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The Torture Chamber On East New York Street: Who Killed Sylvia Likens And The Chilling Fate Of Her Perpetrators Today

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The horrific 1965 torture and murder of Sylvia Likens remains one of the most disturbing true crime cases in American history, an event so brutal it was dubbed "the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana." The crime was not a quick act of violence but a prolonged, systematic campaign of abuse orchestrated by a single woman, Gertrude Baniszewski, and carried out with the active participation of her children and neighborhood youths. The case’s enduring shock value stems from the sheer cruelty inflicted upon the 16-year-old victim, making the question of "who killed Sylvia Likens"—and the subsequent fate of her killers—a point of intense, morbid curiosity even today, over 60 years later.

As of December 2025, the legal and personal aftermath of the case continues to resonate, primarily through the chilling details revealed during the *Indianapolis trial* and the subsequent media adaptations, including the novel *The Girl Next Door* and the film *An American Crime*. The victim's sister, Jenny Likens, was the sole surviving witness to the atrocities, and her testimony was instrumental in ensuring justice was served against the main perpetrators who turned the house at 3850 East New York Street into a veritable torture chamber.

The Victims and The Killers: A Complete Biography and Profile

The tragedy of Sylvia Likens involved a core group of individuals, each playing a distinct role in the crime and facing different consequences. The following profiles detail the lives of the victim, the main perpetrator, and the key co-conspirators.

Victim Profile: Sylvia Marie Likens

  • Born: January 3, 1949
  • Died: October 26, 1965 (Age 16)
  • Cause of Death: Massive brain swelling, shock, and subdural hematoma due to prolonged and severe physical abuse.
  • Background: Sylvia and her sister, Jenny Likens (also known as Dianna), were left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski by their parents, Lester and Betty Likens, who were traveling for work with a carnival. The weekly payment of $20 for their care quickly became the catalyst for the abuse when the payments were delayed.

Main Perpetrator Profile: Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski (The Torture Mother)

  • Born: September 19, 1929
  • Died: June 16, 1990 (Age 60)
  • Conviction: First-Degree Murder (1966)
  • Sentence: Life Imprisonment
  • Fate: Her conviction was overturned in 1970, but she was re-convicted of first-degree murder in a retrial. She was paroled in 1985 after serving 20 years. She changed her name to Nadine van Fossan but died five years later from lung cancer.

Key Co-Conspirators and Their Roles

Name Role in Crime Conviction Sentence & Fate
Paula Baniszewski Gertrude’s 17-year-old daughter. A major participant in the physical and psychological torture. Second-Degree Murder (later reduced to Manslaughter) Sentenced to life. Paroled in 1972. Changed her name to Paula Pace and worked as a teacher’s aide in Iowa until her past was exposed, leading to her dismissal. Her current status is private.
John Baniszewski Jr. Gertrude’s 13-year-old son. He participated in the abuse and was a witness to the final acts of violence. Manslaughter Sentenced to 2–21 years. Paroled in 1974. He has maintained a private life since his release.
Richard "Ricky" Hobbs A 15-year-old neighborhood boy who was frequently at the house and participated in the torture. Manslaughter Sentenced to 2–21 years. Paroled in 1968. He reportedly died in 1998.
Coy Hubbard A 15-year-old neighborhood boy. He was also an active participant in the abuse. Manslaughter Sentenced to 2–21 years. Paroled in 1971. He reportedly died in 2007.

The Unspeakable Atrocities: How Sylvia Likens Died

The torture of Sylvia Likens began shortly after she and her sister Jenny were left at the Baniszewski home in the summer of 1965. Gertrude Baniszewski, a divorced mother of seven, quickly became enraged over the delayed $20 payment from the Likens' parents. This financial stress, combined with Gertrude’s own mental instability and history of abuse, spiraled into a campaign of terror against Sylvia.

The abuse was relentless and systematic. Initially, it involved verbal degradation and starvation, often forcing Sylvia to eat her own waste. It quickly escalated to severe physical violence, including beatings with paddles and belts, and burning her skin with cigarettes. The most infamous act of cruelty was the use of a hot needle to carve the words "I am a prostitute and proud of it" into Sylvia's abdomen, an act performed by Gertrude with the assistance of her daughter Paula and the neighborhood boys.

The entire household, including Gertrude’s children—Paula, Stephanie, Marie, Shirley, and John Jr.—were either active participants in the torture or forced to watch and participate out of fear of Gertrude. This group dynamic created a perverse, self-reinforcing environment where the abuse of Sylvia became normalized, a chilling example of the *bystander effect* and groupthink in a confined, abusive setting.

On the morning of October 26, 1965, Sylvia Likens succumbed to her injuries. The official cause of death was massive brain swelling, shock, and a subdural hematoma, a direct result of the months of sustained abuse. It was John Baniszewski Jr. who finally alerted the police, claiming Sylvia had run away and returned injured. However, the police immediately recognized the severity of the situation upon entering the house.

The Shocking Trial and The Aftermath of Justice

The trial, held in the Marion County Criminal Court in 1966, captivated the nation. The Marion County prosecutor, Leroy New, famously described the crime as the worst in the state's history. The key witness was Sylvia’s sister, Jenny Likens, whose detailed and courageous testimony was crucial. Despite being partially paralyzed from polio, Jenny was a formidable witness who described the horrors of the *East New York Street* house.

The Verdicts and The Legal Fallout

  • Gertrude Baniszewski: Convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life. She was the only defendant to receive a first-degree murder conviction. Her parole in 1985 sparked massive public outrage, but she died in 1990.
  • Paula Baniszewski: Originally convicted of second-degree murder, her conviction was overturned, and she was later convicted of manslaughter. She was paroled in 1972. Her post-prison life, where she changed her name to Paula Pace, came back into the public eye when she was fired from her school aide job after her identity was revealed.
  • John Baniszewski Jr., Richard Hobbs, and Coy Hubbard: All were convicted of manslaughter. Due to their status as minors at the time of the crime, they received indeterminate sentences of 2–21 years and were all paroled within a few years of their sentencing. Their relatively short sentences for such a heinous crime remain a contentious point in the case's history.

The case of Sylvia Likens led to significant public discussion about child protection laws and the failure of neighbors and local authorities to intervene, despite numerous reports and visible signs of distress. The cruelty of the crime ensured that the Baniszewski name would forever be associated with one of the darkest chapters in American true crime.

The Enduring Legacy in Pop Culture and True Crime

The story of Sylvia Likens has transcended its original legal context, becoming a grim touchstone in pop culture and the true crime genre. This case is often cited by criminologists and true crime enthusiasts as a prime example of mob mentality and depraved indifference.

The events were the loose inspiration for Jack Ketchum's 1989 horror novel, *The Girl Next Door*, which he dedicated to Sylvia Likens. The novel, and its subsequent 2007 film adaptation, brought the chilling details to a new generation. Additionally, the 2007 film, *An American Crime*, starring Elliot Page and Catherine Keener, provided a more direct and factually accurate dramatization of the events, further cementing the tragedy's place in the public consciousness.

The legacy of Sylvia Likens is a painful reminder of the responsibility of communities and individuals to intervene in cases of suspected abuse. While the main perpetrators are now deceased or living in obscurity, the memory of Sylvia and the lessons from the *Indianapolis torture murder* continue to serve as a stark warning against indifference.

who killed sylvia likens
who killed sylvia likens

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