An American Crime

I used to love the carnival.

Daddy worked all the fairs

selling pretzels and candy apple...

...always looking for

something better.

Sometimes mama would follow him...

...sometimes he'd 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.

You don't get anywhere

but you always feel safe.

That's me, on the left...

...Sylvia...

...and this is my story.

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.

Church boys mean to be cute.

Come on girls, you don't

wanna be late now for service.

Hey!

Daddy?

- Hey, Jennie.

- What're you doing here?

Well, I missed you girls.

Hi Betty, can I talk

to you for a minute?

You know, I've been talking

to Horst and he says...

...that we could maybe swing our

own boot at the State-fair this year.

Then maybe we could make

enough money to go on tour.

I told you Lester, 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

this 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 life and none...

...come on to The Father

but by me.

Our families,

our fathers, our mothers.

It is only through Christ,

that we find The Father.

And it's only through Christ,

that we find each other.

Oh, that's a beautiful dress, Hope.

Oh, thank you, Gertrude.

And um, I'm feeling much

better on my new medicine and...

...if you know anybody who needs

ironing to be done, I'd appreciate the work.

I'll do that.

Thank you.

What happened to your leg?

That's not polite, Shirley!

It's alright, she's used to it.

- So what is it?

- Polio.

Polio?

Does that hurt?

Our mama's 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.

Sure!

Guess who got stuck with

an extra shift at work?

- Did you get paid?

-Hm'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 does 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.

There!

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,he gets me out a couple.

Sure.

You girls behave!

We're goin' to the grocery.

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.

Coy and I headin' over there now.

Yeah, you better be.

Let's get outta here.

That's my sister Stephanie,

she's big help around the house...

...when she ain't wasting time

with her boyfriend Coy.

Oh, God!

Hey, Paula.

Mama was asking after her money.

I bet she was.

Who's your friend?

Sylvia, but she don't talk to trash.

Excuse me.

That's my mama's ex boyfriend.

He's only 6 years older than me.

Just like her mom.

That's him.

That's my Bradley.

He's real cute.

We got both to be real

careful about it.

Why?

Because he's married.

I'm not even shittin' you,

no!

Paula!

Don't tell me you never

had a boyfriend.

Ah, well, there was this guy

in California but...

...I guess it was nothing.

Well, at least you did

more than kiss, right?

Well, aren't you just so damn pure!

Oh, come on.

Let's go!

This is Pleiku,

The Air Base that was threatened

by Vietnamiese communist guerillas...

Marie!

I need you to feed little Kenny.

If I don't get this ironing to

Mrs. Duke by four, I won't get a tip.

- We're all out of milk.

- Well, go get some.

They wont give us no more

credit at the store.

They will, if you take the baby.

Hello!

Oh, hi, I'm sorry.

Huh, somebody said they

saw my girls here.

You got no family here in Indy?

Well, not that

I could leave them with.

'Cause of them or you?

A little of both.

Hi, Mrs. Baniszewski,

is Shirley and Marie here?

Upstairs.

Shut the door!

Looks like, you've got kids running

in and outta here, all day long.

Why don't you leave Sylvia

and Jenny, here with me?

No, I couldn't do that.

I got six kids, two more

wont make a difference.

I guess that's true.

you won't have to worry.

You'd be helping me out too.

I could talk to

my wife about it.

Something to consider.

So, you'd never met Gertrude

Baniszewski before that day?

No, Sir.

But you were willing to leave your

children with a complete stranger?

Well, like I said, uh,

we got to talking and...

...she openly admitted, that she

would take care of the children...

...and treat them like

they were her own.

Okay! Here is 20 now...

...and uh, you'll have the next

payment in a week, Thursday.

-I'll need that money.

-You'll have it.

Johnny, bring the box upstairs!

I appreciate that, sweetheart.

I sure don't want you to go.

The circuit will be dying down

at the end of September.

That's over 2 months.

And I promise, I will be back

to get you girls then.

Okay, kids.

Goodbye, Jenny. Cookie!

- You be good!

- Okay.

All right!

-Bye.

-Bye.

Bye, girls.

You girls make sure

you get everything you need.

Thank you.

Well, come on!

We'll help you unpack.

Wait, I'll help you.

Nothing to be nervous about.

Everyone's really nice here.

I promise.

Hey, Paula, get your cherry

popped, this summer?

You sure didn't, Teddy,

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