
The Tragedy of Sylvia Likens: A Two-Part Series Preview
Published: July 3, 2026
Duration: 1:23
In the summer of 1965, 16-year-old Sylvia Likens was left in the care of a mother of seven while her parents traveled for work. What should have been a temporary arrangement turned into one of the most horrifying child abuse and torture cases in American history. As the abuse escalated behind closed doors, an entire neighborhood witnessed signs of cruelty, manipulation, and neglect. Yet Sylvia’s suffering continued in plain sight.
Next week, Once Upon a Crime takes a deep dive into one of the most infamous true crime cases of the 20th century. A st...