Gertrude Baniszewski was convicted of the murder of Sylvia Likens and died of lung cancer in 1990.
Gertrude Baniszewski, also known as Gertrude Wright and The Torture Mother, was an Indianapolis woman who gained infamy for the brutal torture and murder of Sylvia Likens, a teenage girl she had taken into her home. The case, which occurred in 1965, is one of the most notorious instances of child abuse and murder in American history.
Sylvia Likens and her sister Jenny were left in the care of Baniszewski by their parents, who were carnival workers. Over a period of three months, Sylvia was subjected to escalating levels of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of Gertrude, Gertrude’s children, and other neighborhood children. The abuse culminated in Sylvia’s death on October 26, 1965, from a combination of malnutrition, prolonged torture, and a brain hemorrhage.
Gertrude Baniszewski was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. During her trial, the extent of the abuse was revealed, shocking the public and the jury. She was convicted of first-degree murder in 1966 and sentenced to life in prison. However, she was granted a new trial on appeal in 1971 and was subsequently convicted of voluntary manslaughter, receiving a reduced sentence of 18 years.
Baniszewski was paroled in 1985 after serving 20 years, a decision that was met with a great deal of controversy. She changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan and lived in relative obscurity until her death from lung cancer on June 16, 1990, at the age of 60. The legacy of the case continues to be a point of discussion in the realms of criminal justice and child protection.