#child murder | criminol (2024)

On 26th October 1965, authorities found the emaciated corpse of a girl, the body had more than 150 wounds and the girl had obviously been tortured. The body was the tortured and murdered remains of Sylvia Likens, 16 years old.Sylvia Marie Likens and her sister Jenny boarded with Gertrude Baniszewski on their parents request, their parents paid for their boarding from 4th July and planned to collect the girls in November that year. Those weekly payments gradually began to arrive late, Gertrude took out her frustration over this out on the two children, beating them with various objects.

By mid-August Gertrude began to focus her abuse primarily on Sylvia, it was said this was due to jealousy of Sylvia’s physical appearance. Initially Sylvia was beaten and refused food, leading to her eating leftovers or spoiled food. The abuse quickly worsened and on one occasion Gertrude’s daughter and a neighbourhood boy forced Sylvia to eat a hot dog overloaded with spice and condiments, Sylvia vomited as a result and was forced to eat her own vomit.

Sylvia retaliated by spreading a rumour that Gertrude’s two daughters Paula and Stephanie were prostitutes. Despite crying and apologising when confronted Sylvia was beaten by Stephanie’s boyfriend and Gertrude. On another occasion Paula beat Sylvia with so much force that she broke her own wrist. Neighbourhood children were encouraged to participate in the torture and beating of Sylvia, using her as a practice dummy in judo sessions, burning her skin with cigarettes more than 100 times and severely injuring her genitals. To entertain the teenagers and Gertrude, Sylvia was forced to strip and insert a co*ke bottle into her vagin* with Gertrude stating this was to prove to Sylvia’s sister Jenny‘what kind of girl you are.’ Jenny was also subject to bullying and ridiculed if she mentioned Sylvia’s situation. Sylvia was eventually forbidden from attending school for stealing school clothes after being denied them by Gertrude. Sylvia was forced to take a scalding bath and her body was covered in open sores. She was regularly seen with black eyes and appeared‘zombified’ in nature.

Due to the brutality Sylvia became incontinent and was then kept naked, rarely fed or given water and imprisoned in the basem*nt. Neighbourhood children were charged 5 cents to humiliate, beat, scald, burn and mutilate Sylvia, a cloth gag was placed in her mouth to hide her screams. Sylvia was forced to consume human faeces and urine. She was branded with the words‘I’m a prostitute and proud of it,’ which was burned onto her stomach with a heated needle. Sylvia confided in her sister that she could tell she was going to die. On 25th October Sylvia attempted to escape the basem*nt after hearing a conversation in which Gertrude stated she was going to abandon her and leave her to die. In response to her attempts to flee Sylvia was beaten with a curtain rod, in the morning she was unable to speak or co ordinate her limbs movement. She was given a class of milk and then beaten when unable to drink it. Shortly after Sylvia became delirious. She was sprayed with a garden hose and had her head stamped on. Gertrude’s daughter Stephanie attempted to take Sylvia for a warm bath although Sylvia stopped breathing on her way out of the basem*nt. Stephanie attempted to apply mouth to mouth resuscitation despite Gertrude shouting Sylvia was faking her death. Sylvia was dead. Richard Hobbs found her body being held by a crying Stephanie and phoned the police.

Upon discovery of Sylvia’s body Jenny Likens whispered to officers,‘You get me out of here and I’ll tell you everything.’ The statement provided allowed Gertrude, Paula, Stephanie and others to be arrested on suspicion of the murder of Sylvia Likes. Gertrude initially denied all involvement blaming her daughter Paula and other teenagers. Paula admitted to beating Sylvia without any remorse.

An autopsy of Sylvia’s body detailed her suffering; she has an excess of 150 separate wounds and was severely emaciated. Most of her fingernails were broken backwards and she had bitten through her lips. In trial Gertrude was found guilty of first degree murder, Paula of second degree murder and others of manslaughter. Gertrude and Paula were sentenced to life imprisonment. Gertrude was released in 1985, never accepting responsibility for Sylvia’s death. She died of lung cancer on 16th June 1990 aged 61. The films‘An American Crime,’ and‘The Girl Next Door,’ were loosely based on the case.