The Unending Horror Of Fox Hollow Farm: 13 Victims Identified, But Who Are The Remaining 12?
The legacy of one of Indiana's most notorious serial killers, Herbert Richard "Herb" Baumeister, remains a chilling, open case decades after his death. The sprawling estate known as Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana, became the epicenter of a horrific discovery in 1996, revealing thousands of charred human bone fragments belonging to numerous victims. As of late 2024 and into December 2025, the Hamilton County Coroner's office continues its tireless, modern forensic investigation to give names back to the unidentified remains, proving that the search for justice is far from over. This deep dive explores the man, his monstrous crimes, and the cutting-edge science finally closing in on the truth.
The sheer scale of Baumeister's crimes, targeting primarily young gay men who vanished from the Indianapolis area, is staggering, with estimates suggesting at least 25 victims were murdered and buried on his property. While the serial killer took his own life before facing justice, the painstaking work of identification has recently accelerated, bringing closure to several families. This article provides the most current update on the ongoing investigation, the newly identified victims, and the chilling questions that still surround the man known as the "I-70 Strangler" and the secrets of Fox Hollow Farm.
Herbert Richard Baumeister: A Profile of the Serial Killer
The profile of Herb Baumeister is a study in contrasts: a seemingly successful businessman, family man, and pillar of the community masking a dark, deeply disturbed double life. His crimes were primarily linked to the disappearances of men from the Indianapolis gay bar scene, often from venues like the '90s bar, the Metro, and the Our Place bar. The following is a complete biographical profile of the suspected serial killer.
- Full Name: Herbert Richard Baumeister
- Aliases: Herb Baumeister, The I-70 Strangler
- Date of Birth: April 7, 1947
- Place of Birth: Indianapolis, Indiana
- Spouse: Juliana "Julie" Baumeister (married 1971)
- Children: Three children (two daughters, one son)
- Education: Attended Indiana University, dropped out.
- Career: Founder of the successful thrift store chain, Sav-A-Lot (unrelated to the national chain).
- Primary Residence: Fox Hollow Farm, a 18-acre estate in Westfield, Indiana (Hamilton County).
- Modus Operandi: Targeted men, primarily gay men, from the Indianapolis area. He is suspected of luring them to his home under false pretenses.
- Estimated Victims: At least 25 victims are believed to be buried at Fox Hollow Farm, with others linked to the "I-70 Strangler" moniker.
- Date of Death: July 3, 1996
- Cause of Death: Suicide (self-inflicted gunshot wound) in a provincial park in Ontario, Canada, shortly after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
The Ongoing Investigation: Naming the Unidentified Victims
While Herb Baumeister died nearly three decades ago, the investigation into his victims is experiencing a significant resurgence, driven by advancements in forensic genealogy and DNA technology. The Hamilton County Coroner, led by Coroner Jeff Jellison, has made a dedicated, public push to identify the more than 10,000 bone fragments recovered from Fox Hollow Farm in 1996. This is the most crucial and current update in the entire case.
The initial search of the property, prompted by the concerns of Baumeister's wife, Juliana, and the relentless efforts of missing persons investigator Paul Dean, uncovered the gruesome evidence. The victims' remains were often found charred and fragmented, making traditional identification methods nearly impossible at the time.
Today, the use of genetic genealogy has provided the breakthrough needed. The process involves extracting DNA from the decades-old remains and uploading the profile to public genealogy databases like GEDmatch, with the help of specialized teams such as GenGenies. This technique allows investigators to find distant relatives of the deceased, building a family tree backward to eventually pinpoint the identity of the victim.
The Identified: Bringing Closure to Families
The tireless work has resulted in several successful identifications in recent years, offering a measure of closure to families who have waited decades for answers. As of the latest reports, the number of identified victims has reached 13.
Among the men recently identified is Daniel Thomas Halloran, whose name was announced by the Hamilton County Coroner's office. His identification highlights the success of the renewed forensic efforts. Other identified victims include Allen Livingston, Manuel Resendez, Jeff Jellison, and Richard (last name often withheld in reports). The identification of Steven Hale and Jeffrey Jones were also part of the earlier discoveries.
The coroner's office has repeatedly stressed that they believe there are still at least 12 more victims to be identified from the remains recovered at Fox Hollow Farm. The investigation remains active, with authorities urging anyone with a missing male relative from the 1980s or 1990s in the Indianapolis area to submit DNA samples to aid the ongoing effort.
The Double Life and The I-70 Strangler Connection
Baumeister's double life was a masterclass in deception, allowing him to operate undetected for years. He was a wealthy family man living in a prestigious area, which made him an unlikely suspect for the disappearances of men from the city's gay community. His wife, Juliana, was largely unaware of his secret life and the horrifying activities taking place on their 18-acre property.
The connection to the I-70 Strangler is a complex and highly debated aspect of the case. Before the discoveries at Fox Hollow Farm, a string of similar murders along the Interstate 70 corridor in the Midwest led investigators to believe a single perpetrator was responsible. These victims were also young men, often found strangled, leading to the moniker "The I-70 Strangler" or "The Highway Killer."
While Baumeister was never formally charged with the I-70 murders due to his suicide, ballistics evidence from the gun he used to kill himself linked him to at least one of the highway victims, Michael Allen, who was shot in 1985. This connection strongly suggests that Baumeister's killing spree extended far beyond the confines of his Westfield estate. The official FBI file on the case notes his connection to the I-70 Strangler, solidifying his place as a prolific, regional predator.
The sheer number of entities involved—the Hamilton County Sheriff's Department, the Westfield Police, the FBI, the Indiana State Police, and numerous missing persons cases—demonstrates the complexity of the investigation. The fact that the remains were found in his backyard, a place he called his "playground," speaks to a chilling level of confidence and psychopathy.
New Media and Unanswered Questions: The Fox Hollow Murders
The enduring mystery and horror of the case have led to renewed public interest, exemplified by a new true-crime docuseries titled 'The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer.' This series explores the possibility of secret tapes or journals left by Baumeister, which could potentially reveal the identities of the remaining unidentified victims and the full scope of his crimes.
The most pressing unanswered questions remain:
- Who are the remaining unidentified victims? The Hamilton County Coroner's office is committed to finding the names of the remaining individuals.
- What were the full circumstances of his initial targeting? While he preyed on gay men, the exact methods of luring and the timeline of his earliest murders are still being pieced together.
- How many victims were truly his? The estimate of 25 is conservative, and some investigators believe the total count, including the I-70 Strangler victims, could be higher.
The case of Herbert Richard Baumeister serves as a grim reminder of the secrets that can hide behind a seemingly normal facade and the long, difficult road to achieving justice for victims of serial violence. The ongoing forensic work at Fox Hollow Farm, decades later, ensures that the victims' stories will not be forgotten and that their names will eventually be spoken.
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