Gertrude Baniszewski [1st degree murder; life in prison; spent 20 years in prison; changed her name to Nadine Van Fossan and died June 1990]
Paula Baniszewski [first conviction: 2nd degree murder; life in prison; overturned: she pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter; served 2 years in prison - married and moved to Iowa - rumors are that she lives on a farm.]
John Baniszewski [manslaughter; 2 - 21 years in prison; became a lay minister & real estate agent and moved to Texas, changed his name to John Blake, married and has 3 children]
Richard Hobbs [manslaughter; 2 - 21 years in prison; died of cancer 4 years after being released from prison]
Coy Hubbard [manslaughter; 2 - 21 years in prison - has been in & out of prison ever since - rumor has it that he was acquitted of the murders of 2 other men also; died June 23, 2007]
Stephanie Baniszewski [charges dropped; changed her name and became a schoolteacher, rumor has it she lives in Floral City, Florida and teaches at The New Testament Christian Academy]
Others who participated in the torture/abuse of Sylvia Likens:
Stephanie Baniszewski [charges dropped; changed her name and became a schoolteacher, rumor has it she lives in Floral City, Florida and teaches at The New Testament Christian Academy]
Jimmy Baniszewski
Marie Baniszewski
Shirley Baniszewski
Dennis Lee Wright Jr.
Anna Siscoe
Judy Duke
Randy Lepper
Mike Monroe
Pictures:
John & Gertrude
Paula
Coy Hubbard
Richard Hobbs
Gertrude after prison
My answer to my own question: No, justice was not served. This murder was torturous and heinous, one of the worst there has ever been. All of those involved should have either received the death penalty or received life in prison with absolutely no parole. Which means that Paul, John and Coy should STILL be in prison. I read on one blog where Coy’s child complained that people still did not like his dad because of this and even had the nerve to say that it was in 1965 – people should get over it. What the hell??? Give me a break. My anger was so bad I did not respond, but many others did. This was a person’s life we are talking about. She did not deserve what was done to her. And we should leave these monster’s alone? This child of Coy’s should be happy that they were even born, as Coy should STILL be in prison and there til the day he dies. He, as well as John and Paula should think every single day of their lives about the life that they took. I hope (but doubt) that they feel complete and total remorse for their actions, all of them. They all participated and did nothing to help Sylvia. I do realize that Gertrude was the one who was in charge and ordered them to do these things, but not one of them said no nor did any of them tell another adult or police officer or anyone of authority. They did not care about her. So, personally, I don’t care about them. I care about Sylvia, and am sad for the life she did not get to live, for her life cut way too short.
The murder of Sylvia Likens
Trials: Addenda to De Sade
Dark Destinations: The Sylvia Likens House
The Torturing Death of Sylvia Marie Likens (has a lot of photos)
Wikipedia: Sylvia Likens
Find-A-Grave: Sylvia Marie Likens
A MySpace for Sylvia
Sylvia (in the comments there are some interesting things said)
Yahoo Questions: Where are Gertrude Baniszewski’s children now?
Coy Hubbard’s obituary (funny thing, it does not mention his helped murder Sylvia)
Books
House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying
JUSTICE FROM WITHIN, SERVING TIME WITH GERTRUDE BANISZEWSKI
The Girl Next Door
The Basement: Meditations on a Human Sacrifice
Movies/Documentaries
An American Crime
The Girl Next Door
Read about this case. It is really messed up. Gertrude Baniszewski is one really sick psychopathic paranoid nutcase.
By: Arctic Chicken on February 17, 2010
at 11:01 pm
It is hard to understand the evil that some people are capable of. This pack mentality is very frightening. If one person had stepped up to help perhaps Sylvia would have had a chance.
By: Victoria Roder on February 21, 2010
at 2:11 pm
It scares me that these people are out in the world breeding more generations of perverse dangers to society.
Sylvia never got the chance to have any children to defend her name like Coy’s son did his….”get over it”?? the guy’s daddy played part in the rape torture and murder of a innocent teenage girl….and the offspring of these monsters-who should never exist in the first place, think that society should “Get over it”, well it’s obvious that monsters breed monsters.
they live on a farm and work as school a teacher, etc while the girl that they mutilated and tortured to death is gone forever resting under 6 feet of dirt while they get to live like nothing ever happened??….how *&#$@ scary is that??
By: Fresh Broccoli on June 2, 2010
at 5:06 am
I totally agree. How sad. =,(
By: audra lynne on July 20, 2011
at 5:34 pm
mylifeofcrime nailed it. Justice wasn’t served. For being, “The Worst Crime in Indiana” justice wasn’t served! 2-20 years in jail is like rewarding the Baniszewski family for the crime committed against Sylvia.
By: Justino on June 9, 2010
at 2:59 am
i will tell you what needs to be done is the people that let these mother@#!$ers out of prison in indiana and if they are still alive. oh my god there is so much i would like to say that needs to be done to them, but i would get my butt in to trouble! oh god i so freaking pissed at our so called great and wonderful court system! i hate all people of the court system. you people suck! i hope all of you rot in HELL! now as for the killers them selves, holy crap i would fucking love to run into you one day you sumbags. hitler was a better person than you and your demon offspring. FUCK YOU!!!!!!!! THE COURT SYSTEM SHOULD BE BURNED TO THE GROUND AND BUILD A NEW ONE!
By: terry on August 8, 2010
at 6:33 pm
I agree with you… our court system encourages murders and criminals. I bet that if it was the judges mother, sister, daughter then something would be done. And the kids saying to get over it, makes me wonder if the parents traits didn’t rub off. Maybe they’re child abusers too.
By: Pat on January 5, 2012
at 11:54 pm
it was a sad event that took place with this young girl but i have to say this Sylvia has been dead over 45 years people need to focus on kids today and not one who died years ago and sometimes people can make a hero or Marta out of someone who does not deserve it ,and yes this poor girl was tortured and starved to death but there are kids right now starving to death and being abused so lets try watching and doing something for kids today and stop worrying about someone who died 45 years ago.
By: andy on October 14, 2010
at 7:50 am
Andy,
That is true, however, victims of any kind of murder should NEVER be forgotten. Sylvia should be remembered for the life she did leave. And we should all learn from this case how fragile life is. This is also an example of a case where justice did not really happen for this victim and her loved ones. And that is what my blog is about. The victims and justice. Neither should ever be forgotten, no matter how long ago it happen. If your loved one was murdered 30 years ago, would you want them just forgotten and be told that they did not matter?
By: mylifeofcrime on October 14, 2010
at 8:43 am
Well put myliveofcrime! Present abuse or past abuse is still all wrong!
By: Justino on October 14, 2010
at 1:31 pm
Our justice system sucks. What, those ppl get to serve only 2 years in jail (or Gertrude gets a parole instead of finishing her life sentence) when like ten gazillion INNOCENT men have died under death penalty or are on death row???? wtf.
By: frooby on November 12, 2010
at 8:46 pm
Randy Lepper died last week. May he rest in peace!
By: delia huffman on November 15, 2010
at 12:40 pm
delia,
Can you explain your comment? Why on earth would anyone care if he rests in peace? Did he do ANYTHING to help Sylvia? Or did he just sit around and watch?
By: mylifeofcrime on November 15, 2010
at 3:59 pm
Ever since I saw “An American Crime”, I haven’t been able to forget about this little girl. I was born in 1965, the year she died. I’ve taken my share of abuse in my own life, although nothing like what she must have suffered. I think of this beautiful girl as an angel. I feel a little more at peace knowing she’s up there on my side. She’s on the side of all of us who ever suffered at the hands of others.I never knew her, but I know I love her. May she rest in peace.
By: ed on February 7, 2011
at 12:11 am
What Sylvia went through is so horrendous and heartbreaking, it will and should never be forgotten. I think the courts failed her terribly! The people that witnessed things and didn’t do anything or report it sickens me and failed Sylvia. They all got off to easy and it sickens me that any of them who tortured her are out there in this world free and having children, one even a teacher, thats crazy. I agree, Sylvia’s muder was torturous and heinous, one of the worst there has ever been. There are no words to describe how I feel. God Bless you Syliva, your with the angels now free of pain and terror.
By: JD on February 18, 2011
at 2:16 pm
hell no justice was not served
By: tammy shaffer on October 30, 2011
at 12:31 am
I 100% agree. There is no solice in thinking that they are in a better place now. These people need to be properly dealt with – at the time of the occurence. No excuse, no bs. The fucking hammer must be dropped with authority.
By: Jeremy on January 29, 2012
at 6:13 pm