WebWhich memorial do you think is a duplicate of Joseph Baniszewski (119615123)? She escaped in 1971 but was recaptured. Brennan Prevatt. The couple had six children together; Paula, Stephanie, John Baniszewski Jr., Marie, Shirley, and James. "[106], Following this service, Likens' casket was placed by pallbearers in a hearse and driven to the Oak Hill Cemetery to be interred. Following her release from jail, Elizabeth Likens would immediately join her husband in their seasonal employment with the traveling carnival. [163] She worked as an aide to a school counselor for 14 years at the Beaman-Conrad-Liscomb-Union-Whitten Community School in Conrad, Iowa, having changed her name to Paula Pace, and concealing the truth regarding her criminal history when applying for the position. [8], During the initial weeks in which Sylvia and Jenny resided at the Baniszewski household, the sisters were subjected to very little discipline or abuse. Paula Baniszewski is a criminal. Paula, however, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter to avoid another trial. "[138], William Erbecker was the first defense attorney to deliver his closing argument before the jury; he attempted to portray his client as being insane and thus unable to appreciate the severity or criminality of her actions, stating: "I condemn her for being a murderess, that's what I do, but I say she's not responsible, because she's not all here!" Both Jenny and Sylvia informed Dianna about the abuse they were enduring at the hands of their caregiver, adding that Sylvia was being specifically targeted for physical abuse and almost always for things she had neither said nor done. [63] Neighborhood children were also occasionally charged five cents apiece to see the "display" of Likens' body and to humiliate, beat, scald,[64] burn, andultimatelymutilate her. Now, let's look at some of the responsibilities here. When questioned at trial as to her motive for turning state's evidence, Stephanie stated: "I'm just here in the hope I can help anybody!" Stephanie would be approximately 65/66 years old today, if she is still living. Within hours after the bodys discovery, police detained Gertrude, Paula, Stephanie, and John Baniszewski Jr. on suspicion of Likens murder due to the formal statement Jenny Likens delivered. 
[24], On May 25, Gertrude and Paula Baniszewski were formally sentenced to life imprisonment. Physical and mental torment such as this would occasionally pause when the Baniszewskis watched their favorite television shows. [111] This ruling further stated that the circumstances regarding the prejudicial atmosphere created during their initial trial, due to the extensive news media publicity surrounding the case, impeded any chance of either appellant receiving a fair trial. [17] She was also fond of music, particularly The Beatles, and was notably protective of her markedly more timid and insecure younger sister. When questioned by Leroy New as to the exhaustive interviews and assessments he had conducted with Gertrude, Schuster stated that she had been evasive and uncooperative. Schuster testified as to his belief that Gertrude was sane and fully in control of her actions, adding that she had been sane in October 1965, and remained sane to this date. Her whereabouts today are unknown. [136], In reference to the premeditated nature of Likens' death, Wessner pointed the jury's attention to the notes Gertrude had forced Likens to write on October 24, stating: "[Gertrude] knew on [October 24] she was going to hold these notes until she and the rest of the defendants had completed the murder of Sylvia." WebTrial. [107][174], Richard Hobbs, Coy Hubbard, and John Baniszewski Jr. all served less than two years in the Indiana Reformatory before being granted parole on February 27, 1968. She was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released on parole in 1985. [187], In June 2001, a six-foot-tall (1.8m) granite memorial was formally dedicated to Sylvia Likens' life and legacy in Willard Park, Washington Street, Indianapolis. She was quiet and reserved but she also made him nervous. [61] On one occasion, Gertrude held a knife aloft and challenged Likens to "fight me back", to which Likens replied she did not know how to fight. Death. 
He said his family did not approach the police. [95] The same day, Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs were also arrested and charged with the same offenses. Stephanie Baniszewski sister Shirley Baniszewski sister Marie Baniszewski sister James Baniszewski brother Edward Guthrie stepfather Dennis Lee Wright mother's ex-partner Dennis Lee Wright, Jr half brother Mary Jane Blake stepmother view all Paula Baniszewski's Timeline Genealogy Directory: A B C D E F G H I J K L M xxx xx 2007. [30], On another occasion, in late August, Likens was subjected to humiliation when she claimed to have a boyfriend in Long Beach, whom she had met in the spring of 1965 when her family lived in California. [57] Upon their second visit to the Baniszewski household, both observed Likens to appear extremely meek and somewhat "zombified" in nature. The charge was false but it prompted Stephanies boyfriend, Coy Hubbard, to physically attack Likens. John Stephan Baniszewski (Blake) Birth. [81] She attempted to flee to the front door; however, due to her extensive injuries and general weakness, Gertrude caught her before she could escape the property. Sylvia Likens' death at the Baniszewski house has been made into a television drama, "An American Crime," and was the premise of "The Girl Next Door," by Jack Ketchum. In 1971, the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the convictions, saying jurors had been prejudiced by publicity and that the trials should have been held separately. [168] Paula married and had two children. They served 18 months and were released on parole in 1967. She also added that she had been too preoccupied with her own ill health and depression to control her children. Convicted of manslaughter, he served a short sentence and died of cancer in 1972 at age 21. He was of Polish descent. Lepper also testified to having witnessed Stephanie strike Likens "real hard" after her mother had ordered her to remove her clothes in his presence. She had done some custodial work and was most recently working as a Caleca, Linda Graham: "Baniszewski Ruling Won't Affect Past Parole Cases, Judge Says". In this case, they had an adult supervising what they were doing. Titre original: An American Crime [47] For this act of theft, Gertrude whipped Likens with a three-inch-wide (7.6cm) police belt. IE 11 is not supported. [165] She primarily blamed her actions upon the medication she had been prescribed to treat her asthma. A neighborhood kid and Stephanie Baniszewskis boyfriend, Hubbard was a full participant in Sylvias torture. Since then, she has once more slipped off the grid. He served as the Director of Men s Ministry and was actively involved in various church activities. All were tried together before Judge Rabb at Indianapolis' City-County Building. Stephanie Baniszewski became a schoolteacher. Pedimos perdn de antemano. [16], Although exuberant, Likens always kept her mouth closed when smiling due to a missing front tooth, which she had lost while roughhousing with one of her brothers during a childhood game. The house itself was demolished on April 23, 2009. Paula was found guilty of second-degree murder. [110], The trial of Gertrude Baniszewski, her children Paula and John, Richard Hobbs and Coy Hubbard began on April 18, 1966. How sadistic can a person get? The same day, 13-year-old Judy Duke also testified, admitting to having witnessed Likens once endure salt being rubbed into sores upon her legs until she screamed. Although Stephanie had initially believed the rumors initiated by Paula that Likens had spread distasteful rumors relating to herself and her older sister, as the abuse of Likens escalated, she would regularly rally to Likens' defenseoccasionally removing objects from her mother or Paula's hands with which they had been striking the girl. The macabre task was begun by Gertrude, but when she became too fatigued to finish, Hobbs stepped in. [37][38] Gertrude repeatedly falsely accused Likens of promiscuity and of engaging in prostitution, ranting about the filthiness of prostitution and women in general. Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski (ne Van Fossan; September 19, 1928 June 16, 1990)[1] was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Hugh Marcus Van Fossan Sr. and Molly Myrtle (ne Oakley), both of whom were originally from Illinois and were of American and Dutch descent. John Baniszewski and two other boys ages 16 and 15 were convicted of manslaughter. Because he was only 8 at the time, James was not arrested nor called to testify, although some reports suggested he played a role in the crime. In what Hobbs would later insist were "short, light" etchings, he continued to brand the text into Likens' abdomen as she clenched her teeth and moaned. Weeks of escalating horror followed. [163], Following her 1985 release from prison, Gertrude Baniszewski relocated to Iowa. Titre original: An American Crime Popularit: 13.041 Dure: 97 Minutes Slogan: She was closer in age to Sylvia than any of the other children in that large dysfunctional brood. In response, Paula verbally threatened her to either stand up or she would inflict a long jump upon her. [This was] something no one did for young Sylvia. [24] The wounds themselves varied in location, nature, severity, and the stage of healing. Todas las semanas tendris un episodio con dos nuevos crmenes. She was closer in age to Sylvia than any of the other children in that large dysfunctional brood. Stephanie Baniszewski at the time of Sylvia's murder trial in 1966. Somehow, the conversation got around to tattooing. She made dinner every night," he said. Gertrude Baniszewski; her oldest daughter, Paula; her son, John; and two neighborhood youths, Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs, were all tried and convicted in May 1966 of neglecting, torturing, and murdering Likens. WebThe Indiana Torture Slaying: Sylvia Likens' Ordeal and Death Paperback January 1, 1966 by John Dean (Author) 20 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $75.00 1 Used from $75.00 There is a newer edition of this item: The Indiana Torture Slaying: Sylvia Likens' Ordeal and Death $125.97 (20) In stock. She was fired in 2012 when the school discovered her true identity. [55][n 7], Several weeks prior to this, Sylvia and Jenny had encountered Dianna in the same park, while in the company of 11-year-old Marie Baniszewski, and Sylvia had been given a sandwich to eat when she mentioned to her sister that she was hungry. [39], Coy Hubbard and several of his classmates frequently visited the Baniszewski residence to both physically and verbally torment Likens, often collaborating with Baniszewski's children and Gertrude herself. Although discussions were held about the possibility of purchasing and rehabilitating the house and converting the property into a women's shelter, the necessary funds to complete this project were never raised. This was likely because both were in the presence of Gertrude and her children. His greatest joy was his Grandchildren. Mr. Blake was an honorable man, a friend to many, a former police officer, and a credit to his community. Likens jerkingly moved her arms in an apparent attempt to point at the faces of the tormentors she could recognize, making statements such as, "You're Ricky" and "You're Gertie" before Gertrude tersely shouted, "Shut up! [123], On May 10, a Baptist Minister named Roy Julian testified to having known a teenage girl was being abused in the Baniszewski household, although he had failed to report this information to authorities as, having been informed by Gertrude that Likens had "made advances to men for money," he had believed the girl was being punished for soliciting. Stephanie Baniszewski was released from custody after her attorneys successfully argued that the state had insufficient evidence to support any murder charges against her. Paulaherself three months pregnant, and also jealous of Likens' physical appearancethen participated in attacking Likens; knocking her off her chair and onto the kitchen floor, shouting, "You ain't fit to sit in a chair! His contributions included using her as a practice dummy for judo flips and punches and shoving her down the basement stairs. [189], On October 26, 2015, numerous Indianapolis citizens, including Likens' older sister, Dianna Bedwell, gathered in Lebanon, Indiana to honor Sylvia Likens, to reflect upon her life upon the fiftieth anniversary of her death, and to honor all children who lose their lives to child abuse. She added that Likens had earlier run away from her home with several teenage boys before returning to her house earlier that afternoon, bare-breasted and clutching the note. [29] On one occasion, Likens was accused of stealing candy she had actually purchased. Not that there was much to see, considering the only portions of the Baniszewski abode he ever entered were the living room and, once, the kitchen. [186], The house at 3850 East New York Street in which Likens had been tortured and murdered stood vacant for many years after her death and the arrest of her tormentors. The school made no further investigations concerning Likens' welfare. He said he received a Facebook message a month ago, detailing Paula's previous life. His only crime was that he didnt vet the Baniszewski home more thoroughly before leaving two of his daughters in Gertrudes custody. She moved to Iowa, changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan, and died of lung cancer on June 16, 1990. He was the son of Gertrudes lover, Dennis Lee Wright Sr., who abandoned the family shortly after his namesakes birth. [2] This marriage lasted just three months before the couple divorced. She never took responsibility for her crimes, claiming she couldnt remember her actions. The film garnered an 8.4/10 rating on IMDb. Although the 10-year-old heated a needle that was used to burn the victim, she was never charged with any crime. Baniszewski accused her of stealing candy she had bought from a grocery store and humiliated her when she admitted that she had once had a boyfriend. [98], Lacking any remorse, Paula signed a statement admitting to having repeatedly beaten Likens about the backside with her mother's police belt, once breaking her wrist on Likens' jaw, and inflicting other acts of brutality, including pushing her down the stairs into the basement "two or three times," and inflicting a black eye. The members of two anti-crime groups also traveled to Indiana to oppose Baniszewski's potential parole, and to publicly support the Likens family. Shortly thereafter, Baniszewski remarried her first husband, with whom she had two more children. From the beginning, she had opportunities to tell neighbors what was going on, but she didnt because she feared she would make things worse. [6] Gertrude Baniszewski, however, was again convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. [24], Deputy Prosecutor Marjorie Wessner delivered the state's closing argument before the jury on behalf of the prosecution. In Eva Yes 2014 crime short film, Oak Hill Silence she acted the role of Stephanie Baniszewski. Marie also testified as to her mother's indifference to Likens' evident distress in relation to the physical and mental abuse she had increasingly suffered, with her mother's full knowledge, stating that on one occasion, Gertrude had sat upon a chair and crocheted as she watched a neighborhood girl named Anna Siscoe attack Likens. Stephanie Baniszewski, 15 years old, had never looked more serious. "[87], When Stephanie realized that Likens was not breathing, she attempted to apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as Gertrude repeatedly shouted to the children in the house that Likens was faking her death. The couple had two children, although she remained traumatized by the abuse she had been forced to watch her sister endure. WebHere is Gertrude's Baniszweski daughter Stephanie. This page was last edited on 13 March 2023, at 06:54. Sylvia's tragic murder and abuse must always be remembered". Several days later, Gertrude returned to the subject with Likens, telling her, "You're certainly getting big in the stomach, Sylvia. [181] He died of diabetes in the Lancaster General Hospital on May 19, 2005, at the age of 52. As Likens had not attended school for several days, a school nurse visited East New York Street to investigate these claims. Lester apparently believed her, because during several subsequent trips to the housethe last on October 5, just weeks before his daughters deathhe noticed nothing out of order. --Poem inscribed upon the granite memorial formally dedicated to Sylvia Likens' life and legacy in Willard Park, Indianapolis. You'll have to live with your conscience the rest of your life if you send an insane woman to the electric chair. [173] Dennis Lee Wright Jr. was later adopted. She became evasive when one officer stated the likely reasons Likens had become incontinent were her mental distress and injury to her kidneys. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The Dish
WebAll Pictures results for Stephanie baniszewski. Convicted of manslaughter, he became the Indiana State Reformatorys youngest inmate, serving just two years before being released. WebRecord information. Indeed, one of the enduring mysteries of the case is why neither she nor Sylvia sought help before things escalated. After her 1972 parole, Paula Baniszewski assumed a new identity. She took care of the kids. [44] To entertain Gertrude and her teenage accomplices, Likens was forced at one point to strip naked in the family living room and masturbate with a glass Pepsi-Cola bottle in their presence,[6][45] with Gertrude stating to all present that this act of humiliation was for Sylvia to "prove to Jenny what kind of a girl you are. [46] Gertrude further claimed that Likens was a bad influence on both her own children and her sister. She needed money and suggested toSylvias father that Sylvia and her sister Jennie move in provided he pay $20 a week. [84], That afternoon, several of Likens' other tormentors gathered in the basement. At the age of 16, she dropped out of school five years later to marry deputy John Baniszewski, who was 18 at the time and have six children together. In the weeks prior to locking Likens in the family basement, Gertrude had increasingly abused and tormented Likens. Copyright 2023 Indianapolis Monthly, All Rights Reserved. I can tell it! Stephanie heard her mother, the woman who had been forced downstairs, tell Richard that the police were the ones to call. She changed her name to Paula Pace and wasnt heard from again until 2012, when she was discovered living in the small Iowa hamlet of Marshalltown and working for the school system in the neighboring town of Conrad. Stephanie Fay Baniszewski. November 2, 2022 at 11:01 PM Post a Comment Subscribe to: Total Pageviews Global Criminologist Search Baniszewski was born as Gertrude Nadine van Fossan, the third of Hugh and Mollie van Fossan's six children. She denied any responsibility for Likens' prolonged abuse, torment, and ultimate death, claiming her children, and other children within her neighborhood must have committed the acts within her home, which she described as being "such a madhouse". Stephanie Baniszewski assumed a new name and became a school teacher. Lhistoire vraie de Gertrude Baniszewski qui, dans les annes 60, squestra dans sa cave une adolescente du nom de Sylvia Likens An American Crime Film Complet en Franais. Let them through, for they are the welcome ones! He changed his name to John Blake and drifted aimlessly before experiencing a religious epiphany that, he said, helped him see the error of his ways. Paula, now 64, was released from prison in 1972. Now they're gone? [27], By mid-August, Gertrude Baniszewski had begun to focus her abuse almost exclusively upon Sylvia, with her primary motivation likely being jealousy of the girl's youth, appearance, respectability, and potential. The Hobbs boy, Likens regularly sang along to pop records with Stephanie,[22] and she willingly participated in housework at the Baniszewski residence. 16 Year old Girl Brutally Killed by Care Taker. We [he and Gertrude] got to talking, and she said she would take care of the children and treat them like her own, he recalled at the trial. Baniszewski saw her father die of a sudden heart attack in 1940. "[145], Referring to the sentimental closing arguments made by various defense counsels regarding reasoning and motivation for their clients' actions, their attempts to divert responsibility to other defendants or participants, and their clients' collective failure to either help Likens or to notify authorities, New added: "All we hear is whining appeal, anything but blame where the blame belongs." Both were sentenced to life in prison in Indianapolis. [178] Shortly after the January 2007 premiere of the crime drama film An American Crime, Hubbard was fired from his job. Memorial ID. Paula Baniszewski, who was in fact pregnant at the time, became enraged and knocked Likens onto the floor. Perhaps because she was crippled by polio, Jenny didnt suffer nearly as much abuse as her sister Sylvia did. But when the girls father failed to pay as promised, Gertrude Baniszewski paddled the girls. By the time of Gertrude's ultimate parole in 1985, she had changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan (a combination of her middle name and maiden name), and described herself as a devout Christian. Marie later married. The memorial itself is inscribed with these words: "This memorial is in memory of a young child who died a tragic death. [51], The Likens siblings were fearful of notifying either family members or adults at their school of the increasing incidents of abuse and neglect they were enduring, as both were afraid that doing so would only worsen their situation. The prosecution consisted of Leroy K. New and Marjorie Wessner, who announced their intention to seek the death penalty for all five defendants on April 16. [33], On October 22, John Baniszewski Jr. tormented Likens by offering to allow her to eat a bowl of soup with her fingers and then quickly taking away the bowl when Likensby this stage suffering from extreme malnourishmentattempted to eat the food. Gertrude asked Sylvia whether she knew what a tattoo was she said: 'You branded my children so now I'm going to brand you.' She married John Stephan Baniszewski at 16 years old. [24], Fourteen years before her own death, Jenny Likens Wade had viewed Gertrude Baniszewski's obituary in a newspaper; she clipped the section from the newspaper, then mailed it to her mother with an accompanying note reading: "Some good news. Neither sister mentioned the actual address where they resided and, initially, Dianna believed her sisters must have been exaggerating their claims regarding the scope of their mistreatment. She testified during the trial, becoming the sole member of the Baniszewski family to cry on the stand during questioning. Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 October 26, 1965) was an American teenager who was tortured and murdered by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, many of Baniszewski's children, and several of their neighborhood friends. According to Jenny Likens' later trial testimony, Sylvia did not spread any rumors of this nature. When he was 18, he married Gertrude Baniszewsk in 1945 and had four children with her. Stephanie Baniszewski. Managed [53], In July and August, both Lester and Elizabeth Likens would occasionally return to Indianapolis to visit their daughters, whenever their travel schedule afforded them the opportunity. In a masterpiece of understatement, he once told a reporter that My mom was a very selfish, self-centered woman.. Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents. That night, Sylvia whispered to Jenny to secretly give her a glass of water before falling asleep.[67]. John Jr. admitted to having "spanked" Sylvia on one occasion, adding that "most of the time, I used my fists" to abuse her. [n 5], While at school, Stephanie was jokingly propositioned by a boy who told her that Likens had started this rumor about her. Jurors who expressed any opposition to the death penalty were excused from duty by Leroy New; any who either worked with children, expressed prejudice against an insanity defense, or repulsion regarding the actual horrific nature of Likens' death, were excused by defense counsels. visual effects producer. [21], By the morning of October 26, Likens was unable to either speak intelligibly or correctly coordinate the movement of her limbs. The second-oldest of the Baniszewski children, Stephanie was 15 at the time of the crime. WebBorn Gertrude Van Fossan, 1929, in Indianapolis, Indiana; died of lung cancer, 1990; m. John Baniszewski (div. [100] All were charged with causing injury to person and each was subsequently released into the custody of their parents under subpoena to appear as witnesses at the upcoming trial. "[79] In response, Gertrude forced the crackers into Likens' mouth before she and John Baniszewski beat herparticularly around the stomach. She was 17 at the time, and it was rumored that she and Sylvia disliked each other from the start. Exclusive Events + Special Offers. He died in June of that year in Shelbyville. Following her divorce, Baniszewski married a man named Edward Guthrie. You can't get married now. Gertrude forced the crackers into her mouth before repeatedly striking her face with a curtain rod until sections of the instrument were bent into right angles. "[54], On one occasion in September, the girls encountered their older sister, Dianna Shoemaker, at a local park. Learn more about merges. The details of her demise, revealed at the 1966 trial, defy belief. Paula was found guilty of second-degree murder and was released in 1972; Hobbs, Hubbard, and John were found guilty of manslaughter and served less than two years in the Indiana Reformatory before being granted parole on February 27, 1968. [4] Shortly thereafter, Baniszewski filed a paternity suit against Wright for financial support of their child, although Wright seldom contributed to the care of their son. In the years prior to her own death, Jenny Likens Wade had repeatedly emphasized that no blame should be attributed to either of her parents for placing her and Sylvia in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski as all her parents had done was to naively trust Gertrude's promise to care for the sisters until their return to Indiana with the traveling carnival. Visibly devastated, Sylvias mother gave only short responses on the witness stand at the trial. Sylvias father was a carnival worker who decided to leave his kids with a third party while he and his wife, Betty, were on the road. One of the reasons Dianna initially believed Sylvia and Jenny had been exaggerating the scale of abuse Sylvia in particular endured at the Baniszewski household was that their father had occasionally struck his five children with a belt as a form of discipline for misbehavior. "[46], Gertrude eventually forbade Likens from attending school after she confessed to having stolen a gym suit from the school due to Gertrude having refused to purchase the clothing for her. WebStephanie Baniszewski assumed a new name and became a school teacher. They dropped her into a tub of scalding water, then rubbed salt into her raw skin. Gertrude was found guilty of first-degree murder and served 20 years behind bars. Almost immediately after Lester and Elizabeth had left the Baniszewski household on their final visit, Gertrude turned to face Likens and stated: "What are you going to do now, Sylvia? The abuse she had two children, although she remained traumatized by abuse! 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[24], On May 25, Gertrude and Paula Baniszewski were formally sentenced to life imprisonment. Physical and mental torment such as this would occasionally pause when the Baniszewskis watched their favorite television shows. [111] This ruling further stated that the circumstances regarding the prejudicial atmosphere created during their initial trial, due to the extensive news media publicity surrounding the case, impeded any chance of either appellant receiving a fair trial. [17] She was also fond of music, particularly The Beatles, and was notably protective of her markedly more timid and insecure younger sister. When questioned by Leroy New as to the exhaustive interviews and assessments he had conducted with Gertrude, Schuster stated that she had been evasive and uncooperative. Schuster testified as to his belief that Gertrude was sane and fully in control of her actions, adding that she had been sane in October 1965, and remained sane to this date. Her whereabouts today are unknown. [136], In reference to the premeditated nature of Likens' death, Wessner pointed the jury's attention to the notes Gertrude had forced Likens to write on October 24, stating: "[Gertrude] knew on [October 24] she was going to hold these notes until she and the rest of the defendants had completed the murder of Sylvia." WebTrial. [107][174], Richard Hobbs, Coy Hubbard, and John Baniszewski Jr. all served less than two years in the Indiana Reformatory before being granted parole on February 27, 1968. She was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released on parole in 1985. [187], In June 2001, a six-foot-tall (1.8m) granite memorial was formally dedicated to Sylvia Likens' life and legacy in Willard Park, Washington Street, Indianapolis. She was quiet and reserved but she also made him nervous. [61] On one occasion, Gertrude held a knife aloft and challenged Likens to "fight me back", to which Likens replied she did not know how to fight. Death. He said his family did not approach the police. [95] The same day, Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs were also arrested and charged with the same offenses. Stephanie Baniszewski sister Shirley Baniszewski sister Marie Baniszewski sister James Baniszewski brother Edward Guthrie stepfather Dennis Lee Wright mother's ex-partner Dennis Lee Wright, Jr half brother Mary Jane Blake stepmother view all Paula Baniszewski's Timeline Genealogy Directory: A B C D E F G H I J K L M xxx xx 2007. [30], On another occasion, in late August, Likens was subjected to humiliation when she claimed to have a boyfriend in Long Beach, whom she had met in the spring of 1965 when her family lived in California. [57] Upon their second visit to the Baniszewski household, both observed Likens to appear extremely meek and somewhat "zombified" in nature. The charge was false but it prompted Stephanies boyfriend, Coy Hubbard, to physically attack Likens. John Stephan Baniszewski (Blake) Birth. [81] She attempted to flee to the front door; however, due to her extensive injuries and general weakness, Gertrude caught her before she could escape the property. Sylvia Likens' death at the Baniszewski house has been made into a television drama, "An American Crime," and was the premise of "The Girl Next Door," by Jack Ketchum. In 1971, the Indiana Supreme Court overturned the convictions, saying jurors had been prejudiced by publicity and that the trials should have been held separately. [168] Paula married and had two children. They served 18 months and were released on parole in 1967. She also added that she had been too preoccupied with her own ill health and depression to control her children. Convicted of manslaughter, he served a short sentence and died of cancer in 1972 at age 21. He was of Polish descent. Lepper also testified to having witnessed Stephanie strike Likens "real hard" after her mother had ordered her to remove her clothes in his presence. She had done some custodial work and was most recently working as a Caleca, Linda Graham: "Baniszewski Ruling Won't Affect Past Parole Cases, Judge Says". In this case, they had an adult supervising what they were doing. Titre original: An American Crime [47] For this act of theft, Gertrude whipped Likens with a three-inch-wide (7.6cm) police belt. IE 11 is not supported. [165] She primarily blamed her actions upon the medication she had been prescribed to treat her asthma. A neighborhood kid and Stephanie Baniszewskis boyfriend, Hubbard was a full participant in Sylvias torture. Since then, she has once more slipped off the grid. He served as the Director of Men s Ministry and was actively involved in various church activities. All were tried together before Judge Rabb at Indianapolis' City-County Building. Stephanie Baniszewski became a schoolteacher. Pedimos perdn de antemano. [16], Although exuberant, Likens always kept her mouth closed when smiling due to a missing front tooth, which she had lost while roughhousing with one of her brothers during a childhood game. The house itself was demolished on April 23, 2009. Paula was found guilty of second-degree murder. [110], The trial of Gertrude Baniszewski, her children Paula and John, Richard Hobbs and Coy Hubbard began on April 18, 1966. How sadistic can a person get? The same day, 13-year-old Judy Duke also testified, admitting to having witnessed Likens once endure salt being rubbed into sores upon her legs until she screamed. Although Stephanie had initially believed the rumors initiated by Paula that Likens had spread distasteful rumors relating to herself and her older sister, as the abuse of Likens escalated, she would regularly rally to Likens' defenseoccasionally removing objects from her mother or Paula's hands with which they had been striking the girl. The macabre task was begun by Gertrude, but when she became too fatigued to finish, Hobbs stepped in. [37][38] Gertrude repeatedly falsely accused Likens of promiscuity and of engaging in prostitution, ranting about the filthiness of prostitution and women in general. Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski (ne Van Fossan; September 19, 1928 June 16, 1990)[1] was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Hugh Marcus Van Fossan Sr. and Molly Myrtle (ne Oakley), both of whom were originally from Illinois and were of American and Dutch descent. John Baniszewski and two other boys ages 16 and 15 were convicted of manslaughter. Because he was only 8 at the time, James was not arrested nor called to testify, although some reports suggested he played a role in the crime. In what Hobbs would later insist were "short, light" etchings, he continued to brand the text into Likens' abdomen as she clenched her teeth and moaned. Weeks of escalating horror followed. [163], Following her 1985 release from prison, Gertrude Baniszewski relocated to Iowa. Titre original: An American Crime Popularit: 13.041 Dure: 97 Minutes Slogan: She was closer in age to Sylvia than any of the other children in that large dysfunctional brood. In response, Paula verbally threatened her to either stand up or she would inflict a long jump upon her. [This was] something no one did for young Sylvia. [24] The wounds themselves varied in location, nature, severity, and the stage of healing. Todas las semanas tendris un episodio con dos nuevos crmenes. She was closer in age to Sylvia than any of the other children in that large dysfunctional brood. Stephanie Baniszewski at the time of Sylvia's murder trial in 1966. Somehow, the conversation got around to tattooing. She made dinner every night," he said. Gertrude Baniszewski; her oldest daughter, Paula; her son, John; and two neighborhood youths, Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs, were all tried and convicted in May 1966 of neglecting, torturing, and murdering Likens. WebThe Indiana Torture Slaying: Sylvia Likens' Ordeal and Death Paperback January 1, 1966 by John Dean (Author) 20 ratings See all formats and editions Paperback $75.00 1 Used from $75.00 There is a newer edition of this item: The Indiana Torture Slaying: Sylvia Likens' Ordeal and Death $125.97 (20) In stock. She was fired in 2012 when the school discovered her true identity. [55][n 7], Several weeks prior to this, Sylvia and Jenny had encountered Dianna in the same park, while in the company of 11-year-old Marie Baniszewski, and Sylvia had been given a sandwich to eat when she mentioned to her sister that she was hungry. [39], Coy Hubbard and several of his classmates frequently visited the Baniszewski residence to both physically and verbally torment Likens, often collaborating with Baniszewski's children and Gertrude herself. Although discussions were held about the possibility of purchasing and rehabilitating the house and converting the property into a women's shelter, the necessary funds to complete this project were never raised. This was likely because both were in the presence of Gertrude and her children. His greatest joy was his Grandchildren. Mr. Blake was an honorable man, a friend to many, a former police officer, and a credit to his community. Likens jerkingly moved her arms in an apparent attempt to point at the faces of the tormentors she could recognize, making statements such as, "You're Ricky" and "You're Gertie" before Gertrude tersely shouted, "Shut up! [123], On May 10, a Baptist Minister named Roy Julian testified to having known a teenage girl was being abused in the Baniszewski household, although he had failed to report this information to authorities as, having been informed by Gertrude that Likens had "made advances to men for money," he had believed the girl was being punished for soliciting. Stephanie Baniszewski was released from custody after her attorneys successfully argued that the state had insufficient evidence to support any murder charges against her. Paulaherself three months pregnant, and also jealous of Likens' physical appearancethen participated in attacking Likens; knocking her off her chair and onto the kitchen floor, shouting, "You ain't fit to sit in a chair! His contributions included using her as a practice dummy for judo flips and punches and shoving her down the basement stairs. [189], On October 26, 2015, numerous Indianapolis citizens, including Likens' older sister, Dianna Bedwell, gathered in Lebanon, Indiana to honor Sylvia Likens, to reflect upon her life upon the fiftieth anniversary of her death, and to honor all children who lose their lives to child abuse. She added that Likens had earlier run away from her home with several teenage boys before returning to her house earlier that afternoon, bare-breasted and clutching the note. [29] On one occasion, Likens was accused of stealing candy she had actually purchased. Not that there was much to see, considering the only portions of the Baniszewski abode he ever entered were the living room and, once, the kitchen. [186], The house at 3850 East New York Street in which Likens had been tortured and murdered stood vacant for many years after her death and the arrest of her tormentors. The school made no further investigations concerning Likens' welfare. He said he received a Facebook message a month ago, detailing Paula's previous life. His only crime was that he didnt vet the Baniszewski home more thoroughly before leaving two of his daughters in Gertrudes custody. She moved to Iowa, changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan, and died of lung cancer on June 16, 1990. He was the son of Gertrudes lover, Dennis Lee Wright Sr., who abandoned the family shortly after his namesakes birth. [2] This marriage lasted just three months before the couple divorced. She never took responsibility for her crimes, claiming she couldnt remember her actions. The film garnered an 8.4/10 rating on IMDb. Although the 10-year-old heated a needle that was used to burn the victim, she was never charged with any crime. Baniszewski accused her of stealing candy she had bought from a grocery store and humiliated her when she admitted that she had once had a boyfriend. [98], Lacking any remorse, Paula signed a statement admitting to having repeatedly beaten Likens about the backside with her mother's police belt, once breaking her wrist on Likens' jaw, and inflicting other acts of brutality, including pushing her down the stairs into the basement "two or three times," and inflicting a black eye. The members of two anti-crime groups also traveled to Indiana to oppose Baniszewski's potential parole, and to publicly support the Likens family. Shortly thereafter, Baniszewski remarried her first husband, with whom she had two more children. From the beginning, she had opportunities to tell neighbors what was going on, but she didnt because she feared she would make things worse. [6] Gertrude Baniszewski, however, was again convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. [24], Deputy Prosecutor Marjorie Wessner delivered the state's closing argument before the jury on behalf of the prosecution. In Eva Yes 2014 crime short film, Oak Hill Silence she acted the role of Stephanie Baniszewski. Marie also testified as to her mother's indifference to Likens' evident distress in relation to the physical and mental abuse she had increasingly suffered, with her mother's full knowledge, stating that on one occasion, Gertrude had sat upon a chair and crocheted as she watched a neighborhood girl named Anna Siscoe attack Likens. Stephanie Baniszewski, 15 years old, had never looked more serious. "[87], When Stephanie realized that Likens was not breathing, she attempted to apply mouth-to-mouth resuscitation as Gertrude repeatedly shouted to the children in the house that Likens was faking her death. The couple had two children, although she remained traumatized by the abuse she had been forced to watch her sister endure. WebHere is Gertrude's Baniszweski daughter Stephanie. This page was last edited on 13 March 2023, at 06:54. Sylvia's tragic murder and abuse must always be remembered". Several days later, Gertrude returned to the subject with Likens, telling her, "You're certainly getting big in the stomach, Sylvia. [181] He died of diabetes in the Lancaster General Hospital on May 19, 2005, at the age of 52. As Likens had not attended school for several days, a school nurse visited East New York Street to investigate these claims. Lester apparently believed her, because during several subsequent trips to the housethe last on October 5, just weeks before his daughters deathhe noticed nothing out of order. --Poem inscribed upon the granite memorial formally dedicated to Sylvia Likens' life and legacy in Willard Park, Indianapolis. You'll have to live with your conscience the rest of your life if you send an insane woman to the electric chair. [173] Dennis Lee Wright Jr. was later adopted. She became evasive when one officer stated the likely reasons Likens had become incontinent were her mental distress and injury to her kidneys. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. The Dish
WebAll Pictures results for Stephanie baniszewski. Convicted of manslaughter, he became the Indiana State Reformatorys youngest inmate, serving just two years before being released. WebRecord information. Indeed, one of the enduring mysteries of the case is why neither she nor Sylvia sought help before things escalated. After her 1972 parole, Paula Baniszewski assumed a new identity. She took care of the kids. [44] To entertain Gertrude and her teenage accomplices, Likens was forced at one point to strip naked in the family living room and masturbate with a glass Pepsi-Cola bottle in their presence,[6][45] with Gertrude stating to all present that this act of humiliation was for Sylvia to "prove to Jenny what kind of a girl you are. [46] Gertrude further claimed that Likens was a bad influence on both her own children and her sister. She needed money and suggested toSylvias father that Sylvia and her sister Jennie move in provided he pay $20 a week. [84], That afternoon, several of Likens' other tormentors gathered in the basement. At the age of 16, she dropped out of school five years later to marry deputy John Baniszewski, who was 18 at the time and have six children together. In the weeks prior to locking Likens in the family basement, Gertrude had increasingly abused and tormented Likens. Copyright 2023 Indianapolis Monthly, All Rights Reserved. I can tell it! Stephanie heard her mother, the woman who had been forced downstairs, tell Richard that the police were the ones to call. She changed her name to Paula Pace and wasnt heard from again until 2012, when she was discovered living in the small Iowa hamlet of Marshalltown and working for the school system in the neighboring town of Conrad. Stephanie Fay Baniszewski. November 2, 2022 at 11:01 PM Post a Comment Subscribe to: Total Pageviews Global Criminologist Search Baniszewski was born as Gertrude Nadine van Fossan, the third of Hugh and Mollie van Fossan's six children. She denied any responsibility for Likens' prolonged abuse, torment, and ultimate death, claiming her children, and other children within her neighborhood must have committed the acts within her home, which she described as being "such a madhouse". Stephanie Baniszewski assumed a new name and became a school teacher. Lhistoire vraie de Gertrude Baniszewski qui, dans les annes 60, squestra dans sa cave une adolescente du nom de Sylvia Likens An American Crime Film Complet en Franais. Let them through, for they are the welcome ones! He changed his name to John Blake and drifted aimlessly before experiencing a religious epiphany that, he said, helped him see the error of his ways. Paula, now 64, was released from prison in 1972. Now they're gone? [27], By mid-August, Gertrude Baniszewski had begun to focus her abuse almost exclusively upon Sylvia, with her primary motivation likely being jealousy of the girl's youth, appearance, respectability, and potential. The Hobbs boy, Likens regularly sang along to pop records with Stephanie,[22] and she willingly participated in housework at the Baniszewski residence. 16 Year old Girl Brutally Killed by Care Taker. We [he and Gertrude] got to talking, and she said she would take care of the children and treat them like her own, he recalled at the trial. Baniszewski saw her father die of a sudden heart attack in 1940. "[145], Referring to the sentimental closing arguments made by various defense counsels regarding reasoning and motivation for their clients' actions, their attempts to divert responsibility to other defendants or participants, and their clients' collective failure to either help Likens or to notify authorities, New added: "All we hear is whining appeal, anything but blame where the blame belongs." Both were sentenced to life in prison in Indianapolis. [178] Shortly after the January 2007 premiere of the crime drama film An American Crime, Hubbard was fired from his job. Memorial ID. Paula Baniszewski, who was in fact pregnant at the time, became enraged and knocked Likens onto the floor. Perhaps because she was crippled by polio, Jenny didnt suffer nearly as much abuse as her sister Sylvia did. But when the girls father failed to pay as promised, Gertrude Baniszewski paddled the girls. By the time of Gertrude's ultimate parole in 1985, she had changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan (a combination of her middle name and maiden name), and described herself as a devout Christian. Marie later married. The memorial itself is inscribed with these words: "This memorial is in memory of a young child who died a tragic death. [51], The Likens siblings were fearful of notifying either family members or adults at their school of the increasing incidents of abuse and neglect they were enduring, as both were afraid that doing so would only worsen their situation. The prosecution consisted of Leroy K. New and Marjorie Wessner, who announced their intention to seek the death penalty for all five defendants on April 16. [33], On October 22, John Baniszewski Jr. tormented Likens by offering to allow her to eat a bowl of soup with her fingers and then quickly taking away the bowl when Likensby this stage suffering from extreme malnourishmentattempted to eat the food. Gertrude asked Sylvia whether she knew what a tattoo was she said: 'You branded my children so now I'm going to brand you.' She married John Stephan Baniszewski at 16 years old. [24], Fourteen years before her own death, Jenny Likens Wade had viewed Gertrude Baniszewski's obituary in a newspaper; she clipped the section from the newspaper, then mailed it to her mother with an accompanying note reading: "Some good news. Neither sister mentioned the actual address where they resided and, initially, Dianna believed her sisters must have been exaggerating their claims regarding the scope of their mistreatment. She testified during the trial, becoming the sole member of the Baniszewski family to cry on the stand during questioning. Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 October 26, 1965) was an American teenager who was tortured and murdered by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, many of Baniszewski's children, and several of their neighborhood friends. According to Jenny Likens' later trial testimony, Sylvia did not spread any rumors of this nature. When he was 18, he married Gertrude Baniszewsk in 1945 and had four children with her. Stephanie Baniszewski. Managed [53], In July and August, both Lester and Elizabeth Likens would occasionally return to Indianapolis to visit their daughters, whenever their travel schedule afforded them the opportunity. In a masterpiece of understatement, he once told a reporter that My mom was a very selfish, self-centered woman.. Public Member Photos & Scanned Documents. That night, Sylvia whispered to Jenny to secretly give her a glass of water before falling asleep.[67]. John Jr. admitted to having "spanked" Sylvia on one occasion, adding that "most of the time, I used my fists" to abuse her. [n 5], While at school, Stephanie was jokingly propositioned by a boy who told her that Likens had started this rumor about her. Jurors who expressed any opposition to the death penalty were excused from duty by Leroy New; any who either worked with children, expressed prejudice against an insanity defense, or repulsion regarding the actual horrific nature of Likens' death, were excused by defense counsels. visual effects producer. [21], By the morning of October 26, Likens was unable to either speak intelligibly or correctly coordinate the movement of her limbs. The second-oldest of the Baniszewski children, Stephanie was 15 at the time of the crime. WebBorn Gertrude Van Fossan, 1929, in Indianapolis, Indiana; died of lung cancer, 1990; m. John Baniszewski (div. [100] All were charged with causing injury to person and each was subsequently released into the custody of their parents under subpoena to appear as witnesses at the upcoming trial. "[79] In response, Gertrude forced the crackers into Likens' mouth before she and John Baniszewski beat herparticularly around the stomach. She was 17 at the time, and it was rumored that she and Sylvia disliked each other from the start. Exclusive Events + Special Offers. He died in June of that year in Shelbyville. Following her divorce, Baniszewski married a man named Edward Guthrie. You can't get married now. Gertrude forced the crackers into her mouth before repeatedly striking her face with a curtain rod until sections of the instrument were bent into right angles. "[54], On one occasion in September, the girls encountered their older sister, Dianna Shoemaker, at a local park. Learn more about merges. The details of her demise, revealed at the 1966 trial, defy belief. Paula was found guilty of second-degree murder and was released in 1972; Hobbs, Hubbard, and John were found guilty of manslaughter and served less than two years in the Indiana Reformatory before being granted parole on February 27, 1968. [4] Shortly thereafter, Baniszewski filed a paternity suit against Wright for financial support of their child, although Wright seldom contributed to the care of their son. In the years prior to her own death, Jenny Likens Wade had repeatedly emphasized that no blame should be attributed to either of her parents for placing her and Sylvia in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski as all her parents had done was to naively trust Gertrude's promise to care for the sisters until their return to Indiana with the traveling carnival. Visibly devastated, Sylvias mother gave only short responses on the witness stand at the trial. Sylvias father was a carnival worker who decided to leave his kids with a third party while he and his wife, Betty, were on the road. One of the reasons Dianna initially believed Sylvia and Jenny had been exaggerating the scale of abuse Sylvia in particular endured at the Baniszewski household was that their father had occasionally struck his five children with a belt as a form of discipline for misbehavior. "[46], Gertrude eventually forbade Likens from attending school after she confessed to having stolen a gym suit from the school due to Gertrude having refused to purchase the clothing for her. WebStephanie Baniszewski assumed a new name and became a school teacher. They dropped her into a tub of scalding water, then rubbed salt into her raw skin. Gertrude was found guilty of first-degree murder and served 20 years behind bars. Almost immediately after Lester and Elizabeth had left the Baniszewski household on their final visit, Gertrude turned to face Likens and stated: "What are you going to do now, Sylvia? The abuse she had two children, although she remained traumatized by abuse! 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Several of Likens ' life and legacy in Willard Park, Indianapolis glass of water before falling asleep. 67. Falling asleep. [ 67 ] church activities City-County Building insane woman to the electric chair her. Had increasingly abused and tormented Likens wounds themselves varied in location, nature,,! Traumatized by the abuse she had been too preoccupied with her moved to Iowa and reserved but she also him! A long jump upon her he served a short sentence and died of stephanie baniszewski 1972... Oppose Baniszewski 's potential parole, and to publicly support the Likens family has! Baniszewski relocated to Iowa release from prison in Indianapolis, Indiana ; died of lung cancer on June,...