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Herb Baumeister took many secrets to his grave, leaving behind a chilling legacy that continues to haunt Indiana.
One of those secrets is the location of a series of tapes believed to document his horrific crimes at Fox Hollow Farm, a sprawling estate with a dark history. Baumeister, who is suspected of being one of the most prolific serial killers in Indiana, is the focal point of a gripping four-part docuseries from ABC News Studios titled “The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer.” This series can be streamed on Hulu.
Approximately 10,000 charred bones and bone fragments have been discovered on the 18-acre property, raising questions about the fate of Baumeister’s victims. Before authorities could apprehend him in 1996, Baumeister died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a Canadian park at the age of 49.
According to reports from the U.K.’s Daily Mail, Baumeister’s wife, Julie, revealed that a significant collection of tapes had disappeared from their home. Additionally, Canadian police had observed a box of tapes in Baumeister’s vehicle just days before his death.
The Unseen Evidence of a Killer’s Mind
The documentary explores the possibility that Baumeister may have recorded his victims using a hidden camera concealed within an air vent in his basement. Retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office Detective Cary Milligan comments in the docuseries that it is not uncommon for serial killers to keep mementos from their crimes.
“Many killers keep items to relive the experience of their murders,” said Milligan, who expressed his suspicion when investigators inspected the entertainment area in the basement.
There, they noticed the air vent, which appeared to have been tampered with. “The positioning of the vent suggested it could have housed a video camera that looked directly down at a chaise lounge,” Milligan noted.
Julie Baumeister confirmed that her husband often videotaped various activities, raising further concerns about what those tapes might contain.
The Search for Missing Tapes
Milligan recounted his visit to the Baumeister residence, where Julie led him to a storage room. “There was a noticeable blank spot on the shelf where the tapes usually rested,” he recalled. “She mentioned they were mysteriously gone, and she did not comprehend why.” This detail fuels the theory that the tapes may have included recordings of Baumeister’s illicit activities before or after the murders.
Mark Goodyear, a man believed to be Baumeister’s sole survivor, reported being forced to watch some of these tapes in 1994. The footage was reportedly so disturbing that it elicited a scream from Goodyear, though he did not provide specifics on what he witnessed.
Unraveling the Mystery of 10,000 Remains
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, who also contributed to the docuseries, expressed doubts about the likelihood of recovering the lost tapes. “All I know is what the police report indicated about the tapes in the back seat of his vehicle, but their current location remains a mystery,” Jellison stated.
Although finding the tapes seems unlikely, the airing of the documentary has revitalized interest in the case. Jellison mentioned that new information regarding potential victims is emerging as they sift through details in the very early stages of investigation.
Baumeister’s nefarious activities are believed to have taken place predominantly in Indianapolis. When his family was away, this thrift store owner allegedly lured men to his property, where he killed them and buried their bodies throughout the estate.
The series of murders came to light in 1994 when Baumeister’s son discovered a human skull in the woods surrounding Fox Hollow Farm. The unsettling find prompted a confrontation between Baumeister and Julie. He claimed the skull belonged to a medical school skeleton once owned by his father, an anesthesiologist. Shortly after, the skull vanished, prompting police interest in the home.
A Chilling Legacy
Baumeister left behind a rambling suicide note that failed to mention his crimes. By 1999, authorities connected him with the disappearances of at least 16 men dating back to 1980, and many bodies were found discarded in shallow waters throughout rural Indiana and western Ohio.
In 2022, Jellison announced a renewed commitment to identifying the bones found at Fox Hollow Farm through modern DNA technology. Investigators estimated that the remains could belong to at least 25 victims.
“For nearly 30 years, we had 10,000 human remains stored away in boxes at a university without any action taken,” expressed Jellison. “That’s unacceptable; they were essentially forgotten in the 1990s.”
Assisting in the excavation efforts, the University of Indianapolis’ Human Identification Center provided support for the handling of the remains.
A Pursuit for Justice
In 2022, another significant step occurred when Eric Pranger reached out to Jellison, suspecting that his cousin Allen Livingston, a 27-year-old bisexual man who vanished in 1993, might have been one of Baumeister’s victims.
The documentary’s director, Alex Jablonski, noted, “We believe Baumeister took the clothing of his victims and sold them at the thrift stores he owned. It was as if these individuals disappeared without a trace.”
Jellison mentioned that Livingston’s mother was seeking closure before her passing, reinforcing the importance of identifying these remains.
“We must act. Families deserve answers,” stressed Jellison. He indicated that the identification process was crucial for unresolved cases across the nation.
In 2023, the remains of Livingston were confirmed through DNA testing. Unfortunately, Livingston’s mother passed away in November 2024, leaving a bittersweet resolution to a long-fought search for answers.
Many questions surrounding Baumeister’s crimes linger. Jellison suspects he did not act alone. “Transporting the number of bodies reported is no small feat; it often suggests the assistance of an accomplice,” he explained.
Jablonski concurred with this assessment, highlighting the impracticality of moving bodies through the rugged terrain alone. “Just the physical labor alone raises doubts about Baumeister operating without help, especially given the amount of victims,” he added.
Authorities discovered shotgun shells and handcuffs in the wooded areas near the estate, increasing the mystery of Baumeister’s actions. Jellison claimed, “One set of handcuffs contained a human arm. If he worked alone, how did he manage to transport his victims without detection?”
Jellison continues to encourage anyone with missing loved ones to reach out to him. Following the release of the documentary, he has received numerous inquiries from families seeking information about relatives who vanished many years ago.
“A DNA swab is a simple and crucial step in identifying remains,” he remarked. “Contact us regardless of your location or case.” Jellison affirms his dedication to this mission, emphasizing the humanity and urgency behind it.
