The story is about Sylvia Likens, a 16-year-old girl who was left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski, a woman with seven children, by her parents in 1965. Gertrude, who was described as depressed and unstable, took out her frustrations on Sylvia, subjecting her to physical and emotional abuse, including beatings, burnings with cigarettes, and forced tattooing. Gertrude also allowed her children and their friends to participate in the abuse, and even charged neighbors to watch Sylvia being tortured. Sylvia's condition deteriorated, and she eventually died from a cerebral hemorrhage caused by the abuse. Gertrude was sentenced to life in prison, but was later released on parole and died of lung cancer in 1990. The case was considered one of the most horrific in Indiana's history.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Sylvia Likens was born on January 3, 1943, to a couple who worked as circus actors.
2. Sylvia's parents left her and her sister, Nadielly, with a woman named Gertrude Baniszewski in 1965.
3. Gertrude had seven children of her own and was paid $20 per week to care for Sylvia and Nadielly.
4. Sylvia and Nadielly were not allowed to leave the house and were forced to do chores and help with childcare.
5. Gertrude started to humiliate, offend, and hit Sylvia and Nadielly, and eventually gave her children permission to do the same.
6. Gertrude's children were allowed to hit Sylvia and Nadielly for no reason, and Gertrude even forced Sylvia to eat her own feces.
7. Sylvia was not allowed to go to school and was forced to stay in the basement.
8. Gertrude started to charge people five cents to come and watch Sylvia being tortured and humiliated.
9. People who paid a little more were allowed to mutilate Sylvia.
10. Sylvia was forced to write a letter saying that her parents had abandoned her and that she was a prostitute.
11. Gertrude forced Sylvia to get a tattoo that said "I'm a prostitute and I'm proud of it".
12. Sylvia was burned with cigarettes and forced to eat rotten food.
13. Gertrude forced Sylvia to take baths in scalding water.
14. A boy named Corre, who was underage, hit Sylvia on the head with a broomstick.
15. Sylvia became very ill and eventually died on October 26, 1965, due to a cerebral hemorrhage caused by the beatings.
16. Gertrude was sentenced to life imprisonment but was released on parole and moved to Ohio.
17. Gertrude died of lung cancer in 1990.
18. Corre was taken to a juvenile center but was released after two years.
Note: These facts are based on the text and may not be entirely accurate or verified.