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Is An American Crime Based On A True Story? · Murder Files Unsealed

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Speaker 1: All right, so today we're going to be looking at
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we're taking a deep dive into some really really heavy material.
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You guys requested we look into the true story behind
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that film An American Crime, the one from two thousand
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and seven. And let me tell you, even if you
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think you know the story from that movie, get ready,
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because the reality it's a whole other level of messed up.
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Speaker 2: Yeah. You know, it's considered one of the most disturbing
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cases of child abuse in American history. For good reason too.
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I mean, even decades later, everything surrounding Sylvia Laikin's death
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back in nineteen sixty five, this is shocking, I know.
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Speaker 1: And it all went down in what seemed like a
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completely normal Indianapolis neighborhood, right, Sylvia and her sister Jenny
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ended up with this woman, Gertrude Banizewski. She was supposed
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to be a family friend, taking care of them while
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their parents were away. Sounds almost innocent when you put
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it like that, right.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, totally. I mean that's part of what makes this
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whole thing so unsettling. It wasn't like this happened in
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some you know, shady part of town or whatever. It
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happened in a regular neighborhood with the regular families. That's
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what makes it so creepy to think about.
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Speaker 1: Totally, totally this could happen anywhere to anyone, right, And
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the movie, as dark as it was, it actually didn't
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even show the worst of it, did it.
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Speaker 2: Nope, not even close. The stuff we've been looking at
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goes at a way more detail than the film ever did. Yeah,
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it's seriously reugh like. For instance, the movie shows Sylvia
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being physically abused, but the real story that was just brutal.
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Speaker 1: Okay, So like, how much worse are we talking here?
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I mean, I get that they couldn't show everything, but
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can you give us an idea?
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Speaker 2: Okay? So the autopsy report over one hundred and fifty
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separate injuries on Sylvie's body, cuts, burns, bruises, I mean,
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just unbelievably bad. There was even damage to her muscles
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and nerves. The level of cruelty, it's almost impossible to
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imagine someone doing that to another person.
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Speaker 1: God, it's hard to even think about. And this one
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on for months months.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, one thing that really stuck with me from all
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the stuff I've been reading, Sylvia had actually bitten through
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her own lips, just think about how much pain and
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fear she must have been in to do something like
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that to her. She was so badly hurt that you
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could see her teeth all the time.
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Speaker 1: Oh my god, it makes the movie seem so clean
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in comparison, knowing that it went on for so long.
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How is it that nobody stepped in. There had to
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be some warning signs, right, somebody had to suspect that
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something was wrong.
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Speaker 2: You'd think. So, yeah, that's where things get really complicated though,
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and it's something a lot of people have wondered about
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over the years. There are a few things going on here.
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To understand how this could happen, we've got to understand
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the situation, right. So first off, you have these two
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teenage girls basically trapped in a house with this abusive adult.
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Speaker 1: Right, so they're terrified to speak up. I can see
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how that would make them feel completely helpless exactly.
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Speaker 2: They probably thought that if they tried to get help,
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things would only get worse. And to make matters even worse,
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Gertrude Banizewski, she was isolating them, making sure they didn't
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have any contact with the outside world.
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Speaker 1: So classic abuser tactics, cutting them off from any support system.
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But what about everyone else, Neighbors, kids coming over to
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the house, maybe even other adults who knew Gertrude. Did
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nobody see anything.
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Speaker 2: That's the thing. It's this like psychological thing called bystander apathy.
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It means that people are less likely to do anything
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if they think other people are around.
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Speaker 1: Like a diffusion of responsibility or something. Everyone assumes someone
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else will take care of it.
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Speaker 2: Right right, And according to what we've been looking at,
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it seems like a bunch of people, some of them,
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even adults, visited the Banizeski house during all this. They
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probably sell signs of abuse. But for whatever reason, nobody
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did anything. Maybe they were scared of Gertrude, or maybe
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they just didn't want to get involved.
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Speaker 1: This is what I don't get. Kids being scared, fine,
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but adults knowing what we know now, it's just it's
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mind boggling that nobody did anything. And this is what
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makes me wonder could something like this happen today? I mean,
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we've got mandatory reporters, child protection services all that. Have
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we learned enough to prevent another Sylvia Laken's situation?
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Speaker 2: It's the big question, isn't it. I mean, things are
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definitely differ when it comes to protecting kids. This is
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nineteen sixty five. People are more aware of the problem.
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We've got better laws and organizations dedicated to helping kids.
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Speaker 1: So there's hope we've learned from this horrible story.
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Speaker 2: Well, I don't think we can say it'll never happen again.
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People are complicated and abuse can be hard to spot.
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But as a society, I think we're more aware of
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the warning signs and maybe more willing to actually do
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something about it.
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Speaker 1: Okay, that's something I guess. But even with all that,
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there are still kids slipping through the cracks, kids who
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are suffering in silence because they don't think anyone will
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help them.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, that's true, unfortunately, and that's exactly why it's so
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important to keep talking about this, to make sure everyone
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knows about it. We can't just forget about it. We
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have to stay on top of.
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Speaker 1: This, right right, Awareness is everything. Okay, let's switch gears
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a little bit. Let's talk about the people who did this.
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Gertrude Benezewski, the woman who was in charge of all this,
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What happened to her, What was her punishment?
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Speaker 2: So the trial and the verdicts, that's a whole other story.
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It wasn't just Gertrude who was charged. It was a
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bunch of people, including some of her kids and even
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some kids from the neighborhood.
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Speaker 1: Wait, they held the kids responsible too.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, the whole legal process was pretty complicated. You know.
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Obviously people were responsible to different degrees, but it was
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a big deal that the legal system said, hey, everyone
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involved is responsible, even if you're a kid.
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Speaker 1: That makes sense. It wasn't just one person acting alone.
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There were all these people who either took part in
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it or just let it happen exactly.
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Speaker 2: Gertrude Benizeski was found guilty of first degree murder sentenced
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to life in prison. But that's not the end of it.
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Speaker 1: Really. What else happened?
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Speaker 2: Okay? So this is where the whole idea of justice
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or the lack of justice gets really frustrating.
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Speaker 1: Tell me about it, okay.
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Speaker 2: So, despite everything she did, and even though a lot
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of people wanted her to stay in prison forever, Gertrude
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Benizski got parole in nineteen eighty five. She only served
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nineteen years of her life sentence.
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Speaker 1: What how is that even possible?
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Speaker 2: It was controversial, that's for sure. A lot of people
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thought she should have been in prison for way longer,
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that Sylvia and her family never got real justice. And
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to add insult to injury, Gertrude never admitted to doing
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anything wrong. She claimed she was innocent right up until
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she died in nineteen ninety.
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Speaker 1: So no accountability, no closure, just a system that in
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a lot of ways completely failed them. Yeah.
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Speaker 2: It's complicated, no doubt, and it brings up a lot
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of questions about how our legal system works, about rehabilitation
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versus punishment, and just about the lasting impact of trauma
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on everyone involved.
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Speaker 1: Lots to think about. I think this is probably a
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good place to stop for now. Give everyone a chance
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to process what we've talked about so far, the difference
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between the movie and what really happened, all the factors
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that led to this happening, and and then the fact
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that nobody was really held responsible. It's a lot, it is.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, it's important to sit with these feelings, let them
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guide us as we keep going.
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Speaker 1: Totally, and for everyone listening, I want to hear what
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you think. What stood out to you so far? What
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are your first reactions to this story. Hold onto those
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thoughts and we'll be back to talk about them more
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In just a bit.
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Speaker 2: It definitely stays with you, that's for sure. I mean,
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the level of cruelty that questions it raises about like
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human nature, about how our society works. It's just heavy stuff.
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Speaker 1: You're right. It's not just the details of the case,
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as awful as they are. It's the bigger questions. You know.
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It makes you think about yourself and the world we
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live in.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, exactly. It's a reminder that this stuff can happen anywhere.
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It doesn't have to be some dark alley or whatever.
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Evil can exist in totally normal places, and we all
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got to be aware of that. You got to be
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willing to do something about it.
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Speaker 1: It's kind of like looking in a mirror, isn't It
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makes you wonder if I was there, would I have
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been brave enough to say something? Would I have done anything.
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Speaker 2: It's not a comfortable question to ask yourself, but it's
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an important one, and I think that's something that people
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keep coming back to even today.
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Speaker 1: For sure, it's a story that just sticks with you.
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I remember when I first heard about this case, I
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was just floored, like, how could something so messed up
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actually have And I felt so I don't know, guilty,
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I guess like, even though I wasn't there, I should
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have done something.
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Speaker 2: That's a common reaction, I think. Yeah, it just shows
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how powerful this case is, how it gets to you
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on a deep level. It makes you think about all
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the times you didn't do anything even when you knew
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something was wrong. It makes you think about responsibility.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, and it's easy to look away, to tell yourself
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it's not your business, or that someone else will take
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care of it. But in this case, all the people
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looking away it led to something truly horrible, no.
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Speaker 2: Doubt, And I think that's one of the reasons why
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this case is still relevant. It's like a warning, you know,
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we can't be passive. We got to speak up, call
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out injustice, even when it's scary or.
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Speaker 1: Inconvenient, like that saying the only thing necessary for the
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triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.
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But it wasn't just men in this case. It was
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a whole community that basically stayed silent exactly.
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Speaker 2: It really emphasizes how important it is to not only
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be aware of this stuff, but to actually do something,
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learn the warning sign, support organizations that help kids, and
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be ready to step in when you see something wrong.
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Speaker 1: This is a really important point for our listeners. Right,
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it's not enough to just hear this story and be horrified.
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We have to do something about it. Become advocates, you know,
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make sure this doesn't happen again.
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Speaker 2: I agree, we can't bring Sylvia Lincoln's back, but we
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can work to make the world safe for kids. We
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owe it to her.
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Speaker 1: I like that, honoring her by taking action. So I'm curious,
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as an expert in this area, what are some of
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the biggest changes in child protection since this happened, Like,
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have we actually made any progress? Oh?
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Speaker 2: Absolutely, Things are completely different now than they were in
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the sixties. First of all, there's just more awareness about
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child abuse. Back then, it was seen as a family issue,
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something you deal with in private.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, it's like swept under the rug, out of sight,
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out of mind pretty much.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, people didn't talk about it. Victims were afraid to
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come forward. Luckily, that's changing. We're more open about talking
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about abuse, and there are more resources for victims to
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get help.
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Speaker 1: That's huge, right, But it sounds like there's still a
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long way to go.
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Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely, still a lot to do, but I think
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we should acknowledge the progress that's been made. Too. For instance,
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we've got these mandatory reporting laws now in all fifty states,
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certain professionals are legally required to report any suspected child.
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Speaker 1: Abuse, right mandatory reporters. I remember learning about that in school.
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Basically see something, say something, No more looking the other.
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Speaker 2: Way exactly, And it's made a big difference in identifying
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abuse and doing something about it. Of course, it's not perfect.
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Cases still fall through the cracks. We need to keep
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working on how we report and respond to these situations.
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Speaker 1: Yeah, I can imagine that's tricky, finding that balance between
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like respecting people's privacy and protecting kids.
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Speaker 2: It's a tough call, you got it. It's an ongoing process.
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But I think it's a good sign that we're even
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having these conversations that we're trying to improve.
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Speaker 1: Things totally totally. We're not just admitting there's a problem,
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We're trying to find solutions. So what about the legal system?
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Have there been changes in how child abuse cases are
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handled in Core?
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Speaker 2: For sure? For one thing, there's a better understanding of
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the psychological effect of abuse, and courts are taking that
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into account when they decide on punishments. Also, victims' rights
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are being recognized more they have a bigger voice in
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the process.
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Speaker 1: Now, so it's not just about punishing the abusers, but
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also about supporting the victims making sure they get justice.
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Speaker 2: Right, exactly. That's a really positive change. For a long time,
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the focus was all on the abusers. The needs of
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the victims weren't really considered. Now there's more of a
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holistic approach, understanding that abuse has long term effects.
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Speaker 1: Right, We're finally seeing the bigger picture. That's got to
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be crucial if we're going to deal with this problem effectively.
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Speaker 2: Absolutely, and for our listeners out there, this is a
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good example of why it's important to not only know
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about child abuse, but also to understand the systems that
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are in place to deal with it.
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Speaker 1: Good point, Knowledge is power, right. The more we understand
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how these systems work, the better we can advocate for
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improvements and make sure they're actually protecting kids. But it's
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not all about laws and policies, right. There's a human
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side to all this too. The emotional damage that abuse
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causes to the victims, their families, whole communities. We can't
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forget about that.
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Speaker 2: You're absolutely right, that's where empathy is so important. We
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can't forget that these aren't just statistics or headlines. We're
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talking about real people who've been through something truly awful.
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Speaker 1: It's easy to get lost in the numbers, the legal stuff,
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the policy debates, But at the end of the day,
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these are real lives that have been shattered by abuse.
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Speaker 2: I couldn't agree more. We need to create a space
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where their stories can be heard, where victims and survivors
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can talk about what happened and help people understand the
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real cost of abuse.
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Speaker 1: Their stories can move us, inspire us to do something
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in a way that facts and figures just can't. And
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speaking of stories, we started with a movie, An American Crime.
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It's a fictionalized version of this true story. Do you
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think movies like this true crime movies can help raise
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awareness and encourage positive chain or do they just sensationalize
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violence and exploit victims.
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Speaker 2: That's a tough one. There's no easy answer. On one hand,
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films and documentaries about tough subjects like child abuse can
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be really powerful. You can bring these issues to life
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in a way that just talking about them can't. They
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help people connect with the human side of the story.
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Speaker 1: They make it real in a way that news reports
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or statistics just can't right exactly, and.
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Speaker 2: That's important for building empathy and understanding. But there's also
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a danger that these movies will just focus on the
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sensational aspects the violence. You know, it's a fine line
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between showing the truth about abuse and exploiting people suffering
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for entertainment.
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Speaker 1: It's like trying to find the balance between raising awareness
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and respecting the victims. That's got to be a difficult
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thing for filmmakers to do, it is.
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Speaker 2: For sure. I think viewers need to be careful too,
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you know, be critical about what you're watching. Think about
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what the movie is trying to do. Are they presenting
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a fair and balanced view or are they just trying
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to shock you.
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Speaker 1: We got to think about the ethics of how these
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stories are told, especially with a sensitive topic like this,
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and that actually leads into our next topic, the ethical
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considerations around how true crime is portrayed in the media.
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What are some of the most important things to keep
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in mind when we're consuming this kind of content.
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Speaker 2: Well, the most important thing is to remember that at
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the heart of every true crime story there are real
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people who have been through something terrible. Their stories deserve
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to be treated with respect. We can't forget that we.
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Speaker 1: Can't forget that they're not just characters in a story.
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These are real people whose lives have been changed forever
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by these events exactly.
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Speaker 2: And it's important to be aware of any biases that
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might be in the story and to be critical. Ask yourself,
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whose voices are we hearing, whose perspectives are being left out?
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Speaker 1: We have to question the narrative, right, make sure we're
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getting the whole story, not just one side exactly.
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Speaker 2: And finally, it's important to be mindful of how this
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kind of content affects us. You know, true crime can
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be really engaging, even addictive, but we need to set
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boundaries and take breaks when we need to.
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Speaker 1: We need to know our limits, right, don't let ourselves
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get sucked into all the darkness.
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Speaker 2: Right. Taking care of ourselves is super important, especially when
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we're dealing with stuff that's heavy and emotionally.
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Speaker 1: Draining, you know, talking about all this, it's kind of
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amazing how far we've come. We started with the Sylvia
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Lichens case, all the awful details, the injustice, but we've
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gone beyond that, haven't we. We're talking about action, about change,
15:22
about how we can learn from the past and make
15:24
things better.
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Speaker 2: That's a great observation. It really shows the power of
15:27
having these kinds of conversations. You know, they don't just
15:30
inform us, they inspire us to do.
15:32
Speaker 1: Something totally and I think it shows how resilient people
15:35
can be even when faced with something truly horrible. There's
15:38
always hope, always the chance to grow and change for
15:41
the better.
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Speaker 2: I couldn't agree more. And for our listeners, I think
15:44
this shows how important it is to not just passively
15:48
take in information, but to actively try to make the
15:52
world a better place.
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Speaker 1: It's about taking what we've learned and doing something good
15:56
with it, something that can actually help other people. So so,
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what can our listeners do if they want to get
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involved in fighting child abuse?
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Speaker 2: That's a great question. There are a ton of ways
16:07
to get involved, and even small things can make a difference.
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Speaker 1: Give us some ideas. How can our listeners make a
16:12
real impact?
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Speaker 2: First off, knowledge is key. Learn about the signs of
16:16
child abuse, know what resources are available in your community,
16:20
and be ready to speak up if you see something
16:22
that's not right. There are tons of organizations dedicated to
16:26
preventing child abuse and supporting survivors.
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Speaker 1: So educate yourself and then take action. Put what you
16:31
learn into practice exactly.
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Speaker 2: Doesn't have to be a huge commitment. Volunteer your time,
16:35
donate to a cause, or even just talk about these
16:38
issues with your friends and family. Spread the word.
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Speaker 1: Every little bit counts, right, We all have a part
16:43
to play and making the world a safer place.
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Speaker 2: For kids for sure. And remember you're not alone in this.
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There are so many people and organizations working hard to
16:52
protect children and stop abuse. If we work together, we
16:56
can make a real difference.
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Speaker 1: That's a message of hope we can all get behind.
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This has been a tough one, but an important one.
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Thanks to our listeners for joining us on this deep
17:05
dive into a really difficult subject. Remember knowledge is power
17:10
and understanding the past can help us build a better future.
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Speaker 2: And don't forget you're not alone. There are people to care,
17:17
resources you can use, and a shared responsibility to protect
17:20
those who need it most.
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Speaker 1: Keep learning, keep questioning, keep speaking up for what's right.
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We'll be back soon with another deep dive. So we've
17:28
really gotten deep on this one. Definitely heavy stuff, no
17:30
doubt about it. As we wrap things up, anything from
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what our listeners sent in really jump out at you.
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Speaker 2: You know. It's the resilience of the people who went
17:38
through all this, it's incredible. It's easy to focus on
17:40
the horrible parts of this case, but there were glimmers
17:43
of hope too. Sylvia's sister Jenny, her bravery was amazing.
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Imagine speaking out against your captors like that, How much
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courage that took, and her testimony was a big reason
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why they were able to bring those responsible to justice.
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Speaker 1: That's so true. That really stuck with me as well.
17:59
So many adults didn't do anything and it was this
18:02
young girl who finally helped stop the abuse. It really
18:06
shows you that even in the darkest situations, strength and
18:09
resilience can shine through.
18:11
Speaker 2: Absolutely, And while I can't erase the pain or bring
18:14
Sylvia back, knowing that people were actually held accountable for
18:18
what they did that's huge. It means that society on
18:21
some level recognized how serious this was and they tried
18:24
to get justice. It shows what can happen when you
18:26
speak up, when you don't let these things just fade away.
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Speaker 1: It shows that even though the system might be flawed,
18:31
it can still work. You know, at least sometimes maybe
18:35
just maybe things are moving in the right direction to start.
18:38
Speaker 2: Definitely, the public outcry after Sylvia died that played a
18:42
big part in changing child protection laws and raising awareness
18:45
about abuse. It's a sad kind of legacy, but a
18:50
legacy nonetheless.
18:51
Speaker 1: Yeah, we've spent a lot of time focusing on the
18:53
bad stuff, the failures, but you're right there have been
18:55
some positive changes too. So for our listener, what do
18:59
you think is the biggest take away from all this?
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Speaker 2: It comes down to this. I think it's not enough
19:04
to just know about these problems. We have to do
19:06
something about them, learn the signs of abuse, support groups
19:09
that are fighting for children's rights, and most importantly, if
19:12
you see something wrong, say something. Don't be a bystander,
19:16
be an upstander.
19:17
Speaker 1: Powerful stuff. We can't change the past, but we can
19:20
learn from it. We can work towards a future where
19:23
all kids are safe. As heartbreaking as Sylvia like Likens's
19:26
story is, it can be the thing that pushes us
19:28
to make that change.
19:29
Speaker 2: It's a reminder that we always need to be on
19:31
the lookout. Abuse can happen anywhere, even in places that
19:34
seem totally normal.
19:36
Speaker 1: This has been a really tough one, but so important
19:38
to talk about To everyone listening, Thank you for diving
19:41
into this dark part of history. With us. Remember the
19:44
more you know, the more power you have. And by
19:47
understanding what happened in the past, we can give ourselves
19:50
the tools to build a better future.
19:52
Speaker 2: And remember you don't have to face this alone. There
19:56
are people who care, there are resources available, and we
19:59
all have a response. It's ability to protect those who
20:01
are vulnerable.
20:02
Speaker 1: Keep learning, keep asking questions, and keep standing up for
20:05
what's right until next time, Keep those deep dives going