In the summer of 1965, 16-year-old Sylvia Likens and her younger sister Jenny were left in the care of a woman their parents barely knew. What followed over the next three months was a descent into cruelty so profound, it would shock the nation, and still today stands as one of the most disturbing crimes in American history.
Sylvia was the daughter of carnival workers, one of five children in a struggling family that often relied on relatives or acquaintances for childcare. When her parents left to travel the carnival circuit, they arranged for the girls to board with Gertrude Baniszewski in Indianapolis for $20 a week. Sylvia was described as cheerful and friendly, a girl who loved The Beatles and looking out for her polio-stricken sister. But inside the Baniszewski home, her life quickly unraveled.
At first, things seemed stable. But when the boarding payments arrived late, Gertrude snapped — and Sylvia became the target of escalating abuse. Beatings, starvation, humiliation, and isolation followed. Soon, Gertrude involved her own children, and even neighborhood kids, in the torture. Sylvia was burned, beaten, and force-fed. She was eventually locked in the basement, denied food, and subjected to torment so severe that medical experts later counted over 150 wounds on her body.
By October, Sylvia was too weak to walk, barely able to speak. Gertrude forced her to write a letter claiming she had run away and been attacked by a group of boys — a cruel attempt to cover up what had been happening inside the home. Just days later, Sylvia died from brain hemorrhage, shock, and malnutrition. She was 16 years old.
The case stunned the public. Arrests came quickly — Gertrude, several of her children, and local teens were charged. The trials revealed a story of collective violence, manipulation, and moral failure. Gertrude was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Paula Baniszewski, her eldest daughter, received a second-degree murder conviction. Others were found guilty of manslaughter. But despite the severity of the crime, many of those convicted served only a few short years.
Even decades later, the story of Sylvia Likens casts a long shadow. Gertrude Baniszewski was eventually released from prison in 1985, prompting outrage and protest. She died five years later, having changed her name and shown little remorse. Paula changed her identity and moved on with her life. Many of the children involved faded into obscurity. But Sylvia’s story remains — a chilling reminder of what can happen when abuse goes unchecked and bystanders turn away.
On this week’s episode of Historical True Crime, we explore the full case: Sylvia’s life, the months of horror she endured, the trials that followed, and the painful legacy that still resonates today.
