Connor

To help us tell today's story, we interviewed Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, the man responsible for the latest investigation to identify the victims at Fox Hollow Farm. We're so grateful for his time and expertise. Stay with us. Hi, Connor.

So let's talk about what drew you into this case.

So let's talk about what drew you into this case.

You're not from Indiana. You don't have a personal connection. Most of these crimes happened before you were even old enough to walk. So what drew you in?

You're not from Indiana. You don't have a personal connection. Most of these crimes happened before you were even old enough to walk. So what drew you in?

I think most of us connect to cases where that's true. Like Connor said, the scope of this one is really large, partly because it's many different cases. But we're going to focus in on one of them and start our story with the man responsible for the news notification Connor received.

I think most of us connect to cases where that's true. Like Connor said, the scope of this one is really large, partly because it's many different cases. But we're going to focus in on one of them and start our story with the man responsible for the news notification Connor received.

That's Jeff Jellison. He's the coroner for Hamilton County, Indiana, which is where Fox Hollow Farm is located.

That's Jeff Jellison. He's the coroner for Hamilton County, Indiana, which is where Fox Hollow Farm is located.

It's not that surprising to hear those words come out of Jeff's mouth. one of the most prolific serial killers in the country. Pretty much everyone who comes across this case hears the evidence, the body count, the eyewitness testimony. They all draw the same conclusion. Herb Baumeister is guilty of serial murder.

It's not that surprising to hear those words come out of Jeff's mouth. one of the most prolific serial killers in the country. Pretty much everyone who comes across this case hears the evidence, the body count, the eyewitness testimony. They all draw the same conclusion. Herb Baumeister is guilty of serial murder.

For almost 30 years, he's been the primary suspect in countless suspicious deaths and disappearances. The reason you might not have heard his name before is because he's never been convicted or even charged, which means technically he's only a suspected serial killer. That said, let's run through some facts.

For almost 30 years, he's been the primary suspect in countless suspicious deaths and disappearances. The reason you might not have heard his name before is because he's never been convicted or even charged, which means technically he's only a suspected serial killer. That said, let's run through some facts.

Between the years 1980 and 1991, the bodies of 11 gay men were found in rural parts of Indiana and western Ohio. All of them young. Most of them had either been dumped over bridges or left in drain pipes, found nude or partially clothed, and strangled to death. None of the resulting homicide investigations get very far for a whole host of reasons.

Between the years 1980 and 1991, the bodies of 11 gay men were found in rural parts of Indiana and western Ohio. All of them young. Most of them had either been dumped over bridges or left in drain pipes, found nude or partially clothed, and strangled to death. None of the resulting homicide investigations get very far for a whole host of reasons.

Blurred jurisdictional lines, a lack of witnesses, bad relations between the police and the queer community. But the bodies suddenly stop in 1991, which happens to be the year that Herb Baumeister, along with his wife and three kids, moves into Fox Hollow Farm. And that's when the disappearances start.

Blurred jurisdictional lines, a lack of witnesses, bad relations between the police and the queer community. But the bodies suddenly stop in 1991, which happens to be the year that Herb Baumeister, along with his wife and three kids, moves into Fox Hollow Farm. And that's when the disappearances start.

Over the next few years, at least 10 young men in their 20s and 30s go missing from Indianapolis' so-called gay neighborhood, which at the time isn't very big. So if you're a member of the tight-knit community, you know about the disappearances. Posters are hung up looking for the missing. People are warned to stay vigilant. And around this time, two important things happen.

Over the next few years, at least 10 young men in their 20s and 30s go missing from Indianapolis' so-called gay neighborhood, which at the time isn't very big. So if you're a member of the tight-knit community, you know about the disappearances. Posters are hung up looking for the missing. People are warned to stay vigilant. And around this time, two important things happen.

First, a man has a harrowing sexual encounter with someone who says his name is Brian Smart. The encounter happens in an indoor pool area at a massive estate and involves some really scary acts of autoerotic asphyxiation. The experience leaves the man so shaken that he reports it to the police. And second, Herb Baumeister's 13-year-old son finds a human skull in their backyard.