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%$#!. discussion. media

I’m not sure if anyone watched the movie, “An American Crime” but it is a movie based on the true story of the torturing death of Sylvia Likens. I only watched the last bit of the movie but I noticed in the description that it was based on a true story so I went and did a little research. The information I found was unbelievable.

Sylvia Marie Likens and her sister Jenny was dropped off at the home of Gertrude Baniszewski with her 7 kids to be taken care of. Gertrude Baniszewski and her kids began torturing Sylvia inhumanly when payments for her stay came late. It was said that Sylvia had taken countless blows to the head (some so severed that would cause she to pass out), she was burned, branded, hit, battered, and eventually killed. These torments were not only inflicted by the Baniszewski family but many children in the neighborhood (encouraged and approved by Gertrude Baniszewski) would take turns torturing her. Coy Hubbard, Gertrude’s daughter’s boyfriend also got his share of the torment. “Coy practiced judo on Sylvia, flipping her against walls and onto the floor.” When the police arrived at the scene of the dead girl’s body, Gertrude denied all participation in the crime.

Read the full story here.

I think this is the most horrific thing I’ve ever heard of! How can people be so fucken heartless. It’s just unbelievable. What is even more unbelievable is how light the punishments were on the killers and participants. Gertrude Baniszewski was charged with first degree murder and was put behind bars for 2 decades then released on parole. With the crime she committed, she should have been sent to the death penalty or at least life in prison without parole. Most of the charges for participants of the crime were dropped. Paula Baniszewski, one of the most vicious tormentor, was sent to jail but was released only a few years later. The rest were charged with manslaughter but only spent a 18 months behind bars. I seriously don’t understand how the justice system works in America. I think people who abuse their pets get worst sentences than what these shittie-ass people got. What the fuck? I really don’t get it. Actually, I think death is too light of a punishment for these people, it would be an escape. If it was up to me, I would want them to endure all the tortures Sylvia Likens did. I would have no sympathy for them what so ever. Arg. It seriously pisses me off seeing crimes like these go unpunished or barely punished. It’s just unfair.

875 Responses to “ The Torturing Death of Sylvia Likens ”

  1. Stephanie

    I want to watch that movie. O_O It’s a shame how cruel people can be. They have no sympathy, no heart, no emotions. That’s plain evil. Gertrude should’ve been served life in prison with no parole (like you said). :P

    With the Justice System it depends on what City/State you live in. If they would’ve gotten prosecuted in my city, they would’ve gotten life in prison.

  2. Anna

    ALSDKFJ THIS LAYOUT IS SO CUTE! haha, and you are back! <3

    That is…a really horrible story…Wow.

  3. Shen

    I’ve never heard of the story but it’s quite depressing. When I hear of these sorts of crimes it makes me wonder what sort of people are in the world out there. How can anyone be so cruel to another person? *sigh*

  4. Jenn

    I have heard of the movie but I had no idea what it was about. That is a really horrible story though… it makes you question how things got to that level. And how could anyone participate in cruelty like that? It is just so inhumane. *shakes her head*

    I’m actually the oldest sibling, but I buy things myself. My little brother got it easy :P Makes me wish sometimes that *I* was the younger sibling. The only thing I have over him is that I had excellent grades in school so he has his work out out for him in the next few years lol.

  5. shippo-chan

    oh. my. god. that’s just… wow. *speechless* it really digusts me what people do to each other. it especially sickens me that shes a MOTHER and encouraged her childed and others to torture that girl. i bookmarked the link you put up, but i’m going to read it later when it isn’t dark and scary and i’m the only one still awake >_<

  6. Elena

    I never watched that movie, but that sounds like a horrific thing. I cant believe things like that actually happen. There are truly some sick individuals out there.

    And yeah, the death sentence would be too light for them. It DOES seem like people who torture their pets get bigger sentences, that’s so dumb. I hear that people take their pets (in America) to day-care even.

  7. Thao

    I haven’t watched that movie yet.

    Looking at the era of the sixties, there were a lot of corruptions and scandals happening. Punishments were quite arbitrary at times. It’s tragic that this was allowed to happen. Also it was horrific cases like this one that sparked 49 states to pass child-abuse laws.

  8. Kieu

    It sucks. The justice system over here is f-ed up. It’s funny how I hear a lot of stories about people being behind bars for 20-30 years and then they find out that he/she was innocent all along. And then when it comes to the real criminals, it always seems like they get light sentences. Like rapists, for example. They always seem to get off the hook I guess because rape isn’t considered so serious (which is stupid).

  9. Id

    Over the last few months, I have realised that I have less and less of a stomach to endure a movie like that. How anyone would have the gall and the mindset to carry out such a heinous crime is beyond me. That is really horrible what happened to Slyvia and all the more horrible that the jail time for the perpetrator was not longer. I personally think the justice system made a huge error there, and should have kept her out of the streets indefinitely.

  10. Nicky

    Wow, it’s unbelievable what horrible things some people do. Reading about what they did was disturbing. They should of had a harsher punishment than 2 decades, or a few years. I agree, they should have gone through what Sylvia did. Sounds like I movie I’d like to see.

  11. Brenda

    GOSH, i never heard this story before… and what make me even feel sick and want to throw up its a TRUE STORY!! how can people can be soooo cold blooded and heartless?
    i hope whoever got participated with this will get punished!

  12. Leanne

    It’s disgusting to think that this isn’t the only case where the murder has gotten off. There’s so many like this and I don’t understand why the law just doesn’t get it right.

  13. emma

    that’s really scary to hear about. but there are so many fucked up people out there that shouldn’t be out there and should be behind bars. I definitely think they should have received the death penalty. Pretty much, i think if one kills, then one should be killed.
    obviously there is a huge spectrum here but this is unquestionable.

  14. Destiny

    Stories of these always sickens me. It grosses me out how people can find joy in torturing and bringing hell to someone else. I do feel bad, even though this is the first time that I’ve heard of this story… but you wonder… how are these people able to live with themselves…

  15. Ria Rosa

    That’s sickening. Truly horrible, and they should pay for their crimes. I agree with you that they should all fucking live out their lives in prison (at least).

    And what kind of a fucking father is he? He’s probably regretting his actions (or lack of) by now, but saying “I didn’t pry” and leaving your children under the care of a woman you barely even know?

  16. Thao

    BTW, I have a temporary blog at http://lifeofthao.wordpress.com/ since the subdomain at senkou.org is acting up and Masa isn’t able to get it fixed anytime soon.

  17. Lixin

    That sounded … disturbing. Very disturbing. I’ve lost faith in the human race.

  18. claire

    for that to happen in the very city i livein digusts me even more. the justice system has dramatically improved so ppl today might have even imposed a death penalty today.

  19. Whitney

    I watched the movie. It touched me. It is very terrible about what happened to Sylvia. She didn’t deserve it, no one does. I don’t think Gertrude had the punishment that she should have had. No one did.. Sylvia was hurt more than anyone imaginable! To know that this kind of stuff actually happens.. is upsetting and I can hardly bare it.

  20. chree

    this movie is out on the 19th, watch it.this is a story of child abuse that needed to come to light. the movie leave alot of the abusive acts out. so when i red about the actual avents. my stomach turned. this is a tragidy that at the core of all child abuse, im trying so hard not to be angry with the sister in the case, but it just seems that she could have said no to hurting her sister at the very least. sayed something.whats even more sick is that the woman who did this denied it untill the very end of her sentence. she did not have any form of munchhousen deseise and was fully aware of her actions. paula was grown and to go along and instagate this is pure evil.it ickens me to think she has a family somwhere enjoying her life. i could not stop crying evan as i make this post. jenny is deceised but their is a myspace for her as well as sylvia. this story made me so angry i had to vent.

  21. chree

    sorry i wrote this in an emotional state. i made alot of mistakes/mispellings. its just that i work for blockbuster and i think people should see this movie, for sylvia…

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