Sylvia Likens -- Indianapolis, Indiana

Sylvia Likens’s Case

“ The Most Terrible Crime Ever Committed In The State of Indiana”

Gertrude Baniszewski aka Gertrude Wright

• Age 37
• Married Twice (Husband John Baniszewski lasted 10 years)
• Had 7 children
• At age 11, her father died (heart attack) in her presence
• She lived at 3850 East New York Street
• She was accused of 1st degree murder and torturer in Marion County Criminal Court #2
• Her attorney was William C. Erbecker
• Trial lasted 2 weeks
• Pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity
• Sentenced to life term at IWP
• Lefted IWP on 12/4/85 at 8:30 A.M. on parole. Parole vote was 3-2
• Gertrude served 20 years of life term, had a 2nd trial in Miami County

Richard Hobbs, Friends with Johnny Baniszewski

• Age 15
• Father, Woodrow Hobbs lived at 310 North Denny Street
• Freshman at Thomas Carr Howe High School
• Charged with torturer and manslaughter
• Hobbs stated he scripted words onto Sylvia’s stomach
• Sentenced to 2-21 year terms at Indiana State Reformatory
• Attorney James G. Nedeff
• Died at age 21

Paula Baniszewski, Gertrude’s Oldest Daughter

• Age 17
• Pregnant during trial
• Attorney for trial was George P. Rice Jr.
• Charged with Assault, Battery, torturer and 2nd degree murder
• Sentenced to life term at IWP
• On Dec 2nd, 1971 at 3:30 P.M., Paula escaped from IWP

Stephanie Baniszewski, Gertrude’s second oldest daughter

• Age 15
• Charged with 1st degree murder and torturing
• Only person in house who helped Sylvia

Coy R. Hubbard, Friends with Johnny Baniszewski

• Age 15
• Lived at 435 North Linwood Ave
• Charged with torture
• Convicted of Manslaughter
• Sentenced to 2-21 years at Indiana State Reformatory
• On May 27th, 1966, his attorney filed a motion to free Hubbard due to being acquitted of murder

Sylvia Likens

• Age 16
• Native of Boone County
• Lived with Baniszewski from July 12th - October 26th, 1965
• Sylvia was beaten, cut, burned, tattooed, branded and mutilated
• Sylvia died on October 26th, 1965 from a massive injury to her head
• Sylvia was burred on October 30th, 1965 at 3:30 P.M. in Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon, Indiana with a memorial for her in Willard Park, Indianapolis, Indiana

The Jury

• The Trial was held at the City-County Building in Criminal Court Room #2
• The jury was made up of 12 people (8 males and 4 females)
• The judge who overlooked the trial was Hon. Saul I. Rabb
• The Deputy Prosecutor was Leroy K. New
• Jury #1 Blaine E. Blage 8209 East Penway Street
• Jury #2 Blanche Harris 1350 South Sheffield Ave
• Detective Sgt. William D. Kaiser was the lead detective on the case
• Patrolman Melvin D. Dixon found the body of Sylvia Likens

Jennie Likens, sister of Sylvia Likens

• Age 15
• Crippled due to polio
• 8th grader at School 78
• Her attorney was Charles P. Gaddy
• On November 30th 1966, Jennie flew to Poland Springs, Maine to women’s job corps center

Diana Shoemaker, sister to Jennie and Sylvia Likens

• Age 19

Johnny Baniszewski, oldest son of Gertrude Baniszewski

• Age 13
• His attorney was Forrest B. Bowman Jr.
• Convicted of Manslaughter
• Sentenced to 2-21 years at ISR
• On May 27th, 1966 Bowman Jr. filed a motion to free Baniszewski due to being acquitted of murder
• Baniszewski later changed his name to John Blake Jr.

Lester Likens, father to Sylvia Likens

• Him and his wife were apart of a traveling carnival
• Paid Gertrude Baniszewski 20.00 dollars a week to take care of Jennie and Sylvia

People of Interest

• Randy Gordon Lepper, friend of Johnny Baniszewski
• Age 11
• Lived at 3902 East New York Street
• Judy Darlene Duke, friend of Stephanie Baniszewski
• Age 12
• Lived at 322 North Chester Street
• Anna Cisco, best friend of Paula Baniszewski
• Age 13
• 3030 North Chester Street
• Mike Monroe, friend of Johnny Baniszewski
• Age 11
• Lived at 3838 East New York Street
• Danny Likens
• Brother of Bennie, Sylvia, Jennie Likens and Diana Shoemaker
• Bennie Likens
• Brother of Danny, Sylvia, Jennie Likens and Diana Shoemaker

Gruenewald House -- Anderson, Indiana

The house was the home of Martin Gruenewald , a local businessman. The home is decorated with turn of the century furnishings.

The house was built in two parts. The back was built in 1860 with the front added in 1873 by Moses Cherry. Martin Gruenewald purchased the house shortly there after and resided there for 50 years.

www.gruenewaldhouse.org

Stepp Cemetery -- Martinsville, Indiana

THE LEGEND OF STEPP CEMETERY

The Stepp Cemetery is located some fifteen miles north of Bloomington, Indiana and five miles southeast of Martinsville, Indiana.

The miles east of the forest entrance, on Old State Highway 37, Stepp Cemetery stands on a slight rise about hundred yards north of the main park road.

The history of Stepp Cemetery is clouded in some mystery. June Fulford, a long time resident of northeastern Monroe County. According to Mrs. Fulford, Stepp Cemetery was connected with the Crabbite religious sect, a Fundamentalist group given to such practices as snake handling. Mrs. Fulford recalled that her grandfather, who served in some official capacity in the area, was called upon to disperse, with a bullwhip, a group of Crabbites engaged in ritualized sexual license.

The legend of Stepp Cemetery goes as follows: 1) a women, witch or female ghost dressed in black frequents the grave of her husband, daughter, son, infant of unspecified sex, or any combination of these relatives; 2) the women appears seated on a stump-sometimes called the "Warlock Seat: - near the entrance to the cemetery; 3) a person who sits on this stump, usually at a certain hour or on a certain day, often meets death or other misfortune within a stated period of time and 4) several deaths and mutilations.

The Slippery Noodle Inn -- Indianapolis, Indiana

A narrow passageway through the basement served as a link to freedom for people fleeing slavery via Underground Railroad.


http://www.slipperynoodle.com/

Hannah House -- Indianapolis, Indiana

Underground railroad stop. Fire in basement killed slaves, who were then buried in basement. Child was stillborn in second floor bedroom.

Noises from basement, choking sensation. Strange smells from second floor bedroom.

http://www.thehannahmansion.org/

Malloy's Pub -- Terre Haute, Indiana

At least three spirits experienced by the owners and patrons. A male spirit of a former lineman on the railroad. The spirit of a child, Sarah, likes to interfere with the pool players.


http://www.malloysirishpub.com/

Central State Mental Hospital -- Indianapolis, Indiana

In 1848, the Indiana Hospital for the Insane opened it's doors. In the late 1970s, many of the buildings were declared unsound and demolished. In 1994, the state of Indiana closed the hospital in favor of more advanced treatment methods.

It is said that some patients suffered inhuman cruelty and years of abuse while housed in this institution. Some patients who were diagnosed as "criminally insane" were kept in a state of near-perpetual restraint. Workers in the 1950s were renovating tunnels under the facility and discovered dark rooms in the recesses of the tunnels that still bore chains and manacles on their walls. One of the patients hung himself on the grounds.

Security guards still claim to hear the screams and moans of former patients on the grounds, and to see the blurry form of patients run by the guard shack. A woman screaming and moaning is heard in the old powerhouse by the boiler, and shadows are seen moving around the room. In the pump room a man was awakened by the sensation of being strangled, and he had the marks on his neck to prove it.

Demographics:
Campus Motel -- Est. 1960
Evans Building -- Est. 1974
Bolton Building -- Est.1974
Bahr Building -- Est. 1956
Administration Building -- Est. 1938
Carpenter Shop -- Est. 1937
Men's Recreation Building -- Est. 1899
Kitchen and Dining Hall -- Est. 1959
Pathology Building -- Est. 1895
Red Cross Building -- Est. 1955
Old Laundry Building -- Est. 1894