On october 26, 1965, police found sylvia likenss emaciated corpsecovered with more than 150 wounds ranging from burns to cutssprawled on a filthy mattress in the indianapolis home of 37yearold gertrude baniszewski, mother of seven and the architect of the girls. She encouraged her kids and the neighborhood children to hurt sylvia. Sylvia likens the complete picture house of evil book here. 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. It is a nightmare come to life and death in 1965 indianapolis.
For a time the big yellow double located a stones throw east of sherman avenue just past the old capricorn lounge served as a shelter for abused women. Oct 21, 2015 the details of her demise, revealed at the 1966 trial, defy belief. Sylvia likens is a student, who was born on 3 january, 1949 in indianapolis, indiana, usa. Sylvia marie likens january 3, 1949 october 26, 1965 was an american murder victim. The murder as told through indianapolis news archives. 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. Oct 20, 2019 sylvia marie likens, born on january 3, 1949, was the third child of lester and elizabeth likens.
An american crime 2007 ellen page as sylvia likens. The torture and murder of sylvia likens the indiana. The 1965 torture murder of 16yearold sylvia likens. This video is about the reallife story of sylvia marie likens. By remembering the tragic past, we can help the children of abuse in the present. 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 the case is unique in that, while gertrude baniszewski did play an active role in sylvia. Directed by tommy ohaver and distributed by first look studios, the movie casts ellen page as sylvia likens and catherine keener as gertrude baniszewski. The disturbing death of sylvia likens heather monroe medium.
Here we also added sylvia likens previous years net. Fourtholdest of the baniszewski children, marie was 11 when the torture. The girl next door is loosely based upon the murder of. Jenny was a pretty young girl who was very close to her sister sylvia. The murder of sylvia likens was a child murder which occurred in indianapolis, indiana in. In the following weeks mrs baniszewski protesting her innocence was arraigned, along with the two neighbouring boys, coy and richard, and her three. Jenny likens, the 16year old sister of murdered sylvia likens and one of the principal states witnesses in the murder trial, boarded a plane for a. The ferocious murder of sylvia likens, the true story gertrude baniszewski lived in indianapolis with her seven children. She was fifteen at the time that she stayed with gertrude baniszewski. Based on a true story that shocked the nation in 1965, the film recounts one of the most shocking crimes ever committed against a single victim. She had four siblings, an older set of twins, dianna and daniel, and a younger set of twins, jenny.
Sylvia marie likens january 3, 1949 october 26, 1965 was an american murder victim from lebanon, indiana. Egged on by gertrude baniszewski, her torturers were about the same age as sylvia. An american crime 2007 ellen page as sylvia likens imdb. Teenage children and neighborhood kids were involved in torturing, beating, mutilating, mentally. Reverend bill used to say, for every situation god always has a plan. This video is text as many people complained about the last one being far too. In 1965, she agreed to board sixteen years old sylvia likens. A photo album of the sylvia likens case story in comments. Gertrude was already caring for seven of her own children. This is a remake of my video the story of sylvia marie likens.
After a few months, sylvia died from her injuries and malnutrition. The murder of sylvia likens 50 years later indianapolis monthly. The girl next door was based upon jack ketchums notorious book nope, never read it of the same name which was itself loosely based on the true life murder of. The horrific, tragic death of 16yearold sylvia marie likens. In 2008 a film about sylvia likens murder, an american crime, aired.
Youtube 16yearold sylvia likens before staying with gertrude bansizewski and after being tortured to death. Sylvia likens the complete picture house of evil book. I can remember the first time i heard about this crime as a teenager in indianapolis. Genealogy for sylvia marie likens 1949 1965 family tree on geni, with over 200 million profiles of ancestors and living relatives. May 25, 2018 sylvia likens is a student, who was born on 3 january, 1949 in indianapolis, indiana, usa. On october 26, 1965, police found sylvia likenss emaciated.
Dec 03, 2019 in july 1965 a couple of fair and carnival travelers elizabeth and lester likens met baniszewski in a church, they suggested if she can take care of their two daughters 15 years old jenny faye and 16 years old sylvia marie in return of 20 dollar a week. Sylvia likens was the abandoned child, left to a local family, with her sister, in the hopes of the children living a righteous life. In june 2001, a sixfoot tall block of granite was dedicated as a memorial to sylvia in willard park 1700 e. The torture and murder of sylvia likens the indiana torture. See more ideas about sylvia likens, true crime and crime. She originally read this poem at the dedication ceremony of the sylvia likens memorial at willard park in indianapolis back in 2001. While an american crime sticks to the f the brutal murder of sylvia likens.
Oct 24, 20 jenny likens, the 16year old sister of murdered sylvia likens and one of the principal states witnesses in the murder trial, boarded a plane for a trip to a womens job corps project in poland. Sylvia and jennie fae likens, the two daughters of traveling carnival. The likens trial paperback october 4, 2014 by mr forrest b. Sylvia marie likens 19491965 find a grave memorial. Sylvia marie likens was buried in oak hill cemetery, east lebanon, indiana, on october 29, 1965. Sylvia and her younger sister, the 15yearold disabled jenny fay likens she had a limp due to polio and a brace around that leg had been boarding with baniszewski since early july. It is thought that sylvia took abuse for jenny, because jenny had a leg brace. I light this candle in remembrance of sylvia my own name sake,l stumbled upon your story,and l have been heartbroken. Sylvia likens, the teenager murdered by her caretaker and. Instead, she was severely abused and killed at the hands of gertrude baniszewski. It is a completely different take with a darker twist that an american crime, but it is loosely based on the sylvia likens case. She was tortured to death by gertrude baniszewski, gertrudes children, and other young people from their neighborhood.
In 2007, a movie about the murder of sylvia likens was released. The disturbing death of sylvia likens heather monroe. Dec 15, 2019 this video is about the reallife story of sylvia marie likens. Sylvia marie likens january 1949 october was an american murder victim from. The murder of sylvia likens was a child murder which occurred in indianapolis, indiana in october 1965. Sylvia marie likens january 3, 1949 october 26, 1965 was the third child of carnival workers lester cecil likens 192620 and his wife elizabeth betty frances 19271998. It is thought that sylvia took abuse for jenny, because jenny had a. A prosecutor in baniszewskis murder trial called the death of sylvia likens the worst violent crime in indianas history. She was born between two sets of twins diana and danny who were two years older, and jenny and benny who were one year younger, one being disabled by. Oct 25, 20 this included torture, rape, and beatings. Gertrude baniszewski the murder case of sylvia likens the baniszewskis crime has been enduring nightmare of a true crime in the history of indianapolis. 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. In loving memory of sylvia marie likens home facebook.
In loving memory of sylvia marie likens posts facebook. On october 26, 1965, police found sylvia likenss emaciated corpse. The girl next door was based upon jack ketchums notorious book nope, never read it of the same name which was itself loosely based on the true life murder of sylvia marie likens. See more ideas about sylvia likens, true crime and serial killers. I first came to find out who sylvia likens was a few months ago while watching a movie called the girl next door by jack ketchum. Sylvia was a 16yearold girl living in indianapolis, indiana during the summer of 1966. The 2007 film an american crime is directly based upon the life and murder of sylvia likens. In the following weeks mrs baniszewski protesting her innocence was arraigned, along with the two neighbouring boys, coy and richard, and her three eldest children, paula now 18, stephanie 15 and john. 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. By all accounts, she was a kind, helpful young lady with a deeply spiritual side. The brutal murder of sylvia likens the scare chamber. Sylvia marie likens sylvia always smiled with her mouth closed, because she had a missing front tooth. The true story of suburban housewife gertrude baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her indiana home during the 1960s. Ralph too was fighting to get near, to get a handful of that brown, vulnerable flesh.
The home where sylvia likens died stood as sad vigil to the unspeakable crime until the spring of 2009. At that time, the likens parents had left sylvia and jenny in the care of mrs. Jan 25, 2010 sylvia marie likens was buried in oak hill cemetery, east lebanon, indiana, on october 29, 1965. Sylvia was a normal, healthy sixteenyearold girl prior to her final nightmarish sojourn in the baniszewski house. She was tortured to death by gertrude baniszewski, baniszewskis children, and other young people from their neighborhood. The ferocious murder of sylvia likens, the true story. A photograph of jenny fay likens, sister of torture and murder victim, sylvia marie likens indiana, indianapolis before or during the month of may in the year 1966 and taken by an employee of the indianapolis star newspaper. 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. May 03, 2018 the grave of sylvia likens in oak hill cemetery, lebanon, indiana. I guess im still trying to figure out what that plan was. She and her siblings diana, danny, jenny, and benny were born in lebanon, indiana, to betty grimes likens and lester cecil likens.
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. William golding, lord of the flies little else can explain what happened to 16yearold sylvia likens in 1965 but a group of children led by a selfabsorbed adult who succumbed to a mob mentality like that seen in goldings novel. It was loosely based on her story but the shocking details of her torture and death had me seeking answers. After their mother got busted for shoplifting, sylvia likens and her sister.
Sylvia likens,16 years old, the victim, daughter of carnival workers and a boarder in mrs. It was called the most terrible crime ever committed in indiana, and half a century later, that title still holds. It was titled an american crime and starred ellen page and catherine keener. Nov 05, 2015 the home where sylvia likens died stood as sad vigil to the unspeakable crime until the spring of 2009. Since she had a tiny income, baniszewski took in children for the summer to earn extra money. A 2008 interview with natty bumppo, the former newspaper reporter who covered the trial of gertrude baniszewski, her children, and neighbors for the 1965 torturemurder of sylvia likens. Sylvia marie likens, born on january 3, 1949, was the third child of lester and elizabeth likens.
She was born between two sets of twins diana and danny who were two years older, and jenny and benny who were one year younger, one being disabled by polio. The murder of sylvia likens 50 years later indianapolis. The sobbing sister of sylvia marie likens today quoted her as saying. Sylvia marie likens january 3, 1949october 26, 1965 was the third of five children born to carnival workers lester cecil likens. On october 26, 1965, sylvia likens torture finally came to an end, albeit at the cost of her life. With ellen page, hayley mcfarland, nick searcy, romy rosemont. There was a book and movie made about the most terrible crime ever. This story became a movie sylvia likens trouble sleeping lany numb girl next door forgive movie. Here, a peek at the lives of the participants in the murder of sylvia likens 50 years later. Jun 25, 2018 sylvia marie likens january 3, 1949 october 26, 1965 was the third child of carnival workers lester cecil likens 192620 and his wife elizabeth betty frances 19271998. 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 come when police found sylvias emaciated body, with a chilling message carved into her flesh, they knew that she had suffered tremendously before her.
1203 1550 980 446 791 543 537 1303 1416 1350 660 1324 510 759 1106 473 450 908 751 380 626 1374 1054 830 43 900 584 671 499 1350 1614 649 545 88 382 1246 1494 749 210 1405 1230 804 1290