The following is an interpretation of events based on..
Baniszewski v. The State of Indiana, 1966.
All testimonies comes from court transcripts.
I used to love the carnival.
Daddy worked all the fairs selling pretzel...
and candy apple.
Always looking for something better.
Sometimes mama would follow him...
sometimes he even take us.
It was always a new adventure...
with a whole new family, every time.
I figured Jennie and me, were...
the luckiest girls in the world. with a life like that.
My favorite was the merry-go-round...
Maybe I was a little old for it, but...
all those other rides they scared me.
The merry-go-round, just goes round and round, and up and down.
It don't go anywhere, but I always felt save.
That's me on the left.
Sylvia.
And that's my story.
I'm a Prostitute and proud of it.
Would you please state your name.
Lester Likens.
Are you married to Betty Likens?
Yes.
Did you and your wife ever separate?
Yes.
What period of time did that occur?
The last week in June 1965.
She was at Euclid street, and I was in Lebanon, Indiana.
Where were the children?
Jennie Faye and Silvia Marie was with her.
Do you think, we'll make new friends?
Sure we will.
Well, maybe there'll be some cute boys this time.
They're supposed to be cute.
Come on girls, you don't wanna be late now for church.
Hey!
Daddy?
Hey, Jennie. What're you doing here?
Well, I missed you girls.
Hi Betty, can I talk to for a minute?
You know, I've been talking to a Horst and he says...
that we could maybe play our own band at the state-fair this year.
Then maybe we could make enough money to go on tour.
I told Lester, that I can't do it anymore...
not with the girls.
Maybe my mother will take them.
I can't move them up there again.
They haven't even had a chance to make friends down here yet.
Betty, maybe we wouldn't fight as much, without the kids.
Mama?
You two, go on ahead and catch the church bus home.
I've gotta settle things with your father.
See what love the father has given us...
and we are called children of god.
And so we are!
But how does a child, come on to his father?
How does the father, come on to the child?
Christ said: I am the way. The truth, the live and love.
Come on to the father, but by me.
Our families, our fathers, our mothers.
It is only through Christ, that we find our father.
And it's only through Christ, that we find each other.
Oh, that's a beautiful dress, Hope.
Oh, thank you, Gertrude.
And huh... I'm feeling much better, with my new medicine...
and... you know anybody, that needs ironing to be done...
I'd appreciate the work.
I'll do that.
Thank you.
What happened to your leg?
That's not nice, Shirley!
That's alright, she's used to it.
So what is it? Polio.
Polio?
Does that hurt?
Our mama is a sick too.
All right girls!
We gotta go.
Can they come with us?
You wanna come? We've got some friends coming over...
and you can meet our older sister.
Let's do. Sure!
Guess who got stuck with an extra shift at work?
Did you get paid? Mm'hm.
Got a little extra for dinner.
Here, take the baby.
Where'd they come from?
What's this?
We invited them to stay and play.
We'll be quiet.
All right, make sure of it.
I really like this song.
What's your dad do?
He is cop, they are divorced.
Do you miss him any?
Nah, I just miss his money.
But, Paula! Well, it's true.
Maybe, if he's more regular with his support...
Mom wouldn't be so sick...
and I wouldn't have to work so hard.
Little Kenny's got a different daddy.
Who's little Kenny? The baby.
But we ain't supposed to talk about that.
Auh!
Finished!
Wow! You should do this for a living.
Yeah, if she was old enough.
You want me to do yours?
Oh, no, thanks.
Yeah, she's the pretty one.
Yeah, she's got nice hair.
I'm pretty too. The hell you are!
Oh, let me see that brush.
I tell you what? Let's go get a coke.
My boyfriend works over at the liquor store, get him to buy a couple.
Sure.
You girls behave!
We're goin' to groceries.
Tell Andy, he owes me for little Kenny!
And don't be waistin' time on that bag-boy.
He ain't a bag-boy, Mama!
Sort of wasted space.
She don't like my boyfriend. Yeah, I can see that.
Hey, Johnny, quit it!
Sorry, Mrs. Doyle.
Hey!
You weren't at church today.