The Story of Sylvia Likens

Parents Betty Likens and Lester Likens work at the circus. They can't bring their two daughters along with them. They decide to leave their children with Gertrude Baniszewski. They agree $20 a week to take care of them. Sounds reasonable. After the check comes late Gertrude takes her anger out on the Liken girls. Mainly focusing her anger on Sylvia the oldest. The punishments become crueler and crueler Baniszewski invites neighbors over to "punish" Sylvia. In Indiana murder is the neighborhood sport.