For decades, the chilling story of Herb Baumeister, a serial killer believed to have taken the lives of around 25 young men, has haunted the community of Indianapolis.
Known for his grisly acts in the early 1990s, Baumeister lured his victims to his home, Fox Hollow Farm, where he killed them, disposed of their bodies, and left behind a terrifying trail of human remains.
The Shocking Discovery and Baumeister’s Death
In the summer of 1996, as police closed in on him, Baumeister fled to Canada.
Shortly after, he was found dead in a park, having taken his own life.
Despite his death, many questions remain unanswered about his crimes.
What’s even more unsettling is the mystery of the missing videotapes, which some believe could hold the key to understanding the full extent of Baumeister’s horrors.
The Search for Baumeister’s Hidden Tapes
It is widely believed that Baumeister filmed his crimes, using a hidden camera in the basement of his home.
When investigators searched Fox Hollow Farm, they discovered a loose air vent that appeared to be the perfect hiding spot for a camera.
They also found VHS recorders that could have been used to copy the tapes. However, despite these clues, the tapes themselves were nowhere to be found.
A Clue from the Past: The Tapes and the Escape to Canada
Baumeister’s wife, Julie, mentioned a large collection of tapes he had kept, but they mysteriously disappeared from their home before the police arrived.
Further complicating the mystery, Canadian authorities reportedly saw a box of tapes in Baumeister’s car before his death.
After his suicide, investigators found the car stripped of carpet, but no tapes were recovered. The whereabouts of the tapes remain a chilling unknown.
The Survivor’s Story and the Horrific Footage
Mark Goodyear, one of the few survivors linked to Baumeister, has shared harrowing details about his time with the killer.
He claims that Baumeister forced him to watch some of the disturbing footage from the tapes.
The survivor described the footage as ‘bad, bad’ and difficult to make out, but said it was so horrific it caused him to scream.
While Goodyear has changed his story several times, his recollections add another layer of mystery to the case.
Was Baumeister Working Alone?
Some experts believe that Baumeister may not have been operating alone.
The physical toll of disposing of so many bodies could suggest an accomplice.
Eric Pranger, the cousin of one of Baumeister’s victims, believes there was more than one person involved in the killings.
While law enforcement has not pursued this angle aggressively, the idea that Baumeister had help remains a topic of speculation.
Ongoing Investigation and the Search for Victims
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison is currently working to identify the thousands of remains found at Fox Hollow Farm, which could provide more answers about Baumeister’s victims.
His team is close to identifying two more bodies, potentially bringing the total number of confirmed victims to 11.
A Documentary That Sheds New Light
The ABC News Studios docuseries, The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer, premieres on February 18, shedding new light on this decades-old mystery.
The series explores Baumeister’s horrific crimes, the investigation, and the mystery of the missing videotapes that could hold the key to solving this chilling case.
While many questions still remain unanswered, the case continues to captivate and disturb, leaving investigators, experts, and the public alike searching for the truth.
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