The discovery of over 10,000 human bone fragments at Herb Baumeister’s Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana, has shocked the nation as authorities work tirelessly to identify the remains of his victims.
Baumeister, a once-prominent businessman, is believed to have been responsible for a string of murders in the 1990s.
It all started in 1994 when Baumeister’s 13-year-old son stumbled upon a human skull and bones on their sprawling $1 million estate.
At first, Baumeister explained the discovery away, claiming that the bones belonged to a medical skeleton once owned by his late father.
However, the situation took a chilling turn when, two years later, investigators uncovered thousands of human bone fragments buried on the property.
Baumeister, who owned a chain of thrift stores, led a double life. Authorities believe he targeted gay men in local bars, luring them to his estate under false pretenses before murdering them.
The remains found on his property, some burned and crushed, are believed to belong to at least 25 victims.
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The case remained open for years until Baumeister’s sudden disappearance in 1996.
The day after the remains were found, Baumeister vanished, only to be discovered dead in a Canadian park from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
However, the grisly discovery sparked an investigation that pointed to Baumeister as one of Indiana’s most notorious serial killers.
In 2022, Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison launched a renewed effort to identify the victims using cutting-edge DNA technology, including genetic genealogy.
As of now, about 40 DNA samples have been submitted by relatives of missing men who believe their loved ones may have fallen victim to Baumeister.
In May 2024, one of the victims, Jeffrey Jones, was positively identified from the remains recovered in 1996. In October 2023, another victim, Allen Livingston, was also confirmed.
Authorities are optimistic that the continued use of DNA testing will help bring closure to more families and identify all of Baumeister’s victims.