Sylvia Likens A sixteen-year-old girl, killed after prolonged torture and brutal torture. Date of Birth: 03.01.1949 Country: USA

Biography of Sylvia Likens

Sylvia Likens was born into the Lester and Betty Likens family. She had two brothers and two sisters. Her younger sister, Jenny, suffered from polio, and Sylvia lovingly cared for her. Those who knew Sylvia noted that she was a cheerful child with a good sense of humor. Like many girls at the time, she was interested in the Beatles and loved to sing.

However, Sylvia grew up in an unfavorable environment. Her parents' relationship was extremely unstable, with frequent separations and reconciliations. Her parents were constantly on the move, and the family was always lacking money. Sylvia and her sister Jenny were placed under the care of Gertrude Baniszewski at the request of their father while their mother served a prison sentence for shoplifting.

Gertrude Baniszewski, despite living in poverty with her seven children, agreed to take care of Sylvia and her sister for a moderate fee. It is strange that Sylvia's father did not pay attention to the conditions in which the Baniszewski family lived— in a dirty and run-down house without basic amenities. "I don't like to meddle in other people's affairs," Sylvia's father later said in court, explaining why he did not pay attention to the living conditions imposed on his daughters.

Gertrude Baniszewski was a thin, exhausted woman who suffered from regular bouts of depression. She had been married several times, but each time the relationships did not work out. Her family's income mainly came from government allowances for children, and occasionally Gertrude took up temporary unskilled work. It seems that Gertrude began taking out her anger on Sylvia because of her own failed life.

Sylvia was often beaten under the pretext that she was "dirty," while the Baniszewski home was extremely filthy and neglected. She was also frequently beaten for allegedly "behaving promiscuously," while Gertrude's older daughters were actually promiscuous. One of them was already pregnant from a casual encounter (when confronted about this in court, Gertrude replied with a stone face, "that's impossible"). Therefore, it can be said that Gertrude projected her problems onto Sylvia, making her the scapegoat for the Baniszewski family.

Gertrude Baniszewski, along with her own children and neighborhood children, subjected Sylvia to various forms of abuse while she lived with them. The abuse gradually became more cruel and degrading. Initially, Gertrude would beat Sylvia for fabricated reasons, but then she started extinguishing cigarettes on her and pouring hot water on her. Shortly before Sylvia's death, Gertrude burned the words "I am a prostitute, and I'm proud of it" onto Sylvia's stomach with a heated needle.