Baniszewski, Gertrude Wright (1929–1990)

views updated

Baniszewski, Gertrude Wright (1929–1990)

American murderer. Name variations: Nadine Van Fossan. Born Gertrude Van Fossan, 1929, in Indianapolis, Indiana; died of lung cancer, 1990; m. John Baniszewski (div.); m. Edward Guthrie (div.); remarried John Baniszewski (div.); lived with Dennis Lee Wright; children: 7, including Stephanie, Paula, John, Dennis.

Hired to care for the Likens sisters, Sylvia (16) and Jenny (15), while their parents traveled (July 1965); abused the sisters, particularly Sylvia who was beaten and burned, and encouraged her children and others to participate; in one of the most infamous crimes of the century, branded the words "I am a prostitute and proud of it" onto Sylvia's stomach and the girl eventually died of her injuries (Oct 26, 1965); received life sentence, while her children Paula and John were convicted of lesser charges, and charges were dropped against daughter Stephanie; was released on parole (1985) and relocated to Iowa.

See also John Dean, The Indiana Torture Slaying (Borf, 1999); Kate Millet, The Basement: Meditations on Human Sacrifice (Simon & Schuster, 1991).