Efforts Renew to Identify Victims of Infamous Closeted Republican Serial Killer

Authorities in Indianapolis are once again reaching out to the public, seeking assistance in identifying the remains of more victims connected to the notorious serial killer, Herbert Baumeister. Baumeister is believed to have been responsible for the deaths of at least two dozen men and boys during the 1980s and '90s.

The Unraveling of a Grim Mystery

The first clues pointing to Baumeister's heinous acts emerged in 1992 when a gay man approached the police. He reported that a man using the alias "Brian Smart" had picked up his friend from a local gay bar and murdered him. This same man had also attempted to strangle him with a hose during a sexual encounter.

Three years after this harrowing experience, the survivor saw Baumeister again and was able to provide the police with his license plate number. This pivotal piece of information set off a chain of events leading to further investigation.

Search for Truth

Police sought to search Baumeister's expansive 18-acre property, Fox Hollow Farm, located in Westfield, Indiana. Initially, Baumeister and his wife denied the request. However, a year later, fearing for her safety due to her husband's increasingly erratic and violent behavior, Baumeister's wife filed for divorce and permitted the police to search the property.

During the search, authorities discovered a gruesome scene. Over 10,000 bone fragments, many crushed and burned, were unearthed. Additional evidence, such as handcuffs and shotgun shells, pointed to a history of violence and murder.

Investigators believe Baumeister lured his victims from Indianapolis gay bars to his property to commit these crimes while his wife and child were away.

A Disturbing Legacy

The initial search revealed evidence of 11 bodies on the estate, prompting police to issue a warrant for Baumeister's arrest. Tragically, he fled and took his own life in a park in Ontario, Canada, at the age of 49, before he could be brought to justice.

Over the years, eight victims were identified using dental records and the DNA technology available at the time. However, when funding for the investigation was denied, efforts to identify the remaining victims halted, leaving at least 17 victims unidentified.

Renewed Hope Through DNA Technology

In 2022, new light was shed on the case when a relative of a presumed victim sought help from authorities. This individual's cousin believed his relative might be among Baumeister's victims and requested a forensic examination of the bones stored since the investigation paused.

"How do you say no to that? That’s our job as coroners by statute, to identify the deceased," stated Jeff Jellison, the current Hamilton County Coroner.

DNA samples from the mother and sister of the suspected victim were taken, and a match was found among the stored bones. The victim was identified as Allen Livingston, marking the ninth confirmed victim of Baumeister.

Since then, additional DNA samples from family members have led to the identification of a total of 12 presumed victims.

Unresolved Mysteries

There is also speculation that Baumeister might have been the "I-70 Strangler," a serial killer known for leaving his victims' bodies near Indianapolis's Interstate 70. While these killings remain officially unsolved, Baumeister was named a prime suspect, particularly since the murders ceased after he acquired his estate in 1991.

Baumeister’s victims ranged in age from 14 to 45, painting a picture of a tragic and devastating loss.

Family members of men who went missing and might have fallen victim to Baumeister's crimes in the Indianapolis area are encouraged to reach out to the Indiana State Police missing persons hotline at 833-466-2653 or the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office at 317-770-4415.

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