Sylvia Likens was just 16 years old when her father made arragements for her and her sister, Jennie to stay with a family for the summer.
I was only 10 years old when this happened but remember it very well.
The house where this happened was located at 3950 East New York street but was demolished on April 23rd 2009 to make way for a church parking lot.
There is a memorial to Sylvia located in Willard Park which is located on Washington street just east of State ave.
I have included this article from the local newspaper adn also some more photos of the house and memorial.
Sylvia Likens was buried in Lebanon Indiana and has a headstone on her grave.
Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 - October 26, 1965) was an American murder victim from Indiana.
She was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski (née Van Fossan),
Gertrude's children, and other young people from their neighborhood.
Her parents, carnival workers, had left Likens and her sister Jenny in the care of the Baniszewski
family three months before her death in exchange for twenty dollars a week.
Baniszewski, two of her children, Paula and John, and two neighbor youths,
Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs, were charged and convicted of the crime.
Her torture and murder were described by the prosecutor in Baniszewski's trial as
"the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana."
Here is a link to the COMPLETE story of Sylvia Marie Likens' murder and the trial that followed.
http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/young/likens/1.html
Every detail is included in this account of the murder, trial, and all points in between.
I hope this will make everyone who reads it think about their surroundings and what may be going on anywhere.
I did this article because this did disturb me at the age of 10 and it STILL makes me wonder how monstrous people can act\tually be to each other.
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Comments: 59
There has been 2 movies (The Girl Next Door-2009 and An American Murder-2009) made about this case.
Also several books have been written, one of which Steven King said he read when HE wanted to be scared.
He is probably talking about the Indiana Torture Slaying of Sylvia Likens. I ran across my paperback version several months ago. It sent chills down my spine just thinking about what was in it.
I thought I'd add a quote from Stephen King~
- A quote from the master of horror himself -
"The first authentically shocking American film I've seen since Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer over 20 years ago. If you are easily disturbed, you should not watch this movie. If, on the other hand, you are prepared for a long look into hell, suburban style, The Girl Next Door will not disappoint.
This is the dark-side-of-the-moon version of Stand By Me." - Stephen King
Yes, it is VERY disturbing.
And I do remember every detail from when it really happened here in Indianapolis.
I was 10 years old.....
Very good Gary!
10+ again for you.
Creepy. It's unusual to find females committing this sort of crime (unless it's against their own kids). Great article in spite of the creepy factor, Gary. ;-)
Okay so when do we get the long version???? the article is great and I love that you found pics of the house!
Yes Katherine, I do have alot more about what happened to who that I will add later.
I just wanted to get this posted so I could get started on something else....
The "long version" has been added!
That is so sad! Did her parents have any idea their child was being tortured? They didn't call to check on them or anything? What a shame.....
This was in 1965 and her parents were "carnies" on the road all the time.
Apparently the father had told Gertrude to discipline his daughters while they were gone, and it looks like she took it overboard.
Such a shame, yes.
I wonder what ever possessed those people to do such a thing as this
I dont know Connie, and its in the same neighborhood where Charles Manson lived when he was growing up too.
Something in the dirt? water? air? Who could ever know what these monsters were thinking?
Excellent post. again, Gary. Like Katherine, I also await "the rest of the story".
-R.
The rest of the story has been added.
Great Article Gary," Very Heart Breaking to Read this Story & Leaves a lot of Unanswered Questions."
Yes Candice, the main unanswered question is WHY?
Why may never be answered .......
A friend of my mom's lived a couple doors down when this happened & she asked where sylvia was & they said she went with her parents. Her sister knew what was happening & did'nt tell anyone, not even in school what a shame she could of saved her. good article I'll have to get the movie!
Jennie was slow and was also afraid.
The whole story about all that is in the link at the bpttom of the article.
That's just horrible. I always say it's hard to trust anyone, and this just proves what we all know - evil comes in all guises.
My dad gave me the book to read the summer ithe book came out. I lived in KS with my stepdad and my mom. In the summer I would come back and spend it with daddy here in Indy.
The thing that really got to me was the fact they said the houses were so close you could hang out the window and shake each others hands. People had to have heard terrible sounds coming from that basement. They were afraid to get involved.
I remember Daddy taking over to see the house it happened in.
New York street is a very busy street and lots of noise so maybe not.
They tore the house down this past april.
Gary, you did Sylvia proud. Thank you for doing this. I know things have been crazy for you lately.
Let us all remember a life that was so viciously brought to an all too early end.
Bless you Sylvia for what you endured.
Thank you Patti!
I agree, it is so monstrous how people can be. This poor girls story is just spine chilling.
A few years back, something almost like this, happend here in Virginia. But it was with their own daughter. And they did it all themselves. In the end they started keeping her in a locked small shed outside. That is where she died. So very sad~
Even though this was before I was born I am thinking I heard about this someplace. It's such a sad one, and such horror.
I remember it to I didn't live far from there at one time, it is a very bad neighborhood now
This must have been an even bigger shock for you.
I am not familar with this story. There are indeed some evil people in the world and it appears she was a victum of a some of them. May she rest in peace.
This is one of the most horrible and heartwrenching stories I have ever read. My God, how can anyone treat another person in such a manner.
What a sad and horrifying story. Heartbreaking.
Back then people did look the other way. A father could beat his daughter on the sidewalk in front of their home on a busy street and not be interrupted.
On March 19, 1964 in New York Kitty Genovese was stabbed to death outside her home and none of her neighbors tried to get help for her. I was 10 when that happened living in NJ. Who could believe not one person called the police and heard her screams and ignored them.
It was a different time back then....Men beat their wives and children and got away with it. Nowadays I imagine wearing max factors erase over bruises would be noticed, back then no one ever asked. And stories to keep "family business" a secret were well accepted too. Much more people back then walked into doors...wink wink...to explain a black and blue swollen eye that couldn't be covered up with max factors erase...
From my understanding, Van Fossen has now been released from the penitentiary and still denied having been involved in any of the torture or murder of the young woman.
She had moved to Davenport Iowa after her release and never came back.
The namje of the movies, there are 2 of them, are "An American Murder" and "The Girl Next Door".
Sylvia lived with a close friend of mine who is also on gather.
That was long before she was killed.
I have heard tales all my life about the hideous things that are happening all around us - even in the ritzy neighborhoods. There's all sorts of abuse happening to people and by people that no one ever suspects. The mystery is how can people be so torturously cruel to children and people they are supposed to care about? Were these mean spirited people born mean or is it something they acquired over time? Either way, there's absolutely no excuse good enough for this kind of behavior and no punishment harsh enough because it's still happening. :-(
But its there, everywhere.
So, thank you for the looooooong read and now I must get back to my other stuff
Then you would HATE my ex fiance'!
Im glad you liked my little story.
One was an old funeral home, but later i found it had been a hospice for over 300 people,
Come on over and I will teach you the ropes!
It was quite a shocker when it happened.