A World of Insanity: The Horrendous Crimes of Child Abuse

When the police arrived Gertrude handed them the letter she had forced Sylvia to write; her younger sister Jenny insisted that they  take her and she would explain to them everything that had occurred. The girls had only been in the care of Gertrude for three months. Gertrude Baniszewski, two of her children Paula and John and two neighborhood boys Richard Hobbes and Coy Hubbard were all charged with murder. Gertrude’s defense was insanity. She stated in her defense that she was depressed due to the burden of caring for seven children on top of being chronically ill. She however, did not admit to taking part in the murder and blamed her children for it. Her children along with Jenny Likens took the stand and all testified to the surrounding events of the murder. Gertrude was sentenced life in prison for first degree murder, her daughter Paula was convicted of second degree murder and also received life, Richard Hobbes and Coy Hubbard were each convicted of manslaughter and were released two years afterwards. Gertrude was approved for parole after twenty years and prior to her death admitted to her role in the murder.

The tragedy of this story is not only the murder of a 16 year old girl, and not only the illness of her caretaker, but the involvement of the other children who were forced into the acts leading to the girl’s death. Over 1000 children die each year due to abuse. This may seem like a small number in the larger scheme of population however, it is a tragedy for each child who is murdered by those who are responsible for their nurturing and I am sure that it is a tragedy for each loved one of each child. Since the 1960s many acts have been in place in an attempt to prevent murders and abuse similar to what Sylvia Likens endured; this includes acts to ensure that abuse will be reported. I have come to know better than to ask if it can get any worst. Of course there are many other acts of horrendous nature that occur but I cannot help but feel an extra weight when hearing of those concerning children. And when reflecting on it, it truly is insanity. Not just those who commit the acts but of a world itself where these things are a norm as to having hundreds of stories and articles each day about such heinous crimes.

Image via Wikipedia

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