Torture Mom cover art

Torture Mom

A Chilling True Story of Confinement, Mutilation and Murder (True Crime)

 Preview

Get 30 days of Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30-day free trial. Cancel monthly.
Try for £0.00
More purchase options
Buy Now for £11.99

Buy Now for £11.99

About this listen

In July 1965, teenagers Sylvia and Jenny Likens were left in the temporary care of Gertrude Baniszewski, a middle-aged single mother, and her seven children.

The Baniszewski household was overrun with children. There were few rules and ample freedom. Sadly, the environment created a dangerous hierarchy of social Darwinism where the strong preyed on the weak.

What transpired in the following three months was both riveting and chilling.

In October 1965, the body of Sylvia Likens was found in the basement of the Baniszewski home, where she had been imprisoned. She was starved, beaten, burned, and had the words "I am a prostitute and proud of it" carved into her stomach.

Gertrude Baniszewski oversaw and facilitated the torture and eventual murder of Sylvia Likens. While she played an active role in Sylvia's death, the majority of the abuse was carried out by her children and other neighborhood youths.

The case shocked the entire nation and would later be described as "The single worst crime perpetuated against an individual in Indiana's history".

Caution: This audiobook contains descriptive accounts of abuse and violence. If you are especially sensitive to this material, it might be advisable not to listen any further.

©2018 Ryan Green (P)2018 Ryan Green Abuse Child Abuse Con Artists, Hoaxes & Deceptions Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Crime Scary Exciting
All stars
Most relevant

Listener received this title free

As all ways ryan green audio book is 100% got to give it 5 out of 5

☺

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Listener received this title free

I had not heard of this true story before reading / listening to this book. It is a great length to be listened to in one sitting and I was eager to start. From the offset it became apparent just how much research the author had carried out to provide readers with the smallest of details. Yes its hard to listen to at times due to the nature of the crime committed - but it is truly harrowing and will stay in your mind for a long time after the last page has been read. She was just evil in the finest form - pure evil . I was given this book by the author/narrator in return for an honest and unbiased review

truly unnerving and harrowing

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is a tough listen, one that requires a strong constitution to overcome each gruesomely narrated chapter. The book almost has the audience relive every horrific moment in the later life of Sylvia Likens and it's very difficult to not feel empathy and pain in the stomach having heard the terrible things this innocent girl endured. That is what makes this book so well written and narrated. It makes you feel pain, rage and sorrow that comes with the extremes of the bystander effect and just how little rights, children of the 60s/70s actually had, how non existent their protection really was. Truely awful.

The most harrowing case I've ever heard.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is a catalogue of things that killed an innocent child it's sad that so much damage can be being done under the noses of so many and no-one picked up on anything was going. The fact that so many people were involved in abusing this child and yet it wasn't found until after she had died is scandalous.

painfully true

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A hard listen. However it was a good book. if you can stomach this kind of thing, torture and abuse to the unthinkable then read the book. was not keen on narrator voice though

sick absolutely heartbreaking

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews