Sylvia Likens: The Torture Case That Shook America

The torture and murder of Sylvia Likens is one of the most shocking crimes in American history. Her months of abuse inside the Baniszewski home exposed a level of cruelty that changed child-protection laws forever.

This Tales of the Twisted true crime podcast episode examines the darkest human behaviors through the lens of creepy real stories, psychological horror, and disturbing true crime.

Left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski, Sylvia endured months of starvation, beatings, humiliation, and violence encouraged by neighborhood children. Her final days exposed a level of cruelty that stunned investigators and the nation..