becoming known to some within the prison by the nickname "Mom". Likens regularly sang along to pop records with Stephanie,[30] and she willingly participated in housework at the Baniszewski residence. The three minors who were also arrested, including Baniszewski’s two sons, each did two years in a reformatory. 4 notes Sep 22nd, 2019. Continuing the conversation with Stephanie Baniszewski and Jenny, Likens mentioned that she had once lain under the covers with her boyfriend. She appealed her case and was granted a new trial in 1971, because The Indiana Supreme court declared that there was "prejudicial atmosphere" surrounding the case. [138] Referencing specific forms and means of abuse and neglect at the defendants' hands and their collective failure to either help Likens or deter each other from mistreating her, Wessner described Likens' abuse as "stomach-wrenching" and compared her treatment at the hands of all five defendants as being the equivalent in severity to that committed against prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. In the heart of Indianapolis in the mid 1960's, through a twist of fate and fortune, a pretty young girl came to live with a thirty-seven-year-old mother and her seven children. Likens vomited as a result, and was later forced to consume what she had regurgitated.[38][39]. 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