The heartbreaking example of the horrific abuse and neglect that can take place behind closed doors is shown by the Sylvia Baker murder case.
Her caretaker Gertrude Baniszewski, Baniszewski’s kids, and local acquaintances viciously tortured and killed Sylvia Baker on October 26, 1965, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
According to the postmortem report, Sylvia had 150 wounds total on her body, including burns, scald marks, and skin erosion.
When Sylvia and Jenny were brought to live with Gertrude Baniszewski, who promised to look after them in exchange for $20 a week from their parents, the abuse began. Gertrude began striking the girls as a way of venting her rage when the payments ceased.
Sylvia was the one who suffered the majority of Gertrude’s mistreatment during August 1965, including beatings, malnutrition, and humiliation.
Among the many forms of abuse Sylvia experienced were neglect, denigration, sexual humiliation, laceration, scorching, and dehydration.
She was only 16 years old, yet the severe wounds she received resulted in her death. Leroy New, a deputy prosecutor, referred to it as “the most devilish case to ever come before a court or jury,” and William C. Erbecker, Gertrude’s defence lawyer, characterised the atrocities Sylvia endured before she passed away “degradation that you wouldn’t commit on a dog.”
Who is Sylvia Marie?
Lester Cecil Likens and his wife, Elizabeth “Betty” Frances, who worked in the funfair business, had Sylvia Marie Likens. Sylvia had twin siblings and was the third of five children.
Jenny, her younger sister, needed a steel brace due to having polio. Despite this, Sylvia always felt responsible for her sister and has been teaching her to skate at a local rink since she was a little child.
Sylvia developed a closed smile as a youngster after losing one of her front teeth. She was still renowned for being charming and amiable, though. She was a major fan of The Beatles and had long, wavy hair.
Due to her family’s financial difficulties, Sylvia took up odd tasks for relatives, neighbours, and acquaintances in order to supplement her income.
She even handed her mother a percentage of her profits. Despite her difficulties, Sylvia was renowned for her generosity and desire to lend a hand.
The brutal killing
Sylvia died on October 26, 1965, after suffering weeks of torture and mistreatment. Sylvia made repeated futile efforts to escape on October 25 before she passed away, as a result of which she was hit with a curtain rod.
She made an effort to alert the neighbours to her predicament, but no one came to her aid. Afterwards, Gertrude Baniszewski tried to feed Sylvia, but she wouldn’t properly sip the milk, so Gertrude became frustrated and flung Sylvia to the ground.
Sylvia was returned to the basement, where she was confined and died later that afternoon after suffering torture and brutality at the hands of her captors.
Gertrude Baniszewski’s daughter Stephanie attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation after Sylvia passed away, and Richard Hobbs, a little boy who had previously visited the Baniszewski residence, discovered Sylvia’s body.
Gertrude claimed Sylvia was pretending to be dead, although it was obvious that Sylvia had died from her numerous wounds.
What did the autopsy photo reveal?
Once Sylvia passed away, an autopsy was performed, and the findings were stunning. Her body was covered in over 150 different wounds, burns, severe bruises, and major muscle and nerve damage.
Her vaginal canal was almost closed, and her fingernails were entirely broken backward.
Her cheeks, breasts, neck, and right knee were mostly skin-free, as were her neck and right shoulder. Sylvia tore some of her lips from her face in her final moments by eating through them.
The official cause of Sylvia’s death, according to the autopsy report, was a subdural hematoma brought on by a significant blow to her right temple.
Her death was attributed to poor malnutrition as well as the shock she had just gone through. Up to eight hours had gone before her body was discovered.
Funeral ceremony of Sylvia
Sylvia’s funeral service was performed at the Russell & Hitch Funeral Home in Lebanon on October 29, 1965. Her grey coffin, which was decorated with a portrait of her taken prior to July 1965, was open throughout the ceremony, which was attended by more than 100 mourners.
After the funeral service, Sylvia’s body was transported in a hearse to the Oak Hill Cemetery for interment.
This hearse was one of the 14 vehicles that escorted her remains to the cemetery. “Our Precious Daughter” is written on her tombstone headstone.
Who killed Sylvia?
The murder of Sylvia was connected to Gertrude Baniszewski, her eldest daughter Paula, her son John, and two neighbourhood kids named Coy Hubbard and Richard Hobbs.
Baniszewski was handed a life sentence after being found guilty of first-degree murder but was released on parole in 1985.
In 1972, Paula received parole after being adjudicated guilty of second-degree murder. Hobbs, Hubbard, and John spent less than two years in the Indiana Reformatory after being convicted guilty of homicide before being released on parole on February 27, 1968.
The torture and murder of Sylvia are regarded as the worst crimes ever committed in Indiana. It was dubbed the “most cruel” case by a 35-year Indianapolis Police Department veteran investigator.
Her experience serves as a reminder of the significance of identifying and putting an end to neglect and abuse, as well as the necessity for fairness and compassion for those who have been harmed.
Although Sylvia Baker’s killers were eventually brought to justice, the effects of her terrible killing are still felt today.
Being a binge-watcher himself, finding Content to write about comes naturally to Divesh. From Anime to Trending Netflix Series and Celebrity News, he covers every detail and always find the right sources for his research.
