Nouns
Paddle
Gertrude used a heavy paddle and thick, leather belt...
“a short pole with a broad blade at one or both ends, used without a rowlock to move a small boat or canoe through the water”
Spat
Gertrude spat at Sylvia and Jenny
“eject saliva forcibly from one's mouth, sometimes as a gesture of contempt or anger”
Empty
Sylvia was forced to strip naked and shove an empty Coca-Cola bottle...
containing nothing; not filled or occupied
Prescription drugs
Dealt with a crippling depression through heavy doses of prescription drugs.
“an instruction written by a medical practitioner that authorizes a patient to be issued with a medicine or treatment”
Ashtray
They used her skin as an ashtray...
“a small receptacle for tobacco ash and cigarette ends”
Tortured
Gertrude Baniszewski and her children tortured Sylvia Likens to death.
“inflict severe pain or suffering on”
Scalding
After this, she would often be “cleansed” in a scalding hot bath.
“very hot; burning:”
Malnutrition
Sylvia was dead by Oct. 26, 1965, from a brain hemorrhage, shock, and malnutrition
“lack of proper nutrition, caused by not having enough to eat, not eating enough of the right things, or being unable to use the food that one does eat:”
Perpetrators
The perpetrators even managed...
“a person who carries out a harmful, illegal, or immoral act”
Abuse
Sylvia was abused.
“treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly”
Frail
Though a frail woman...
“weak and delicate”
Allegedly
Other next-door neighbors allegedly were aware of how Sylvia was abused
“used to convey that something is claimed to be the case or have taken place, although there is no proof”
Torment
She endured unimaginable torment before she died
“severe physical or mental suffering”
Endured
She endured unimaginable torment before she died
"suffer (something painful or difficult) patiently”
Lest
Gertrude demanded that Jenny join in, lest she take...
“with the intention of preventing (something undesirable); to avoid the risk of”
Sermon
Gertrude gave sermons on the evils of sexual immortality...
a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible”
Autopsy
The autopsy backed up everything Jenny told the police
“a post-mortem examination to discover the cause of death or the Extent of disease:”
Mutilated
They’d beaten her and mutilated her body
“inflict a violent and disfiguring injury on”
Crippling
Dealt with a crippling depression...
"causing a severe and almost insuperable problem"
Polio
Jenny was quiet and withdrawn with a limp from polio.
“a contagious viral disease of the brain and spinal cord which often causes permanent paralysis”