How did Sylvia Likens die? What drove her to make a desperate escape attempt? How did a young girl endure such unimaginable cruelty for so long?
In Torture Mom, Ryan Green, examines the shocking case of Sylvia Likens. This true crime account details the brutal abuse and tragic death of a young girl in Indiana. Green discusses the perpetrators, the community’s inaction, and the events leading to this heinous crime.
Read more to learn about Sylvia’s last days and tragic death.
The Death of Sylvia Likens
How did Sylvia Likens die? Sylvia’s tragic death was marked by a horrific series of abuse, neglect, and deception—and it sent shockwaves throughout the nation. It came to be known as the most heinous crime ever committed against an individual in Indiana’s history.
The community’s inaction is particularly disturbing, especially given the unsettling sounds of laughter that suggested the presence of onlookers during incidents of child abuse. Throughout one night, Sylvia desperately pounded on the wall and floor with an old spade, hoping to draw attention and get help. The commotion woke several neighbors who, although they’d grown unsettlingly accustomed to strange noises from the Baniszewski home (Sylvia’s foster home), didn’t think it was worth calling the police.
When Sylvia begged for medical help, Gertrude Baniszewski callously dismissed her pleas, claiming she couldn’t afford the expenses.
As Gertrude’s mental state seemed to deteriorate, she resorted to increasingly cruel methods. She forced Sylvia to write a letter falsely portraying herself as a prostitute who’d been fatally injured after an encounter with several boys. This vicious plot was designed to create a narrative suggesting Sylvia had planned to run away. Gertrude’s ultimate goal was to abandon her at a dump, where she’d die from exposure. What’s more, Gertrude schemed to use a public phone to mislead the police by painting Sylvia in a negative light.
In a heart-wrenching turn of events, Sylvia discovered Gertrude’s evil plan. She made a desperate attempt to escape but was violently seized in the hallway, dragged back, and subjected to more brutal attacks. While the book doesn’t provide specifics about when Sylvia became aware of her situation and tried to flee, or the events leading to her death, her attempted escape after overhearing Gertrude’s scheme marks a tragically unsuccessful attempt to survive the unimaginable cruelty she endured.
