Serial killer 'worse than Jeffrey Dahmer' scattered 10,000 bones in garden
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
BA pilot suspended after 'leaving cockpit door open' during flight so family could see
Passengers on board the Heathrow Airport to New York JFK British Airways flight were said to have been 'alarmed' after noticing the cockpit door had been left open for a prolonged period of time A British Airways pilot who allegedly left the cockpit door open during a flight has been suspended after 'breaching anti-terror laws'. The captain was flying from Heathrow Airport to New York JFK and allegedly wanted his family - who were on board the flight - to see him operating controls. Other passengers were said to be "alarmed" by the situation, and members of the crew reported the pilot to British Airways. He was suspended, and the Civil Aviation Authority launched an urgent investigation into the security breach. It meant the return flight that was due to land in London on August 8 was cancelled. Discussing what happened on the Heathrow to New York flight, a source told The Sun: "Crew and passengers immediately noticed the cockpit door was open and wanted to know what was happening. It made passengers incredibly uneasy. "The door was wide open for a significant time — enough for people to worry and comment. BA colleagues were so alarmed that the pilot was reported in the US and bosses had to suspend him.' Passengers impacted by the cancellation of the August 8 flight were offered alternative flights and the vast majority arrived within four hours of their original plan. The pilot has returned to flying after an investigation found there was no security threat. A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated.' Since the September 11 terror attacks in the US in 2001, pilots have been required to keep cockpit doors closed and locked to prevent unauthorised access. It comes after an easyJet pilot was suspended after he reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked. The captain was scheduled to fly holidaymakers back to the UK from Cape Verde the following day but was grounded by the airline. It was reported that the unnamed pilot arrived at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa, Cape Verde on August 4, and embarked on a drinking session at a bar which lasted into the early hours of the morning. At 2.30am he removed all his clothes and walked into the reception area before moving onto the gym and spa. He was due to operate a flight back to Gatwick around 36 hours later on the afternoon of August 6, but a replacement pilot was found. A source told The Sun: 'This was breathtakingly unprofessional behaviour from the pilot. It was the height of stupidity. His career with EasyJet is doomed.'
ITV News
4 days ago
- ITV News
BA pilot suspended for allegedly leaving cockpit door open during flight from Heathrow
A British Airways pilot was suspended after allegedly leaving the cockpit door open during a transatlantic flight. He wanted his family – who were travelling as passengers – to see him operating the controls while flying from Heathrow to New York JFK last week, according to the Sun. The newspaper reported that his actions 'alarmed' some passengers, and other crew members alerted the airline about the incident. The pilot was suspended, meaning the return flight scheduled to arrive at Heathrow on August 8 was cancelled. Affected passengers were offered alternative flights and the vast majority arrived within four hours of their original plan, it's understood. The pilot has returned to flying after an investigation found there was no security threat. A British Airways spokesperson said: 'Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated.' Since the September 11 terror attacks in the US in 2001, pilots have been required to keep cockpit doors closed and locked to prevent unauthorised access. It emerged earlier this week that an easyJet captain who reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked has been suspended. He was scheduled to fly holidaymakers back to the UK from Cape Verde, west Africa, around 36 hours later but was grounded by the airline.
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Wales Online
Pilot suspended for allegedly leaving cockpit door open during flight
Pilot suspended for allegedly leaving cockpit door open during flight His actions reportedly 'alarmed' some passengers, and other crew members alerted the airline about the incident A British Airways Airbus (Image: Nicolas Economou/NurPhoto via Getty Images) A British Airways pilot was suspended after allegedly leaving the cockpit door open during a transatlantic flight. He wanted his family - who were travelling as passengers - to see him operating the controls while flying from Heathrow to New York JFK last week, according to the Sun. The newspaper reported that his actions "alarmed" some passengers, and other crew members alerted the airline about the incident. The pilot was suspended, meaning the return flight scheduled to arrive at Heathrow on August 8 was cancelled. Affected passengers were offered alternative flights and the vast majority arrived within four hours of their original plan, the PA news agency understands. The pilot has returned to flying after an investigation found there was no security threat. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here A British Airways spokesperson said: "Safety and security is our top priority and allegations of this nature are always fully investigated." Since the September 11 terror attacks in the US in 2001, pilots have been required to keep cockpit doors closed and locked to prevent unauthorised access. Article continues below It also emerged earlier this week that an easyJet captain who reportedly walked around a luxury hotel drunk and naked has been suspended. He was scheduled to fly holidaymakers back to the UK from Cape Verde, west Africa, around 36 hours later but was grounded by the airline. EasyJet told Sky News that the pilot was 'immediately removed from duty' and that an investigation had been launched, stressing that passenger and crew safety is their 'highest priority.' Article continues below The airline has not provided any further details or comment. According to The Sun, the pilot arrived at the five-star Melia Dunas Beach Resort and Spa in Cape Verde on 4 August, before engaging in a late-night drinking session at a bar that continued into the early hours of the morning
