INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA – Human remains discovered on the Fox Hollow Farm estate in central Indiana, once owned by suspected serial killer Herbert Baumeister, have been identified nearly 30 years after they were originally found.
The bones, unearthed at the property in 1996, have been confirmed to belong to Manual Resendez, who went missing at the age of 34 in August 1993.
Coroner Jeff Jellison confirmed the identification, stating that DNA from Resendez’s family was instrumental in the process. The investigation into the remains found at the estate is ongoing, with the Coroner’s Office still working to identify other potential victims.
Baumeister, a married father of three, became a suspect in the 1990s when it was suspected that he lured gay men to his home in the mid-80s to mid-90s, possibly killing them and disposing of their bodies on his property. However, before investigators could question him about the remains on his property, Baumeister took his own life in Canada in July 1996.
The case attracted renewed attention in the 90s after two detectives began investigating the disappearances of gay men, eventually connecting Baumeister to the crimes. A crucial breakthrough came when a witness provided the license plate number of a suspect known as ‘Brian Smart’, who turned out to be Baumeister.
After Baumeister’s wife allowed a search of their home, the remains of eleven men were discovered, leading to an arrest warrant for Baumeister. He fled to Canada and ended his own life at a park, leaving behind a note expressing regret about his personal life but not mentioning his victims or confessing to any crimes.
Baumeister is believed to be responsible for the deaths of several young gay men in and around Indianapolis, and is also suspected of killing nine more men along the I-70 corridor between 1980 and 1991. Although he was never formally charged, his wife Julie mentioned his frequent business trips to Ohio, coinciding with the locations where the bodies were discovered.
The investigation into Baumeister’s alleged crimes remains open, as authorities continue to work towards identifying other potential victims and bringing closure to their families.