The Chilling New Chapter At Fox Hollow Farm: 10 Identified Victims And The DNA Hunt For The 'I-70 Strangler's' Remaining Secrets

The infamous Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield, Indiana, is once again the center of a major investigation, nearly three decades after the initial, horrifying discovery of human remains. New, advanced forensic technology, including the use of forensic genealogy (GenGenies), is actively being employed by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office to finally give names to the dozens of unidentified victims of suspected serial killer Herbert "Herb" Baumeister. This renewed effort is providing fresh, critical answers to the families of missing men who vanished in the 1980s and 1990s. As of late 2024 and early 2025, the case has seen significant breakthroughs, with the number of positively identified victims rising to ten, including the most recently named individual, Daniel Thomas Halloran. The sprawling 18-acre estate, once home to a wealthy businessman and his family, continues to yield secrets, confirming its dark legacy as the burial ground for an estimated 25 or more men. The ongoing investigation highlights the persistent dedication of officials like Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison to close one of Indiana's most disturbing true crime chapters.

Herbert "Herb" Richard Baumeister: Profile of a Serial Killer

Herbert Richard Baumeister lived a chilling double life, presenting as a successful Indianapolis businessman while secretly preying on men from the local gay community. The contrast between his public persona and his private horrors is central to the Fox Hollow Farm tragedy.

Herb Baumeister Biography and Timeline:

• Full Name: Herbert Richard Baumeister.
• Born: April 7, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Died: July 3, 1996, by suicide in Ontario, Canada.
• Residence: Fox Hollow Farm, a sprawling 18-acre estate in Westfield, Indiana.
• Profession: Owner of the successful Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain in Indianapolis.
• Family: Married with three children. His wife, Julianne, was reportedly unaware of the extent of his crimes.
• Victim Profile: Primarily targeted gay men, often picking them up from bars in the Indianapolis area.
• Alias: Suspected by some of being the "I-70 Strangler," a serial killer linked to several unsolved murders along the Interstate 70 corridor.
• Discovery (1996): Following a police investigation initiated by his wife, over 10,000 bone fragments and human remains were discovered scattered across the Fox Hollow Farm property.
• Motive: Never explicitly confirmed, as Baumeister committed suicide before he could be questioned about the remains found on his property.

The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm: The Initial Discovery

The Fox Hollow Farm investigation officially began in 1996, but the story of the missing men stretches back years earlier. Baumeister's crimes went undetected for an alarming period, largely due to his ability to maintain a facade of normalcy and the secluded nature of his estate. The initial discovery was prompted by Julianne Baumeister, who, after finding a human skull in the yard, filed for divorce and allowed police to search the property. What they found was a nightmare: thousands of fragmented human bones, many of which had been crushed or burned, scattered throughout the expansive grounds, particularly in wooded areas and near a small creek. The sheer volume of remains—over 10,000 fragments—made traditional identification methods nearly impossible. Investigators concluded that Baumeister was responsible for the disappearance of at least 11 men who had vanished from Indianapolis gay bars since 1993, though the total number of victims at the farm was estimated to be at least 25. The discovery solidified Fox Hollow Farm's place as one of the most gruesome crime scenes in Indiana history.

The New DNA Hunt: Identification of the 10th Victim and Beyond

Decades after the initial investigation stalled, the case has been dramatically re-energized by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office, led by Coroner Jeff Jellison. The renewed effort, which began in earnest in the early 2020s, leverages modern forensic science to tackle the cold case. The primary tool in this new chapter is forensic genetic genealogy, which uses DNA sequencing of the bone fragments and compares the results to public genealogy databases. This technique allows investigators to create family trees for the unidentified remains, leading them to close relatives and, eventually, to the victim’s identity.

The Identified Victims of Herb Baumeister (As of Late 2024 / Early 2025)

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has made it a priority to identify all remains found at Fox Hollow Farm, providing closure to the families who have waited for decades. The number of positively identified victims has steadily increased, reaching ten.

• Daniel Thomas Halloran: The 10th victim to be identified, announced in a recent development.
• Roger Goodlet: An earlier identified victim whose remains were confirmed through DNA analysis.
• Other Identified Victims: While the full list of all 10 names is not always publicly released at once, the dedication of the coroner’s office has confirmed the identities of eight other men, bringing the total to ten. The office continues to work on the remaining bone fragments.

The identification of Daniel Thomas Halloran and others underscores the potential of forensic genealogy to solve decades-old cold cases. The Hamilton County Coroner has repeatedly called on families of missing men from the Indianapolis area during the 1980s and 1990s to submit DNA samples for comparison, believing that every one of the estimated 25 victims can eventually be named.

The Lingering Questions and Topical Authority

The case of Fox Hollow Farm is a critical part of American true crime history, establishing Herb Baumeister as one of Indiana's most prolific and disturbing serial killers. The renewed investigation not only seeks to identify victims but also to address lingering questions about the full scope of Baumeister’s activities.

Baumeister and the I-70 Strangler Connection

One of the most persistent questions is whether Herb Baumeister was also the notorious "I-70 Strangler," a serial killer responsible for a string of murders of young men along the I-70 corridor in the Midwest. While no definitive link has been established, the victim profiles and the timeline have led investigators and true crime enthusiasts to consider the possibility. The ongoing DNA analysis at Fox Hollow Farm could potentially provide forensic evidence that either confirms or definitively rules out this chilling connection.

The Current Status of Fox Hollow Farm

The physical property of Fox Hollow Farm remains a macabre entity in Westfield, Indiana. Despite the extensive 1996 excavation, subsequent targeted searches have been conducted, and the current Hamilton County Coroner has confirmed that the investigation is active and ongoing. The focus is no longer on excavation but on the forensic analysis of the thousands of bone fragments already recovered and stored at the Indiana State Police Laboratory. This dedication ensures that the victims of the "I-70 Strangler" suspect will not be forgotten. The Fox Hollow Farm case serves as a powerful testament to the evolution of forensic science and the unwavering commitment to justice. The work being done by Coroner Jeff Jellison and his team, utilizing cutting-edge GenGenies technology, offers a genuine hope that the remaining 15 or more unidentified victims will finally have their names restored and their families will receive the long-awaited closure. The dark secrets of the Westfield estate are slowly, but surely, being brought to light.