The Sylvia Likens Case: What Happened To Paula Baniszewski?

Dr. Harold Adams 29 May 2025

Could a monster hide in plain sight, leading a normal life after committing unspeakable acts? The chilling case of Paula Baniszewski proves that, sometimes, the answer is a resounding yes.

In 1965, the name Paula Baniszewski became synonymous with unimaginable cruelty. She was one of the key figures convicted in the horrific torture and killing of Sylvia Likens, a crime that shocked the nation and continues to haunt the collective memory of Indianapolis and beyond. The depravity of the acts committed against Sylvia Likens defied comprehension, and the involvement of numerous individuals, including children, made the case all the more disturbing. The details of Sylvia's suffering are harrowing, painting a picture of sustained abuse and neglect that ultimately led to her death. The case sparked outrage and a demand for justice, leading to the trials and convictions of those responsible.

Category	Information
Full Name	Paula Baniszewski (later known as Paula Pace)
Date of Birth	1947 (approximate)
Place of Birth	Indiana, USA
Parents	Gertrude Baniszewski
Siblings	One of seven children
Crime	Manslaughter in the death of Sylvia Likens
Year of Crime	1965
Conviction	Voluntary Manslaughter
Sentence	Originally sentenced to life, later paroled
Parole Date	1974
Name Change	Changed name to Paula Pace after parole
Later Life	Moved to Iowa, worked as a teacher, married, and had children
Public Exposure	Past revealed in 2012, leading to public scandal
Reference	Wikipedia - Sylvia Likens Murder

Born in 1947, Paula was the daughter of Gertrude Baniszewski, a single mother grappling with financial instability, multiple divorces, and mental health issues. The Baniszewski home was far from a stable environment; it was a place where children, including Paula, endured harsh conditions and a lack of proper supervision. This chaotic backdrop likely contributed to the events that would later unfold, although it in no way excuses the horrific actions taken against Sylvia Likens.

Paula Baniszewski's involvement in the Sylvia Likens case was particularly disturbing. She was actively involved in the abuse, responsible for beating and torturing Sylvia alongside her mother. On one occasion, Paula struck Sylvia in the face with such force that she broke her own wrist. This act of violence underscores the brutality and intensity of the abuse inflicted upon Sylvia. The other children in the Baniszewski home also participated in the torture, creating a climate of fear and cruelty that was difficult to escape.

Initially charged with murder, Paula Baniszewski eventually pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter after successfully arguing for a new trial. This decision allowed her to avoid a second trial and the potential of a harsher sentence. On May 25th, 1966, Paula Baniszewski, along with her mother Gertrude, was sentenced to life in prison. However, the sentences would not last a lifetime.

The Indiana Department of Corrections records indicate that Paula Baniszewski was sentenced in August 1971, although the specific details of the sentence remain unclear in the provided fragments. Before that, she made two unsuccessful attempts to escape from prison in 1971, indicating a desire to avoid the consequences of her actions. She was paroled in 1974, having served less than a decade for her role in Sylvia's death. After her release, she changed her name to Paula Pace, seeking to distance herself from her past.

Under the name Paula Pace, she moved to Iowa and embarked on a new chapter in her life. She found work as a teacher and seemingly integrated into her community. She married and had children, building a family life that appeared normal on the surface. For decades, her past remained hidden, known only to a select few. She successfully concealed her identity and the dark secrets she carried.

However, the past has a way of resurfacing. In 2012, Paula Pace's true identity was revealed, causing a public scandal that shook her community and brought the Sylvia Likens case back into the spotlight. The revelation that a former child killer was living among them, working with children, sparked outrage and fear. The community grappled with the knowledge that someone who had committed such a heinous crime had been able to rebuild her life and conceal her past for so long.

The case of Paula Baniszewski, later known as Paula Pace, raises profound questions about justice, forgiveness, and the possibility of redemption. Can someone who has committed such a terrible crime ever truly be forgiven? Should they be allowed to live a normal life, especially when that life involves working with vulnerable populations like children? These are complex ethical questions with no easy answers. The Sylvia Likens case continues to be a source of pain and anger for many, a reminder of the depths of human cruelty and the enduring impact of trauma.

The legal proceedings surrounding the Sylvia Likens case were extensive and involved multiple defendants. Gertrude Baniszewski, Paula's mother, was also convicted and sentenced to life in prison. John Baniszewski, Paula's brother, was convicted of manslaughter, along with Richard Hobbs and Coy Hubbard. These three, being minors at the time, were initially sentenced to serve between two and twenty-one years. However, they were all paroled after serving just two years in a reformatory. The lenient sentences given to some of the perpetrators sparked public outrage and further fueled the debate about justice and accountability.

The trial of Gertrude Baniszewski, John Baniszewski, Paula Baniszewski, Ricky Hobbs, and Coy Hubbard commenced in May of 1966. The prosecution sought the death penalty for all involved, even John and Hobbs, who were only thirteen and fourteen years old, respectively. This highlights the severity of the crime and the prosecution's determination to hold all participants accountable.

The events leading up to Sylvia Likens' death were marked by a gradual escalation of abuse. In the months preceding her death, Sylvia was subjected to relentless beatings, humiliation, and neglect. She was held captive in the Baniszewski home and deprived of food, medical care, and basic human dignity. The abuse was fueled by rumors that Sylvia had spread about Paula and Stephanie Baniszewski, accusing them of engaging in prostitution. According to Gertrude, Stephanie's boyfriend, Coy Hubbard, and other acquaintances were invited to witness Gertrude abusing Sylvia.

The 2007 film "An American Crime," directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Elliot Page and Catherine Keener, is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis single mother Gertrude Baniszewski. The film provides a chilling depiction of the events that transpired in the Baniszewski home and the devastating impact they had on Sylvia Likens. While the film is a dramatization, it remains faithful to the core facts of the case and serves as a stark reminder of the horrors that Sylvia endured.

The case of the State of Indiana v. Gertrude Baniszewski, John Baniszewski, Paula Baniszewski, Ricky Hobbs, and Coy Hubbard remains a dark chapter in American legal history. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked abuse, the importance of protecting vulnerable children, and the complexities of seeking justice in the face of unimaginable cruelty.

The actions of Paula Baniszewski and her accomplices forever changed the lives of Sylvia Likens and her family. The legacy of this tragic case continues to resonate today, prompting ongoing discussions about criminal justice, child welfare, and the capacity for human evil. It serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and the importance of holding perpetrators of abuse accountable for their actions. The name Sylvia Likens will forever be associated with this horrific crime, a symbol of innocence lost and the enduring pain of injustice.

Even the conviction of Richard Hobbs, Coy Hubbard, and John Baniszewski Jr., who were found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 2 to 21 years, due to their status as minors, highlights the widespread involvement and the tragic impact on the lives of so many young people caught in Gertrude Baniszewski's web of deceit and abuse.

The details surrounding the sentencing and parole of those involved paint a stark picture of the judicial system's response at the time. While Gertrude and Paula Baniszewski were initially sentenced to life in prison on May 25th, 1966, the subsequent parole of Paula and the relatively short sentences served by the others continue to spark controversy and debate. These decisions raise questions about the effectiveness of rehabilitation, the fairness of the legal system, and the long-term consequences of such heinous crimes.

Paula's successful attempt to start anew in Iowa, where she lived for over 30 years without legal incident, adds another layer of complexity to this story. The fact that she worked as a teacher further intensifies the ethical dilemma, forcing us to confront the possibility of redemption and the right to privacy versus the potential risk to vulnerable individuals.

The lack of detailed information regarding Paula Baniszewski's sentence from the Indiana Department of Corrections underscores the challenges in accessing historical records and piecing together the complete narrative of this case. The available fragments offer glimpses into the timeline of events, but they also highlight the need for further research and investigation to fully understand the legal and social context surrounding the Sylvia Likens tragedy.

The account from police stating that sylvia had spread rumors at tech high school that two of the mother's children by a previous marriage, paula baniszewski, 17, and stephanie baniszewski, 15 adds a possible motive for the abuse, highlighting the complex dynamics and the distorted sense of justification that may have fueled the horrific actions of Gertrude and her accomplices.

The inclusion of information that hobbs, hubbard and john baniszewski were convicted of man slaughter, and will each serve from two underscores the legal ramifications for those involved and the varying degrees of culpability assigned by the court. While none of the individuals received sentences that fully reflected the gravity of their crimes in the eyes of many, these convictions represent a measure of justice for Sylvia Likens and her family.

The fact that Richard Hobbs and Paula Baniszewski, two of the defendants in the Sylvia Likens murder trial, shun photographers during a recess in their trial illustrates the intense media scrutiny and public condemnation that surrounded the case. The defendants' attempts to avoid the cameras reflect their awareness of the gravity of their crimes and the profound impact they had on the community.