Biographie

During the initial weeks Sylvia and Jenny resided at the Baniszewski household, the sisters were subjected to very little discipline or abuse. Likens regularly sang along to pop records with Stephanie, and she willingly participated in housework at the Baniszewski residence. Both girls also regularly attended Sunday school with the Baniszewski children.

In her teenage years, Likens occasionally earned spending money by babysitting, running errands, or performing ironing chores for friends and neighbors, often giving her mother part of her earnings. She has been described as a friendly, confident and lively girl with long, wavy, light brown hair extending below her shoulders, and was known as "Cookie" to her friends.

Younger sister of Dianna Likens (b. 1947), Daniel Kay Likens (1947 - unknown). Older sister of Jenny Fay Likens Wade (1950-2004) and Benny Ray Likens (1950-1999).

After she had finished writing a letter, Likens was tied to a stair railing and offered crackers to eat, although she refused them, saying: "Give it to the dog, I don't want it." In response, Gertrude Baniszewski forced the crackers into Likens' mouth before she and John Baniszewski beat her-particularly about the stomach.

The funeral service for Sylvia Likens was conducted at the Russell & Hitch Funeral Home in Lebanon on the afternoon of October 29. The service was officiated by the Reverend Louis Gibson, with more than 100 mourners in attendance. Likens' gray casket remained open throughout the ceremony, with a portrait of her taken prior to July 1965 adorning her coffin.