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A coroner in Indiana has harshly criticized law enforcement for their handling of the Fox Hollow Farm serial killer case, stating they “dropped the ball” during the initial investigation in the 1990s.
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison revealed in April that his office successfully identified human remains at Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana. These remains belong to Daniel Thomas Halloran, who is recognized as the tenth victim of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister. Authorities have linked Baumeister to a minimum of 25 victims, raising significant concerns about his criminal activities.
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Jellison expressed his belief that the local law enforcement did not adequately handle the investigation when it first began. He noted that while the initial excavation of the remains was well executed, the investigation deteriorated over time, leading to missed opportunities.
“I think originally in the investigation, law enforcement did a good job of excavating the remains, but I think as time went on in the investigation, our county really dropped the ball,” Jellison asserted.
During the late 1990s, Jellison indicated that local authorities imposed the financial burden of DNA testing on the victims’ families, rather than funding it themselves. He speculated that this decision limited the pursuit of additional suspects or victims.
“They made the decision not to fund DNA testing to identify potential victims in what might be one of the most prolific serial murders in our country,” he said. “They placed the burden of that DNA testing on the families, along with the cost. And I think there was, from a criminal side, the potential for additional suspects that exists. I don’t know that law enforcement pursued that as aggressively as they could have.”
Detectives believe that Baumeister lured gay men to his residence during the 1980s and 1990s, ultimately killing them and burying their bodies across his expansive 18-acre property, known as Fox Hollow Farm.
During this dark period, Baumeister, who owned the Sav-A-Lot shopping chain, would visit gay bars around the Indianapolis area to find men to bring home when his family was away.
In the summer of 1995, authorities first identified Baumeister as a suspect. However, they could not access his property until 1996, when they discovered approximately 10,000 bones and bone fragments during a significant investigation.
Following the recovery of the remains, Baumeister took his own life in 1996 at a Canadian park after his son uncovered bone fragments on their property, triggering renewed scrutiny by law enforcement.
By April 1998, Hamilton County Sheriff James Bradbury stated that the case was considered closed, despite the significant evidence gathered.
“If somebody has any information, we don’t care who it is, we’d be happy to look at it,” Bradbury commented at the time. “But Herb Baumeister is the only suspect we have in any of them.”
Families of the victims have waited decades for closure, a situation that Jellison seeks to rectify. He initiated an investigation aimed at identifying DNA from the 10,000 bone fragments in 2022, hoping to bring peace to the affected families.
“I cannot imagine that law enforcement would push the financial burden of a DNA test onto a victim’s family in today’s world,” Jellison stated. “These remains represent victims in a homicide, in a murder. So, to say to the families that if you want to know if your loved one was a victim of a murder, I mean, that’s a tragedy in and of its own.”
He continued, emphasizing that societies have grown more sensitive to the needs of victims and their families in contemporary times.
The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has opted not to comment further on Jellison’s allegations.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Investigations
The public’s reaction has been mixed, with many expressing outrage over the past treatment of victims’ families and questioning the decisions made by law enforcement agencies during the original investigation. Activists and advocates for victims’ rights have called for a thorough re-evaluation of the case, demanding accountability and a commitment to preventing similar oversights in the future.
As Jellison continues his efforts to identify the victims, he underscores the importance of community support and awareness in ensuring justice for those affected by such heinous crimes. The revelations about the handling of the case could lead to significant changes in how law enforcement agencies approach similar cases, promoting a focus on compassion and thorough investigation.
In light of the ongoing investigations, families are hopeful that modern forensic capabilities will shed new light on the case, potentially identifying additional victims and bringing closure to those who have long suffered in silence. They draw strength from the pursuit of justice, determined to keep the memories of their loved ones alive.
