10 Chilling Facts About Fox Hollow Farm: The Serial Killer’s Estate Where The Investigation Is Still Active In 2025

Fox Hollow Farm, the sprawling 18-acre estate in Westfield, Indiana, remains one of the most infamous and macabre crime scenes in American history, serving as the former playground for suspected serial killer Herbert "Herb" Baumeister. Despite the initial discovery of human remains nearly three decades ago, the investigation is far from over, with new forensic efforts and victim identifications continuing to make headlines as of December 2025.

The case is a haunting example of a serial killer operating in plain sight, living a double life that ended in suicide before he could be brought to justice. The ongoing efforts by the Hamilton County Coroner's Office, utilizing cutting-edge DNA technology, ensure that the story of Fox Hollow Farm is not a closed chapter but an active, painful pursuit of closure for the families of the missing men.

The Double Life of Herbert "Herb" Baumeister: A Profile

Herb Baumeister, the man behind the horrors of Fox Hollow Farm, was a successful businessman, husband, and father who secretly harbored a deadly compulsion. His profile reveals a complex and disturbing personality that allowed him to evade suspicion for years while targeting vulnerable men.

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• Full Name: Herbert Richard Baumeister.
• Born: April 7, 1947.
• Died: July 3, 1996 (Suicide by gunshot in Ontario, Canada).
• Location: Westfield, Indiana (suburban Indianapolis).
• Alias: The I-70 Strangler.
• Occupation: Owner of the successful Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain.
• Victim Profile: Primarily targeted gay men he met at bars in Indianapolis, a secret life hidden from his family.
• Investigation Trigger: A surviving victim contacted authorities after recognizing Baumeister's car and license plate.
• Motive: Classified as a lust killer who engaged in torture.

Baumeister's double life allowed him to use his large, secluded property as a private burial ground. He is considered one of the most prolific serial killers in Indiana history, with initial estimates suggesting he may have been responsible for at least 25 victims.

The Ongoing Forensic Nightmare at Fox Hollow Farm

The sheer scale of the horror discovered at the estate is what keeps the investigation active today. When police finally searched the property in 1996, they uncovered a forensic nightmare that continues to challenge investigators in December 2025.

The Discovery and Scale of the Remains

Baumeister fled to Canada and committed suicide after his wife, Julianne Baumeister, initiated a search of the property following years of suspicion and her discovery of human bones. The investigation uncovered approximately 10,000 human bones and bone fragments scattered across the 18-acre estate. The remains were found in various stages of decomposition, mostly scattered across the wooded areas of the property. The initial investigators also recovered chilling evidence, including handcuffs and shotgun shells, alongside the bones.

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Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison has stated that the effort to identify every victim will be a long-term project, commenting that "This investigation will far exceed my time in this office." This commitment underscores the difficulty of processing so many fragmented remains decades after the crimes occurred.

Recent Breakthroughs and Victim Identifications

Despite the initial investigation concluding after Baumeister's death, the case was reopened and remains active thanks to advancements in DNA technology. The Coroner's Office has partnered with forensic experts and genealogists to analyze the thousands of bone fragments.

A significant, fresh update in the case occurred with the recent identification of the 10th victim. Using modern DNA analysis, officials identified the remains of Daniel Thomas Halloran, adding a new name to the list of men who vanished and ended up at Fox Hollow Farm. This identification provides a critical piece of closure for Halloran's family after decades of uncertainty.

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The ongoing work is being aided by specialized teams, including a new team called "GenGenies," who are assisting in the identification of the remaining victims. This collaborative effort, utilizing forensic evidence and genealogical research, is crucial for linking the unidentified remains to missing persons reports from the 1980s and 1990s.

The Lingering Shadow and Legacy of the I-70 Strangler

The horrors of Fox Hollow Farm extend beyond the 18-acre property. Herb Baumeister is also strongly suspected of being the "I-70 Strangler," a serial killer responsible for the deaths of at least nine other men along the Interstate 70 corridor between Indiana and Ohio. These victims were often found strangled, and while a definitive link is difficult to prove posthumously, the pattern of targeting and the timeline strongly implicate Baumeister.

The legacy of the case is one of both tragedy and relentless dedication to justice. The Hamilton County Coroner's Office continues to analyze forensic evidence and follow new leads, emphasizing that the investigation is an active and open case. The story of the Fox Hollow Murders is so compelling and tragic that it remains a major topic in true crime media, including a scheduled presentation at CrimeCon 2025, highlighting the continued public and professional interest in the case.

The key entities involved in bringing closure to this case include:

• Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison: The official leading the current, long-term identification effort.
• Forensic Experts and Genealogists: Teams using advanced DNA technology to analyze the 10,000 fragments.
• The Families of the Missing: The primary drivers of the renewed investigation, who continue to submit DNA samples in hopes of identifying their loved ones.
• Daniel Thomas Halloran: The most recently identified victim, whose case proves the ongoing investigation is yielding results.

The story of Fox Hollow Farm is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of serial crime and the enduring power of forensic science to deliver justice decades after the fact. As of late 2025, the investigation remains a priority, a testament to the commitment to identify every victim buried on the estate and finally close one of Indiana’s most horrific chapters.