Sylvia Likens’s Case
“ The Most Terrible Crime Ever Committed In The State of Indiana”Gertrude Baniszewski aka Gertrude Wright
- Age 37
- Married Twice (Husband John Baniszewski lasted 10 years)
- Had 7 children
- At age 11, her father died (heart attack) in her presence
- She lived at 3850 East New York Street
- She was accused of 1st degree murder and torturer in Marion County Criminal Court #2
- Her attorney was William C. Erbecker
- Trial lasted 2 weeks
- Pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity
- Sentenced to life term at IWP
- Lefted IWP on 12/4/85 at 8:30 A.M. on parole. Parole vote was 3-2
- Gertrude served 20 years of life term, had a 2nd trial in Miami County
Richard Hobbs, Friends with Johnny Baniszewski
- Age 15
- Father, Woodrow Hobbs lived at 310 North Denny Street
- Freshman at Thomas Carr Howe High School
- Charged with torturer and manslaughter
- Hobbs stated he scripted words onto Sylvia’s stomach
- Sentenced to 2-21 year terms at Indiana State Reformatory
- Attorney James G. Nedeff
- Died at age 21
Paula Baniszewski, Gertrude’s Oldest Daughter
- Age 17
- Pregnant during trial
- Attorney for trial was George P. Rice Jr.
- Charged with Assault, Battery, torturer and 2nd degree murder
- Sentenced to life term at IWP
- On Dec 2nd, 1971 at 3:30 P.M., Paula escaped from IWP
Stephanie Baniszewski, Gertrude’s second oldest daughter
- Age 15
- Charged with 1st degree murder and torturing
- Only person in house who helped Sylvia
Coy R. Hubbard, Friends with Johnny Baniszewski
- Age 15
- Lived at 435 North Linwood Ave
- Charged with torture
- Convicted of Manslaughter
- Sentenced to 2-21 years at Indiana State Reformatory
- On May 27th, 1966, his attorney filed a motion to free Hubbard due to being acquitted of murder
Sylvia Likens
- Age 16
- Native of Boone County
- Lived with Baniszewski from July 12th - October 26th, 1965
- Sylvia was beaten, cut, burned, tattooed, branded and mutilated
- Sylvia died on October 26th, 1965 from a massive injury to her head
- Sylvia was burred on October 30th, 1965 at 3:30 P.M. in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, Indiana with a memorial for her in Willard Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
The Jury
- The Trial was held at the City-County Building in Criminal Court Room #2
- The jury was made up of 12 people (8 males and 4 females)
- The judge who overlooked the trial was Hon. Saul I. Rabb
- The Deputy Prosecutor was Leroy K. New
- Jury #1 Blaine E. Blage 8209 East Penway Street
- Jury #2 Blanche Harris 1350 South Sheffield Ave
- Detective Sgt. William D. Kaiser was the lead detective on the case
- Patrolman Melvin D. Dixon found the body of Sylvia Likens
Jennie Likens, sister of Sylvia Likens
- Age 15
- Crippled due to polio
- 8th grader at School 78
- Her attorney was Charles P. Gaddy
- On November 30th 1966, Jennie flew to Poland Springs, Maine to women’s job corps center
Diana Shoemaker, sister to Jennie and Sylvia Likens
- Age 19
Johnny Baniszewski, oldest son of Gertrude Baniszewski
- Age 13
- His attorney was Forrest B. Bowman Jr.
- Convicted of Manslaughter
- Sentenced to 2-21 years at ISR
- On May 27th, 1966 Bowman Jr. filed a motion to free Baniszewski due to being acquitted of murder
- Baniszewski later changed his name to John Blake Jr.
Lester Likens, father to Sylvia Likens
- Him and his wife were apart of a traveling carnival
- Paid Gertrude Baniszewski 20.00 dollars a week to take care of Jennie and Sylvia
People of Interest
- Randy Gordon Lepper, friend of Johnny Baniszewski
- Age 11
- Lived at 3902 East New York Street
- Judy Darlene Duke, friend of Stephanie Baniszewski
- Age 12
- Lived at 322 North Chester Street
- Anna Cisco, best friend of Paula Baniszewski
- Age 13
- 3030 North Chester Street
- Mike Monroe, friend of Johnny Baniszewski
- Age 11
- Lived at 3838 East New York Street
- Danny Likens
- Brother of Bennie, Sylvia, Jennie Likens and Diana Shoemaker
- Bennie Likens
- Brother of Danny, Sylvia, Jennie Likens and Diana Shoemaker
sickning!
ReplyDeletePaula now goes by the name of Paula Pace. In 2011, she was fired from an Iowa school board when they recently discovered who she really was. The reason for her dismissal was being untruthful on her application. She had worked for the school board quietly and without incident for the past 14 years.
ReplyDeleteHave some respect, go find another website to play your little games.
ReplyDeleteIt's utterly disgusting that all the demons who did this horrifying crime on Sylvia got out early and were never severely punished enough, it's like spitting on Sylvia's face and grave and when the demon died in 1990,her death was basically a world class luxury unlike Sylvia's death, she wasn't put in hot water or having cigarette burns or branded or all the horrifying things that Sylvia went through, I wish the demon and her cult family should have gotten the death penalty and the justice system failed Sylvia big time, she was failed the day she was born but she's no longer suffering with pain anymore and she's resting in peace since the day her life was horribly taken away and that her spirit didn't remain at the house and she's flying high up in Heaven since that sad October day in 1965, I hope Sylvia forgives life and society for failing her and turning it's back on her when she needed help the most.
ReplyDeleteSylvia was failed from the day she born until the day she died, everybody turned their backs on her when she needed help but they did nothing until it was too late, nobody was punished severely enough, not even the demon G******e who should have gotten the death penalty but instead she got to be out and when she died in 1990, it was basically a world class luxury, it’s nothing compared to how Sylvia died, she wasn’t surrounded by her family and she died in the most horrifying way which G******e should have died the exact same way long ago, Sylvia was failed by everybody, even her family and life was really unfair to her and she’ll never grow up and will never get to enjoy life and start a family and all the things she wanted to be and she is forever separated from all of it, but she’s now in Heaven flying high where no pain or evil or those who failed her in her short life and that she’ll always be beautiful and pure and forever 16 and that she shines like a bright star for all eternity.
ReplyDelete