In the heart of suburban Indiana, nestled within the sprawling 18-acre property of Fox Hollow Farm, lay the horrifying secrets of a man who led a double life. Herb Baumeister—father, husband, successful business owner—was also one of Indiana’s most prolific and terrifying serial killers. From 1993 to 1996, he preyed upon young gay men, luring them from bars in and around Indianapolis, only to brutally strangle them, desecrate their remains, and bury them in shallow graves on his own property.
A Respected Man with a Dark Secret
To the outside world, Baumeister was the epitome of success. He ran the thriving Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain, lived in an upscale home with his wife and children, and seemed to embody the American dream. But behind closed doors, he harbored dark desires that would claim the lives of at least 25 men—possibly more.
Victims would vanish after nights out in Indianapolis’s gay nightlife scene, unknowingly stepping into the car of a predator. Authorities believe Baumeister lured them back to Fox Hollow Farm under the guise of private encounters, only to turn the night into a living nightmare.
A Backyard of Horror
The twisted truth came to light in 1996 when Baumeister’s teenage son made a disturbing discovery—human remains scattered in the woods behind their home. When police searched the property, they uncovered the unimaginable: over 10,000 charred bone fragments, evidence of at least 11 bodies, though it is believed that Baumeister’s true victim count may exceed 25.
But justice would never catch up to him. As police closed in, Baumeister fled to Canada and took his own life with a gunshot to the head, leaving behind a suicide note that made no mention of the atrocities buried in his backyard.
The Case Isn’t Closed—And You Can Help
Even in death, Baumeister’s reign of terror isn’t fully understood. Thanks to advancements in DNA technology, authorities are still working tirelessly to identify remains found at Fox Hollow Farm. Several victims remain nameless, their families still waiting for answers decades later.
Investigators are urging anyone with missing loved ones from the early ‘90s—particularly gay men who disappeared around Indianapolis—to come forward. DNA submissions from relatives may be the key to unlocking long-awaited closure.
Herb Baumeister was more than a killer—he was a master manipulator, hiding in plain sight, using his wealth and status to shield his crimes. But no secret stays buried forever.
For more chilling cases like this one, follow Buried in the Backyard and stay up to date on the latest developments in true crime investigations. The past is never truly behind us—sometimes, it’s just waiting to be unearthed.
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Sources used for this podcast:
Bovsun, M. (2018, August 19). Herb Baumeister: The family man and serial killer who buried bodies in his backyard. New York Daily News.
Montaldo, C. (2019, November 15). Herb Baumeister: The I-70 strangler. ThoughtCo.thoughtco.com+1en.wikipedia.org+1
Murderpedia. (n.d.). Herbert Richard Baumeister. Retrieved from https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/baumeister-herbert.htmen.wikipedia.org+3Murderpedia+3thoughtco.com+3
Wikipedia. (n.d.). Herb Baumeister. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herb_Baumeister
Fradette, R. (2022, November 28). Remains found at Fox Hollow Farm identified as man missing since 1993. The Indianapolis Star.
Contreras, N. (2019, May 20). Fox Hollow Farm: Former home of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister for sale. The Indianapolis Star.IndyStar
The Indianapolis News. (1998, July 6). Investigators search Fox Hollow Farm for more victims.
The Noblesville Ledger. (2000, June 22). Families of victims seek closure years after Fox Hollow Farm discoveries.
Rosewood, J. (2017). The big book of serial killers: 150 serial killer files of the world's worst murderers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform.
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