In a picturesque landscape where sprawling acres of farmland adorned with rustic charm typically evoke a sense of tranquility, the Foxhollow Farms Nightmare has shattered any illusion of peace. The multi-million-dollar farm in Indiana harbored some dark secrets.

Foxhollow Farms was featured in a documentary and multiple true crime books. Although it has been decades since the murders some secrets remain.

Herb Baumeister, a married father of three and the affluent founder of Sav-A-Lot thrift stores was the owner of Foxhollow Farms.

Hiding behind the veneer of respectability, Baumeister wasn’t who he appeared to be. And his estate was a serial killer's playground. 

His wife would later admit that the couple who were married for 25 years and had only had sex 6 times. She never suspected his secret life.

The family moved to the farmstead in 1988. In 1994 Baumeister’s teenage son discovered a human skull on the property and took it to his mother.

Police, propelled by mounting concerns over Baumeister’s erratic behavior, initiated a search of the estate, unearthing evidence implicating him in the deaths of at least eleven young men.

Baumeister, then 49-years -old, chose to flee to Canada, when police issued a warrant for his arrest. He met his end at the barrel of his own gun.

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Foxhollow Farms Nightmare

In a search of his estate authorities uncovered over 10,000 fragmented remains. The victims were mostly teenage boys and young men, who had been abducted and murdered in the 1980s and 90s.

Police initially found evidence of 11 bodies on the estate’s grounds. Baumeister is suspected of killing at least 25 people. His victims ranged in age from 14 to 45.

Recent breakthroughs in DNA and forensic genetic genealogy testing have offer renewed hope in the effort to identify victims.

In the last 6 months three victims have been identified.

The Hamilton County Coroner announced that the latest human remains were positively identified as belonging to Jeffrey A. Jones, who went missing in 1993.

Before him, officials located Allen Livingston, who was 27 when he went missing in August 1993. And Manuel Resendez, who was 34 when he vanished in 1996.

Serial Killer

The serial killer’s crimes cast a long shadow over the quiet Indiana community. He is suspected of being the infamous “I-70 Strangler.” He was also identified by a victim who survived the attack as the person who used the fake name “Brian Smart.” 

In the early 1990s, police investigated dozens of murders and disappearances of men who had last been seen at Indianapolis gay bars.

The man who identified Baumeister as Brian Smart was nearly suffocated to death during a sexual encounter at Baumeister’s estate. He managed to escape and would later report the attack to the Indiana State Police.

Coroner Jeff Jellison is still working to put names to the murdered men.

The Victims

There are an additional four DNA profiles found at Baumeister’s property that have not been identified, bringing the total number of his victims to 12. Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison said the DNA profiles will be sent to the FBI for genetic genealogy investigation.

“These remains represent people. These people are someone’s son, someone’s brother, someone’s father,” he emphasizes.

“Because many of the remains were found burnt and crushed, this investigation is extremely challenging; however, the team of law enforcement and forensic specialists working the case remain committed.”

Jellison added “A special thanks goes to the very talented and hardworking people at the FBI, Indiana State Police Laboratory, Dr. Krista Latham of the Biology & Anthropology Department at the University of Indianapolis, and DNA experts from Texas based Othram Laboratory.”