logo
EXCLUSIVE Chilling trail of clues that uncovered depraved double life of suburban Indiana father-of-three

EXCLUSIVE Chilling trail of clues that uncovered depraved double life of suburban Indiana father-of-three

Daily Mail​05-06-2025
The name Herb Baumeister might not conjure up as much infamy and terror as the likes of Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer.
But the extent of his depraved crimes and the number of victims certainly rivals the worst of the worst serial killers.
In the latest episode of Murder Maps, Daily Mail's Crime Correspondent Rachel Sharp delves into the haunting case of the Indiana serial killer thought to have taken the lives of around 25 people.
To those living in the wealthy, exclusive Westfield neighborhood close to Indianapolis, Baumeister was a family man and successful businessman. He owned two local thrift stores and lived with his wife and their three children on a vast 18-acre estate called Fox Hollow Farm.
But when a human skeleton was found in the woods of the farm in the winter of 1994, Baumeister's mask began to slip.
Eventually, when police began to search the huge family estate in summer 1996, his double life was exposed.
Investigators found a staggering 10,000 human remains and bone fragments, many burned and charred, scattered around the property.
While his family was out of town, Baumeister would visit the local gay bars in downtown Indianapolis and lure young men back to his home, before killing them.
The huge family estate where the Baumeister children would play with friends was actually their father's secret graveyard for his victims.
Quickly, eight victims were identified among the remains.
But in 1998 - after Baumeister fled to Canada and killed himself - investigators stopped seeking to identity the remaining victims and the remains were left to sit on a shelf at the University of Indianapolis for the next 25 years with no names.
That all changed in 2023 when Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison decided to launch a new probe to identify the remaining victims and reunite them with their loved ones.
Since then, two more victims have been named.
Now, the known victims are: Johnny Bayer, Jeff Jones, Richard Hamilton Jr., Steven Hale, Allen Broussard, Roger Goodlet, Mike Keirn, Manuel Resendez, Allen Livingston and Daniel Halloran.
In this new episode, out now on YouTube, Sharp maps out the case all the way from Baumeister's life growing up to the missing persons cases that had the LGBT community on edge and the chilling discoveries on the farm.
Sharp also delves into the aftermath of the case up to the present day - from the new probe to the unanswered questions that still linger about the case, including who all the victims are, the missing pieces of evidence that could hold the key to the crimes and the mystery surrounding whether Baumeister may have had an accomplice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Inmates are ‘taunting' Bryan Kohberger in Idaho prison
Inmates are ‘taunting' Bryan Kohberger in Idaho prison

The Independent

time29 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Inmates are ‘taunting' Bryan Kohberger in Idaho prison

Bryan Kohberger, convicted of murdering four University of Idaho students, has been sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. He is being held in solitary confinement within the 'J block' of the Idaho Maximum Security Institution, a long-term restrictive housing unit. Kohberger was moved to this unit after complaining that fellow inmates were terrorizing him by shouting through air ducts and taunting him to prevent sleep. A retired homicide detective, Chris McDonough, stated that inmates are making Kohberger's life 'absolutely miserable' through psychological torment. Kohberger accepted a plea deal last month, avoiding a trial, a decision that divided the victims' families.

Multiple Texas students are injured in a school bus rollover crash on the first day of class
Multiple Texas students are injured in a school bus rollover crash on the first day of class

The Independent

time29 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Multiple Texas students are injured in a school bus rollover crash on the first day of class

A Texas school bus carrying more than 40 students on Wednesday rolled over after veering off a rural road on the first day of class, injuring multiple students, authorities said. At least one person has life-threatening injuries, while two others have 'potentially life-threatening injuries,' Assistant Chief Kevin Parker, with Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services, said during a news conference. The bus was traveling on a rural stretch of two-lane road when it veered off the right side 'for an unknown reason' and rolled over, said Department of Public Safety Sgt. Billy Ray, adding authorities were still investigating the cause of the crash. Video footage of the scene showed the yellow school bus lying on its side next the road with its roof damaged and several windows broken. School and emergency officials said the bus had 42 children, and the driver was among 12 people who were transported to hospitals. Officials did not say if the person with life-threatening injuries was a student or the driver. The bus for Leander Independent School District was carrying primarily elementary school students, Superintendent Bruce Gearing said. The crash happened shortly after school let out, and no students had been dropped off yet. The bus is a 2024 model and is equipped with state-mandated seat belts that the children are required to wear, Gearing said. 'We want each of those students and their families to know that our prayers are with them, our thoughts are with them and we will do everything that we can in our power to support them,' he said.

Bishop's eerie final 'ride or die' post hours before he, wife and relative were brutally murdered
Bishop's eerie final 'ride or die' post hours before he, wife and relative were brutally murdered

Daily Mail​

time30 minutes ago

  • Daily Mail​

Bishop's eerie final 'ride or die' post hours before he, wife and relative were brutally murdered

A North Carolina pastor posted a haunting 'ride or die' family tribute just hours before he, his wife and his mother were brutally shot to death inside their home. Danny Richards, 57, and his wife Sabrina, who had been celebrating her 54th birthday, were found shot to death inside their Lillington home Tuesday evening, according to WRAL News. A third victim, Danny's 74-year-old mother Clara, was also found with gunshot wounds and died shortly after at the hospital. The suspect was quickly identified as the 15-year-old nephew of Danny and Sabrina and the grandson of Clara - a teen whom loved ones said the family had taken in, hoping to give him a better life, according to the outlet. Just under four hours before the horrific killings, Danny posted a chilling Facebook tribute showing the family celebrating Sabrina's birthday, accompanied by a heartfelt message to his wife. 'Happy birthday to the Love of my life, my ride or Die, Sabrina Richards,' the caption read. 'Love you baby!!!' The tragedy began around 5:15pm Tuesday evening, when an unidentified 10-year-old inside the home called authorities to report that several family members had also been shot. Deputies with the Harnett County Sheriff's Office responded quickly to the home in the Trotter's Ridge neighborhood, where they discovered that the three victims had been gunned down. While Danny and Sabrina were pronounced dead at the scene, Clara was still alive but found critically injured outside the home, according to My Daily Record. Emergency radio traffic indicated that she was shot in the abdomen but managed to make it outside the residence, where she was found and rushed to Womack Army Medical Center, as reported by the outlet. Tragically, she died the following day. Fortunately, the 10-year-old child who alerted authorities to the gruesome scene was left physically unharmed. Investigators swiftly identified the suspected shooter as a 15-year-old relative of the victims, whose name has not been released due to his age. After the shooting, authorities said the teenager fled in a vehicle that was later discovered abandoned in a wooded area near Highway 87 and Nursery Road, as reported by WRAL. A large-scale search continued into the night, until around 11pm, when law enforcement located the teen hiding in a wooded area nearby. The young suspect was taken into custody and charged with three counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of his uncle, aunt and grandmother, according to CBS 17 News. Neighbors and community members expressed shock over the news, with many calling the sudden deaths 'a real tragedy,' according to WRAL. 'This neighborhood is pretty quiet,' neighbor Donald Greaux told the outlet. 'Everybody talks to each other, waves at each other. It's just sad to hear that,' he added. The couple had been married for nearly 30 years and served as Bishop and First Lady of Genesis Grace Ministry in Fayetteville, according to a Facebook post. Together, they regularly organized events with their family to provide food, clothing, medical care, and other essentials to the less fortunate. Additionally, both Danny and Sabrina were Army veterans who served until 2017, a US Army Human Resources Command spokesperson told WRAL. Greaux, who recently retired from the 82nd Airborne Division, told the outlet he had been getting to know his neighbors in the months leading up to their deaths. 'He's a very, very nice guy, and it's a sad situation that him and his family,' he told WRAL. 'He loves his family, for whatever the situation was.' Danny's haunting final post quickly amassed dozens of comments from friends and community members expressing disbelief over the unexpected murders. 'I just heard the news. I'm blown away. You were one of the most influential leaders I had. Rest in paradise!' one comment read. Another user, who appeared to know Danny from his Army days, added: 'This is so sad man. I just heard the news and this one really hurts man. CSM Rich was a great leader and a better human being.' 'CSM Richards was a genuine kind soul. I also met Sabrina as well,' he added. 'Didn't get to work or know her like I did CSM, but I did know that she loved him dearly. My condolences go out to the rest of their families…' A third wrote: 'I'm at a loss for words. Just know I was always remember how you inspired me to be better and do better CSM. I am saddened to hear the bad news today. God bless you and your entire family. Your legacy will live forever.' 'This is such a tragedy. Disgusting, avoidable and unnecessary tragedy,' said another. Authorities have not yet released a possible motive for the triple murder, and the investigation remains ongoing. The suspected teenage shooter is currently being held in a North Carolina juvenile detention center.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store