Gertrude Baniszewski
About
Indiana woman who, with the assistance of her own children and children in her neighborhood, oversaw the torture and murder of teenage girl Sylvia Likens in 1965. She was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for her crimes, though she was parolled after 14 years.
Before Fame
She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana and dropped out of high school at age 16 to marry her first husband.
Trivia
After being released from prison, she went by the alias Nadine Van Fossan and died five years later from lung cancer.
Family Life
She had six children with John Baniszewski Sr., to whom she was married from 1945 to 1955. She later got remarried to Edward Guthrie, with whom she had one child.
Associated With
She was portrayed by actress Catherine Keener in the 2007 drama An American Crime.
