Three decades after one of America’s most chilling serial killing sprees, questions still linger over the death of Herb Baumeister and the fate of his victims.
Known for hiding a horrific double life behind the façade of a loving husband and successful businessman, Baumeister terrorized Indianapolis in the early 1990s, leaving a trail of tragedy that continues to captivate true crime investigators.
The Man Behind the Monster
During the day, Baumeister was a seemingly ordinary family man, running a string of local thrift stores and raising three children.
By night, however, he frequented gay bars in downtown Indianapolis, luring young men back to his sprawling 18-acre estate, Fox Hollow Farm.
There, he committed unspeakable acts—killing, burning, and scattering the remains of his victims across the property.
When police finally closed in during the summer of 1996, Baumeister fled the city.
Days later, he was found dead in a Canadian park on July 4, officially from a self-inflicted gunshot.
Yet, a suicide note made no mention of his horrific crimes, leaving investigators and families with lingering doubts about how he truly died.
Questions Surrounding His Death
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, tasked with identifying thousands of human remains from the Fox Hollow Farm case, now casts doubt on the official story of Baumeister’s suicide. Speaking at CrimeCon in Denver, he suggested the possibility that Baumeister may have been silenced to prevent further revelations.
“Did he take his own life? Or was he killed to cover up the bigger picture of the case?” Jellison said.
Retired detective Steve Ainsworth echoed these concerns, pointing out that suicides can easily be staged, and stressed that the investigation deserves a closer look.
Missing Evidence and Unanswered Questions
Jellison revealed that some critical evidence from the original 1996 investigation may have disappeared, potentially sold to true crime enthusiasts.
He said that the current owner of Fox Hollow Farm, a historian of the case, possesses a box of photos and other materials from the investigation, some of which have been shared with Jellison’s team.
The coroner and Ainsworth also suspect Baumeister had an accomplice.
Handling dozens of victims alone seems physically implausible.
“How does one man drag all those bodies out into the woods and kill that many people by himself?” Jellison questioned.
Eric Pranger, cousin of one victim, agreed, citing his experience working in a funeral home to emphasize the logistical impossibility of Baumeister acting alone.
The Shadow of Mark Goodyear
The investigation has also focused on Mark Goodyear, a man who escaped Baumeister’s estate and whose story has shifted over the years.
Witnesses have suggested potential involvement, and Goodyear was at one point considered a suspect.
Despite never being charged, Jellison acknowledges, “He is still out there… and I’ve been asked many times why he is still out there.”
Identifying the Victims
The biggest unanswered question remains: who were Baumeister’s victims, and how many went unidentified? In 1996, only eight victims were positively identified.
When Baumeister died, the case was largely closed, leaving roughly 10,000 charred human remains shelved and neglected.
In 2022, Jellison reopened the investigation, despite resistance from the local sheriff’s department.
Many files were redacted, making his task more difficult, but he is determined to give the victims and their families long-overdue answers.
Progress in the Cold Case
Since restarting the investigation, Jellison has successfully identified two more victims and located three additional DNA profiles.
These profiles, currently being compared through genetic genealogy, may soon reveal the identities of more victims.
Authorities believe Baumeister may have killed up to 25 men, potentially placing his crimes among the deadliest in American history, even surpassing serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer.
A Mission for Justice
For Jellison, this is about more than solving a cold case—it’s about restoring dignity to lives lost too soon.
“These are people—someone’s son, brother, father, or husband,” he says. “For 26 years, they sat on a shelf.
It’s become my goal to get these people off that shelf and finally provide closure to their families.”