On October 26, 1965
in Indianapolis, Indiana a beautiful, young woman named Sylvia Marie Likens
was released from the home that had been her prison for a long time.
That release, unfortunately, came in the form of her death.
When the police found
her body, it was covered with bruises and small wounds that were later
revealed to be cigarette burns, there were over 100 of them on her body.
Sylvia Marie Likens also had skin peeled back away from her body, the number
3 was burned into her body as were the words "I'm a prostitute and proud
of it".
A 37 year old woman
named Gertrude Baniszewski had lead a group of children, some as young
as 11 years old and including, UNWILLINGLY, Sylvia's younger sister,
Jenny and willingly, Gertrude's daughter Paula to beat and torture this
young woman, until one day she died after being given a bath.
Sylvia and Jenny's
parents had left their children with Gertrude to care for them while they
traveled with a carnival. They hardly knew this woman and didn't
even bother to check out her home before leaving their children alone with
her.
One adult, Gertrude
and four children were the only ones, out of the many who had contributed
to Sylvia's tortured existence, to stand trail for her murder. The
charges against most of the children who had joined in were dropped.
Gertrude was found
guilty of first degree murder and was sentenced to live in prison. SHOCKINGLY
on December 4, 1985, Gertrude was paroled from prison after serving only
20 years for her inhuman crimes against Sylvia Marie Likens. Changing her
name to Nadine Van Fossan, she moved to Iowa and died of lung cancer in
1990.
How could so many people,
including an older sister, a Reverend, a child's
mother and several
ADULT
visitors to this home become aware of the horrible things that were happening
to this innocent young girl, yet ignore it which allowed the abuse to continue
until finally Sylvia Marie Likens body could take it no more and she died.
Clearly the case
of Sylvia Marie Likens is one in which had ANY of the adults who
witnessed this horror reported it to the proper authorities, she could
have been released from the nightmare she was living. This true story
should be a reminder to us all that we should NOT turn our backs
on ANY child that needs our help.
Sylvia is not forgotten.
A monument has been erected to remember her. Sylvia's sister Jenny
who was 51 at this time, was there and had this to say about the many people
who were were also there:
"It was so terrible,
I guess, all the things you go through,I'm
glad they're all here. It means a lot. I'm glad
that Sylvia is not forgotten"
Click below to view a trailer for the movie
due out in 2007.
I received and e-mail
on June 19, 2003 and
here is what is
said:
"I want to thank
you for the memorial I saw on a website for Sylvia
Marie Likens. I
remember Sylvia and Jennie when we were very young
playing together
when they came to visit or stay with their grandmother.
Then for a short
time living in our neighborhood. Thank you so very much!!
Sylvia is buried
in my hometown."
"Connie T."
After asking her
for permission to use her comments
on my site she had
this to add:
"You may add what
I had said earlier. I really do not remember much
about our times
together, we were so little. They moved around alot,
and was never in
one place for long. I remember Sylvia as a quiet girl,
which I assume we
played dolls together, and Jennie with her leg
brace, which she
was more wary about kids."
"Connie from
Lebanon, Indiana" My sincerest thanks
go out to Connie for writing me and for allowing
me to use her comments
on my site. If you know any of the children
within my child
abuse pages and would like your comments to be on
my site, on their
page, please let me know by e-mail.
THANK YOU!
Links to other Sylvia
Marie Likens
memorial site...the
fist one inspired
me to make this
page:
In
Memory Of Sylvia Marie Likens Please
don't let them become Angels to soon.
1-800-4-A-Child
Call
this number to report child abuse!
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