SERIAL KILLER: Herb Baumeister from Indianapolis

Hey there, crime enthusiasts! In this throwback episode of Crime Junkie, we dive into the chilling tale of Herb Baumeister, a notorious serial killer from Indianapolis. As we travel back to the late 90s, it becomes clear that Baumeister's reign of terror targeted the gay community, leaving behind a shocking trail of missing men.

The story kicks off in 1993 when a 32-year-old man named Roger went missing after a night out at a gay bar. His worried mother, lacking any immediate support from police due to a baffling 30-day waiting rule for missing adult cases, decided to take matters into her own hands. With the help of his partner, Rick, they hired a private investigator named Virgil. This detective quickly uncovered a disturbing pattern: Roger wasn't alone; several other gay men had also disappeared in the Indianapolis area under eerily similar circumstances.

Virgil’s investigation led him to discover that many of these missing men were last seen near downtown and might have gotten into a blue car with Ohio plates around the time of their disappearances. After searching for leads, they received troubling tips about a potential male prostitution ring, but it yielded no results. As the frustration mounted, a publisher for a gay magazine reached out, alerting them to multiple missing persons in the community, which finally piqued police interest.

After a series of dead ends, hope re-emerged when a man named Tony reported a close call with a guy he thought could be the missing link. This man, who went by the name "Brian Smart," lured Tony to his mansion under the guise of wanting to hang out. What Tony found was bizarre: mannequins posed around an indoor pool, all dressed up like they were guests at a party. It was a scene straight out of a horror movie. Things took a dark turn when Brian suggested trying asphyxiation during sex, but Tony sensed the danger and pretended to pass out, managing to escape with his life.

As Tony described his encounter, it became clear that "Brian" might not just be an ordinary guy. Police began to suspect they might be dealing with a serial killer, particularly after they found connections linking the disappearances to a single individual. This led them to Herb Baumeister’s property, Fox Hollow Farms. Unfortunately, the Hamilton County authorities were skeptical and refused to issue a search warrant based solely on hearsay.

However, over time, more red flags about Herb’s life came to light. Growing up in a wealthy family, Herb displayed unsettling behaviors early on, including an odd fixation on the decay of organic matter. Despite being diagnosed with issues like schizophrenia, he went on to lead a relatively usual life with a family and a chain of thrift stores—until the disappearances of young men began to coincide with his private affairs.

As the investigation persisted, Julie, Herb’s wife, began to have her suspicions and eventually agreed to let police search their property after coming across some bones her son found earlier, which Herb explained away as a skeleton from his anatomy lessons. When authorities began to search the land, they were shocked to discover eleven bodies buried on the property, though no skulls were found. This absence raised major questions about what had become of their identities.

Initially, police faced challenges in convincing Hamilton County to pursue Herb, since he was a well-respected businessman with no criminal record. But circumstances changed rapidly after Herb’s behavior became erratic during his divorce proceedings. Ultimately, he was never apprehended; instead, in July 1996, he tragically took his own life. Authorities would later attribute at least 21 murders to him over time—including those discovered both in Indianapolis and Ohio.

As the podcast wraps up, there's a profound discussion about the impact on Herb's family—his wife and children left with questions that may never be answered due to his abrupt end. It raises unsettling thoughts about how well one can truly know another and the hidden darkness that can exist within seemingly normal lives.

So, if you're intrigued about the bizarre and haunting aspects of this case—like the infamous mannequin pool—you’ll definitely want to tune into this episode. It’s a vivid reminder of how we can live among shadows, often unaware of the threats that lurk in plain sight.

If you’re curious about more throwback episodes just like this, don’t forget to check back every Thursday! And for all the Crime Junkie listeners baring through the enigmas of the human psyche, always remember, be weird, be rude, and stay alive.