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Sylvia Linkens
Age: 16 (03-02-1949 / 26-10-1965)
Sylvia Marie Likens was an American teenager who suffered an extremely brutal case of abuse and murder in 1965, in Indianapolis, Indiana. Her tragic story began when she and her younger sister, Jenny Likens, were placed under the care of Gertrude Baniszewski, a 37-year-old single mother with seven children. The Likens, from a family facing economic difficulties, agreed that the girls would stay with Gertrude in exchange for weekly payments while their parents worked with a circus. However, what started as a temporary arrangement turned into a nightmare for Sylvia.
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Who killed her?
Gertrude Baniszewski
Gertrude Baniszewski was born on September 19, 1929, in Indiana, United States. She was a single mother of seven children and lived in Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time of the incident. On October 26, 1965, Sylvia Likens died as a result of the severe abuse she had endured. Gertrude Baniszewski was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During the trial, chilling details of the abuse inflicted on Sylvia were revealed. In 1966, Gertrude was convicted of first-degree murder and initially sentenced to death. Later, her sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Sylvia Likens' case had a profound impact on American society, sparking debates about child abuse, neglect, and the responsibility of adults toward children under their care. Gertrude Baniszewski is primarily remembered for her role as the main perpetrator of abuse in Sylvia Likens' case, an event that left an indelible mark on American history and continues to be a shocking example of human cruelty.
