Emily Brown
Authorities in Indiana are working to identify more than 10,000 remains recovered at a property belonging to a suspected serial killer.
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison announced the latest identification in the case this week, decades after authorities first began to recover human bones from the 18-acre Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield.
The first discoveries were made in 1996, after successful businessman and married father of three, Herb Baumeister, moved into the property with his family in 1988.
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Over the following years, Baumeister is thought to have lured young men to the home and murdered them.
In 1994, Baumeister's 15-year-old son discovered a human skull in the woods behind the home at around the same time police started searching for a serial killer targeting gay men.
Baumeister's wife, Julie, confronted her husband about the find, and he initially claimed it must have been left over from his father’s physician’s practice, according to detectives.
However, after she filed for divorce in 1996, Julie had police search the property and they uncovered a skull, teeth and other bone fragments, eventually leading to the discovery of more than 10,000 'burnt and crushed' bone fragments or pieces belonging to victims.
Police put out a warrant for Baumeister, but he fled to Ontario and took his own life before he could be charged with any crime.
Police believe the remains found at the farm represent at least 25 victims.
The latest victim to be identified is Jeffrey A. Jones, who was reported missing in 1993.
His identification came as improved DNA technology prompted renewed efforts to identify more victims.
The effort comes from a collaboration between the FBI, Indiana State Police Laboratory, Dr. Krista Latham of the Biology & Anthropology Department at the University of Indianapolis, and DNA experts from Texas-based Othram Lab.
So far, a total of three identifications have been made in the last six months, with four more DNA profiles sent to the FBI with the hope of being identified.
Allen Livingston, who went missing in August 1993, and Manuel Resendez, who vanished in 1996, were identified in December and January, respectively.
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison commented: “Because many of the remains were found burnt and crushed, this investigation is extremely challenging; however, the team of law enforcement and forensic specialists working the case remain committed."
Indiana Police and the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office are urging anyone who knows a missing person from that time period to reach out to the coroner’s office.