What Happened to Fox Hollow Murders?

The Fox Hollow Murders encompass the horrific crimes of Herbert Richard Baumeister, a seemingly successful Indianapolis businessman and married father of three, who led a secret life as a serial killer from the early 1980s to the mid-1990s. Baumeister targeted young men, many from the Indianapolis gay community, luring them to his sprawling 18-acre estate, Fox Hollow Farm, in Westfield, Indiana. There, he would murder them, often by strangulation, and bury their remains across the property.

The grim reality of Baumeister's actions began to surface in 1994 when his teenage son discovered a human skull in the backyard. Baumeister initially dismissed it as a medical skeleton from his late father's practice. However, growing suspicions from his wife, Juliana, coupled with a tip to police about a man named 'Brian Smart' who had attempted to kill a gay bar patron, eventually led authorities to Fox Hollow Farm. In June 1996, while Baumeister was away, his wife granted permission for a search, leading to the discovery of thousands of charred and crushed human bone fragments, belonging to at least eleven individuals.

Before an arrest warrant could be served, Baumeister fled to Canada and died by suicide in July 1996, leaving a note that expressed remorse over his failing marriage but made no mention of the murders. This left many questions unanswered and a vast number of victims unidentified. Initial investigations linked Baumeister to at least eight identified victims and he was also considered a prime suspect in the 'I-70 Strangler' murders, a series of killings of young men along Interstate 70 in Indiana and Ohio between 1980 and 1991.

The case experienced a significant turning point in 2022 when Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison reopened the investigation, committing to identify the estimated 10,000 bone fragments that had remained largely unexamined for decades. This renewed effort, utilizing advanced forensic science, DNA analysis, and forensic genetic genealogy, has led to the identification of several long-missing victims. Allen Livingston was identified in October 2023, followed by Manuel Resendez in January 2024, Jeffrey Jones in May 2024, Daniel Thomas Halloran in April 2025, and Roger Goodlet in November 2025.

As of July 8, 2026, the investigation is very much active. In February 2026, officials announced the identification of a DNA profile belonging to another unidentified victim, whose father, Jerome Clarence 'Jerry' Harvey, has been identified, but the mother remains unknown, prompting a public appeal for assistance. The ongoing efforts and the enduring public interest are further highlighted by the release of a new documentary, 'Return to Fox Hollow: New Victims, Darker Secrets,' on Hulu on July 8, 2026, which continues to explore new evidence and lingering mysteries, including the possibility of accomplices. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office continues to work with forensic experts, including the University of Indianapolis and the University of North Texas Center for Human Identification, to process the remaining fragments and provide closure to more families.