Latest news with #Baumeister
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Delphi, Fox Hollow, Burger Chef: 5 Indiana cases that grabbed attention of true crime fans
Indiana has had its share of controversial and gripping crime stories. Most are tragic, like the still-unsolved disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer. A few are simply egregious and incomprehensible, like the weeks-long torture and murder of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens perpetrated primarily by caregiver Gertrude Baniszewski. Years, even decades, after they happened, Indiana crimes continue to be the subject of docudramas, documentaries, podcasts and public interest. Here are five that have recently been featured in the true crime genre. Herb Baumeister lived with his wife and three children on an 18-acre horse farm off 156th Street in Westfield. But what happened at Baumeister's sprawling Fox Hollow Farm has continued to haunt Indiana nearly 30 years later. Baumeister, once a Westfield business owner, has become one of the most infamous serial killers in the state. Investigators believe Baumeister strangled more than two dozen men and buried their bodies in the woods on his property. The victims were mostly young, gay men Baumeister had lured to Fox Hollow. Baumeister fled to Canada a few days after the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office began its investigation into human remains found on his property. He shot himself in the head before police could arrest him. Authorities estimate there are about 25 victims, some of whom have been identified. Investigators later recovered more than 10,000 bone fragments scattered across Baumeister's wooded property. Ghost hunters, national TV networks, filmmakers and curious visitors frequented the farm. The case is also the subject of a new Hulu docuseries. Delphi teenagers Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German disappeared while hiking on the Monon High Bridge trail on Feb. 13, 2017. Their bloodied bodies were found the next day. The case lingered unsolved for more than five years before Richard Allen, who worked at the local pharmacy, was arrested and charged in the murders. The jury found Allen guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping the girls after a contentious, weeks-long trial in 2024. Special Judge Frances Gull sentenced him to 130 years in prison. The gruesome deaths of the two beloved teens shook and forever changed the small Indiana community. The case is one of the state's most high-profile and controversial murders, with Allen claiming the real killers were members of an Odinist group who murdered the girls during a sacrificial ritual in the woods. Some who followed the case have become firmly entrenched in their beliefs that a cabal of corrupt government officials framed an innocent man, or that they're in cahoots with the real killers, or that Libby's relatives were somehow involved. The girls' deaths have been the subject of several documentaries, including one that followed paranormal researchers in their quest for the killer, and an upcoming book by the hosts of Murder Sheet, a local podcast that covers true crime stories. Four employees were kidnapped from a Burger Chef in Speedway as they were closing up the restaurant on Nov. 17, 1978. Around midnight, one of them opened the back door to take out the garbage. What happened next is not fully known, but none of the young workers made it home that night. The bodies of assistant manager Jayne Friedt, 20; Ruth Shelton, 17; and Daniel Davis and Mark Flemmonds, both 16, were found in a wooded area near Center Grove High School in Johnson County, a 40-minute drive away. Shelton and Davis had been shot execution-style. Friedt had been stabbed several times. Flemmonds choked in his own blood after running 75 yards from the scene and into a tree. The notorious murders remain unsolved nearly 50 years later. Last year, the cold case became the subject of a docudrama titled "The Speedway Murders." The docudrama explores several theories about the case, including speculation that a group of Johnson County men tied to multiple robberies were behind the murders, or that Speedway bomber Brett Kimberlin was somehow involved, or that Friedt was the target because she owed money to drug dealers — none of which have been proven. The docudrama also features a man who claims a friend, who is now dead, confessed his involvement to him 40 years ago. The story of Indianapolis fertility doctor Donald Cline began to unravel in 2014, after Jacoba Ballard, who believed she was conceived using an anonymous sperm donor, took a DNA test to learn about her biological background. Instead, Ballard discovered a growing list of half-siblings. Throughout his career, Cline covertly inseminated dozens of patients with his sperm without their consent. The children believed their biological father was either an anonymous donor or the man who raised them. DNA testing revealed that 94 of his patients' children are biological siblings. Cline, whose license was revoked in 2018, pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice for lying to officials about whether he used his own sperm to inseminate patients. He did not spend time in prison. In 2022, the case was featured in a Netflix documentary, "Our Father," which named three women who didn't want to be identified. The women sued, although only one received a favorable decision from the jury. She was awarded $385,000. The story of Natalia Grace made international news after her adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, were accused of abandoning her in a Lafayette apartment before moving to Canada. The now-divorced couple adopted Natalia, who they believed to be a Ukrainian orphan, in 2010. In 2019, they were charged with neglect and later claimed Natalia is actually an adult woman with severe dwarfism posing as a child. Michael Barnett appeared on "Dr. Oz" saying Natalia threatened to kill his then-wife and their biological children. Natalia went on the "Dr. Phil" show to tell her side of the story. "It's not true at all," she said when asked whether she lied about her age and whether she intended to harm the Barnetts. Charges against Kristine Barnett were dismissed in 2023. Prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence to prove the neglect charges. Michael Barnett was acquitted by a jury in 2022. Natalia testified at her former adoptive father's trial. The saga is the subject of a new Hulu series, "Good American Family." Contributing: IndyStar staffers Ryan Murphy, Cheryl Jackson, John Tufts and Katie Wiseman; former IndyStar employees Claire Rafford, Natalia Contreras, Holly Hays and Dawn Mitchell; Lafayette Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins.
Indianapolis Star
15-07-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Delphi, Fox Hollow, Burger Chef: 5 Indiana cases that grabbed attention of true crime fans
Indiana has had its share of controversial and gripping crime stories. Most are tragic, like the still-unsolved disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer. A few are simply egregious and incomprehensible, like the weeks-long torture and murder of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens perpetrated primarily by caregiver Gertrude Baniszewski. Years, even decades, after they happened, Indiana crimes continue to be the subject of docudramas, documentaries, podcasts and public interest. Here are five that have recently been featured in the true crime genre. Herb Baumeister lived with his wife and three children on an 18-acre horse farm off 156th Street in Westfield. But what happened at Baumeister's sprawling Fox Hollow Farm has continued to haunt Indiana nearly 30 years later. Baumeister, once a Westfield business owner, has become one of the most infamous serial killers in the state. Investigators believe Baumeister strangled more than two dozen men and buried their bodies in the woods on his property. The victims were mostly young, gay men Baumeister had lured to Fox Hollow. Baumeister fled to Canada a few days after the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office began its investigation into human remains found on his property. He shot himself in the head before police could arrest him. Authorities estimate there are about 25 victims, some of whom have been identified. Investigators later recovered more than 10,000 bone fragments scattered across Baumeister's wooded property. Ghost hunters, national TV networks, filmmakers and curious visitors frequented the farm. The case is also the subject of a new Hulu docuseries. Delphi teenagers Abigail "Abby" Williams and Liberty "Libby" German disappeared while hiking on the Monon High Bridge trail on Feb. 13, 2017. Their bloodied bodies were found the next day. The case lingered unsolved for more than five years before Richard Allen, who worked at the local pharmacy, was arrested and charged in the murders. The jury found Allen guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of murder while kidnapping the girls after a contentious, weeks-long trial in 2024. Special Judge Frances Gull sentenced him to 130 years in prison. The gruesome deaths of the two beloved teens shook and forever changed the small Indiana community. The case is one of the state's most high-profile and controversial murders, with Allen claiming the real killers were members of an Odinist group who murdered the girls during a sacrificial ritual in the woods. Some who followed the case have become firmly entrenched in their beliefs that a cabal of corrupt government officials framed an innocent man, or that they're in cahoots with the real killers, or that Libby's relatives were somehow involved. The girls' deaths have been the subject of several documentaries, including one that followed paranormal researchers in their quest for the killer, and an upcoming book by the hosts of Murder Sheet, a local podcast that covers true crime stories. Four employees were kidnapped from a Burger Chef in Speedway as they were closing up the restaurant on Nov. 17, 1978. Around midnight, one of them opened the back door to take out the garbage. What happened next is not fully known, but none of the young workers made it home that night. The bodies of assistant manager Jayne Friedt, 20; Ruth Shelton, 17; and Daniel Davis and Mark Flemmonds, both 16, were found in a wooded area near Center Grove High School in Johnson County, a 40-minute drive away. Shelton and Davis had been shot execution-style. Friedt had been stabbed several times. Flemmonds choked in his own blood after running 75 yards from the scene and into a tree. The notorious murders remain unsolved nearly 50 years later. Last year, the cold case became the subject of a docudrama titled "The Speedway Murders." The docudrama explores several theories about the case, including speculation that a group of Johnson County men tied to multiple robberies were behind the murders, or that Speedway bomber Brett Kimberlin was somehow involved, or that Friedt was the target because she owed money to drug dealers — none of which have been proven. The docudrama also features a man who claims a friend, who is now dead, confessed his involvement to him 40 years ago. The story of Indianapolis fertility doctor Donald Cline began to unravel in 2014, after Jacoba Ballard, who believed she was conceived using an anonymous sperm donor, took a DNA test to learn about her biological background. Instead, Ballard discovered a growing list of half-siblings. Throughout his career, Cline covertly inseminated dozens of patients with his sperm without their consent. The children believed their biological father was either an anonymous donor or the man who raised them. DNA testing revealed that 94 of his patients' children are biological siblings. Cline, whose license was revoked in 2018, pleaded guilty to two counts of obstruction of justice for lying to officials about whether he used his own sperm to inseminate patients. He did not spend time in prison. In 2022, the case was featured in a Netflix documentary, "Our Father," which named three women who didn't want to be identified. The women sued, although only one received a favorable decision from the jury. She was awarded $385,000. The story of Natalia Grace made international news after her adoptive parents, Michael and Kristine Barnett, were accused of abandoning her in a Lafayette apartment before moving to Canada. The now-divorced couple adopted Natalia, who they believed to be a Ukrainian orphan, in 2010. In 2019, they were charged with neglect and later claimed Natalia is actually an adult woman with severe dwarfism posing as a child. Michael Barnett appeared on "Dr. Oz" saying Natalia threatened to kill his then-wife and their biological children. Natalia went on the "Dr. Phil" show to tell her side of the story. "It's not true at all," she said when asked whether she lied about her age and whether she intended to harm the Barnetts. Charges against Kristine Barnett were dismissed in 2023. Prosecutors said there wasn't enough evidence to prove the neglect charges. Michael Barnett was acquitted by a jury in 2022. Natalia testified at her former adoptive father's trial. The saga is the subject of a new Hulu series, "Good American Family." Contributing: IndyStar staffers Ryan Murphy, Cheryl Jackson, John Tufts and Katie Wiseman; former IndyStar employees Claire Rafford, Natalia Contreras, Holly Hays and Dawn Mitchell; Lafayette Journal & Courier reporter Ron Wilkins.
Indianapolis Star
12-06-2025
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana serial killer case from the 1990s is still under investigation. About Fox Hollow Farm
Four bodies found in Fall Creek, Pleasant Run Creek and the White River during a two-week period led some people on social media to theorize that there is a serial killer in Indianapolis. Police are still investigating, but they believe the deaths are unrelated. Investigators are, however, still learning more over time about an accused serial killer from the 1990s and his victims. Here's what to know. At the time of publication, there is not a reported serial killer in Indianapolis. The investigation into bodies found in water recently is still ongoing. While there isn't an active serial killer, there is still an active serial killer investigation: The Fox Hollow Farm murders. Herb Baumeister, the man who is believed to be the culprit behind the Fox Hollow Farm murders, is perhaps the most infamous serial killer in the Indianapolis area. Investigators believe he killed numerous men during the 1990s as remains were discovered on his farm in Westfield. The work to identify his victims is still ongoing. Only 10 suspected victims have been identified at this point, but there are estimated to be 25. 2025: Is there a serial killer in Indianapolis? Police say 4 bodies found in water unrelated Baumeister was a Westfield businessman during the 1990s and is believed to be the serial killer responsible for the Fox Hollow Farm murders. The victims were mostly young, gay men that Baumeister lured to his property north of Indianapolis, according to the coroner. Authorities never got the chance to interview the suspected serial killer. Before law enforcement could arrest him, Baumeister fled to Canada, where he shot and killed himself at an Ontario park near Lake Huron. Story continues after photo gallery. Foc Hollow Farm: Docuseries spurs interest in Westfield case as coroner looks to ID more victims A docuseries about the infamous Indianapolis murders dropped on Hulu Feb 18. "The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer" is available to stream on Hulu. Docuseries: 'The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer' is now streaming Watch 'The Fox Hollow Murders' on Hulu with Disney+ bundle While only 10 have been identified, investigators believe there may be 25 total. Story continues after photo gallery. The Fox Hollow Farm case is still open, and victims are actively being identified. The most recent identification happened in April 2025. To learn more about the identified victims and the investigation, read the article below. Fox Hollow victims: Fox Hollow Farm docuseries follows Herb Baumeister case. See which victims' remains were ID'd
Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Serial killer 'worse than Jeffrey Dahmer' scattered 10,000 bones in garden
Herb Baumeister is believed to have murdered approximately 25 young men during his killing spree in the early 1990s - he would hunt his victims in gay bars in downtown Indianapolis The macabre killings of a man branded "worse than Jeffrey Dahmer" saw a father-of-three dispersing 10,000 human bones across his family estate after throttling his victims to death during sex. This horrific case constitutes the largest collection of unidentified human remains ever found in the United States, surpassed only by those recovered following the atrocities of September 11. Herb Baumeister, a seemingly conventional married dad, is suspected of savagely killing around 25 young men during his reign of terror in the early '90s. He frequented gay pubs in the centre of Indianapolis, ensnaring unsuspecting men with the allure of a visit back to his sprawling 18-acre home, Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana. Chillingly, before Baumeister was even caught, his son stumbled upon a human skull among the trees at the rear of their property. It was within these sinister grounds that he would indulge in deadly sexual asphyxiation acts on his victims, subsequently incinerating their bodies and littering remains throughout the grounds while his family was absent. In total, a spine-chilling tally of 10,000 human bones were recovered from the premises. As the authorities began peeling back the layers of his dark deeds, Baumeister fled to Canada where he took his own life, leaving a tangled web of lingering queries, notably the possibility of him having had an accomplice in his gruesome activities, reports the Mirror US. The gripping four-part documentary, The Fox Hollow Murders by ABC News Studios, has left true crime buffs utterly dumbfounded. A viewer said on X, "'The Fox Hollow Murders' should've knocked Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy off the front pages. This is crazy!". "Did y'all see the documentary about the Fox Hollow murders? ? ? Over 10,000 bones found in the backyard," said another captivated audience member. One observer added: "Okay the Fox Hollow Murders may be the craziest doc I've seen in a while and I'm still on episode one," while another was shocked by the story's obscurity: "The Fox Hollow Murders is a WILD story. One of the craziest serial killers you've never heard of." A terrifying revelation from the series highlighted Baumeister's Fox Hollow Farm and its eerie collection of mannequins. One viewer said: "Mannequins forever ominous after watching The Fox Hollow Murders doc," Others were stirred by the chilling effect: "I have watched many true crime documentaries, including serial killer series. I have never heard of these murders. This docuseries was one of the most chilling I've seen." The enigma deepens around the Baumeister slayings, with Mark Goodyear, the sole survivor, frequently altering his testimony. He confessed to fabricating details about his connection with the murderer but denied having any role in the crimes. Baumeister's appalling deeds came to light when Goodyear recounted escaping an assault by a man he encountered in a bar back in August 1994, who brought him to a sprawling farmstead and tried to choke him. The individual was later confirmed to be Herb Baumeister. Detectives have long harboured suspicions that Baumeister, who was a father of three, covertly recorded his victims before, during, or after their deaths using a concealed camera placed in an air vent in his basement. This vital piece of evidence is thought to have been taken by Baumeister when he absconded to Canada. His wife reported his comprehensive tape collection missing from their home, and Canadian authorities spotted a box of tapes in his car shortly before his demise. The whereabouts of these alleged "snuff films" are still unknown, just like the insights they could provide into Baumeister's rampant killings. It remains a puzzle whether Baumeister disposed of the tapes while in Canada or if there was someone who assisted him in concealing them prior to his suicide. Years on from the crimes, the work to name Baumeister's victims continues; newly recognised is Daniel Thomas Halloran as the 10th identifiable victim of the murderer now ranked among America's most infamous serial offenders. Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, leading a redoubled initiative to pinpoint all the Fox Hollow Farm casualties, proclaimed that Halloran had been identified owing to investigative genetic genealogy. Since Jellison kick-started fresh enquiries in 2022 with the aim to name all the found remains and detail every one of Baumeister's victims, Halloran is the second individual to be named.
Irish Daily Mirror
21-05-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Worse than Jeffrey Dahmer' - Serial killer who scattered 10,000 bones around
Labelled "worse than Jeffrey Dahmer" by some, one twisted serial killer's grisly legacy involves him leaving a macabre collection of 10,000 human bones around his home after strangling men during sex acts. That grim tally represents the highest count of unidentified remains in a criminal case, surpassed only by those found after the devastating 9/11 attacks. Herb Baumeister, a married dad of three, is suspected of having claimed the lives of up to 25 young men during a frightening murder spree throughout the early 90s. Prowling gay bars in the heart of Indianapolis, he would entice his prey back to his sprawling 18-acre estate known as Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana. Not even apprehended yet, Baumeister's son shockingly stumbled upon a human skull in the woodland flanking their house. At this ill-fated property, he'd engage in strangleholds under the guise of sexual thrills before ultimately murdering the men, later incinerating their bodies and carelessly tossing the charred skeletal fragments across his grounds whenever his wife and kids were absents. The crime scene's horrid bone count eventually reached an appalling 10,000. As the police zeroed in on his atrocious actions, Baumeister made a dash for Canada, taking his own life and leaving a trail of unresolved mysteries, including whether he acted alone or had an accomplice, reports the Mirror US. The four-part series, The Fox Hollow Murders, produced by ABC News Studios, has left true crime buffs absolutely gobsmacked. One gobsmacked viewer on X exclaimed, "'The Fox Hollow Murders' should've knocked Bundy, Dahmer, and Gacy off the front pages. This is crazy!". "Did y'all see the documentary about the Fox Hollow murders? ? ? Over 10,000 bones found in the backyard," posted another viewer, clearly shocked. One person said: "Okay the Fox Hollow Murders may be the craziest doc I've seen in a while and I'm still on episode one," while someone else remarked: "The Fox Hollow Murders is a WILD story. One of the craziest serial killers you've never heard of." A bone-chilling detail from the series is that Baumeister's Fox Hollow Farm was brimming with mannequins. "Mannequins forever ominous after watching The Fox Hollow Murders doc," mentioned a viewer, evidently creeped out. Another said: "I have watched many true crime documentaries, including serial killer series. I have never heard of these murders. This docuseries was one of the most chilling I've seen." The enigma of Baumeister's murders lingers as the sole survivor, Mark Goodyear, has repeatedly altered his account of the events. He once admitted to fibbing about his relationship with the serial killer but has refuted any complicity in the killings. Baumeister's heinous acts came to light when Goodyear stepped forward alleging he escaped an assault by a man he encountered in a pub in August 1994, who whisked him away to a vast farm in the suburbs and tried to throttle him. The man at the centre of this sordid mystery was later confirmed to be Herb Baumeister. The cops have always harboured suspicions that Baumeister, a dad of three, might have covertly recorded his victims using a secret camera stashed in an air vent in his basement either before, during, or after the killings. After fleeing to Canada, it's thought Baumeister took this key footage with him. His missus reported his hefty trove of tapes vanished from their pad, and the Canadian coppers spotted a box full of tapes in his motor just before he topped himself. What happened to these so-called "snuff films" is still up in the air, including what dark secrets they might spill about Baumeister's murder spree. There's a question mark hanging over whether he dumped the tapes while bolting to Canada or if some dodgy accomplice helped stash them away before he slung his hook. Years on, and more victims of Baumeister are being pulled out of obscurity. This past May, a bloke by the name of Daniel Thomas Halloran was pegged as the 10th known casualty of the killer who's now gaining infamy as one of the Yanks' most evil murderers. Hamilton County's own coroner, Jeff Jellison, who's taken the charge in trying to ID all the Fox Hollow Farm victims, has declared that they've managed to put a name to Halloran using some clever investigative genetic genealogy work. Halloran clocks in as the second victim sussed out since Jellison's fresh probe kicked off in 2022 to pin names to all the bodies and unveil every one of Baumeister's unlucky targets.
