Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"If a man takes you home and he takes you to his pool, what is the creepiest thing that could be in this pool room that would just give you the hibis from head to toe?" — Ashley Flowers
"Be weird. Be rude. Stay alive." — Ashley Flowers
"But when they leave Julie, obviously this stays with her. She can't stop thinking about this and she remembers something strange that happened several months earlier. Her son had come in from playing outside and he tells her that he found a skull." — Ashley Flowers
The episode explores the case of Herb Baumeister, a suspected serial killer in Indianapolis whose crimes remained undetected for years due to a combination of systemic failures and personal complexities. The investigation began with the disappearances of gay men in the late 1990s, where initial police responses were hampered by a 30-day waiting period for missing person reports and a lack of urgency, particularly in cases involving the LGBTQ+ community. Private investigators and persistent family members played a crucial role in gathering initial leads, including the description of a blue car with an Ohio license plate and a possible suspect named "Brian Smart."
A pivotal moment in the investigation occurred when a potential victim, Tony, survived an encounter with "Brian Smart" at his secluded estate, Fox Hallow Farms, which was notable for its unsettling indoor pool room filled with mannequins. Despite Tony's credible testimony, local authorities in Hamilton County were hesitant to issue a search warrant, citing Baumeister's community standing. The investigation gained momentum through collaboration with Ohio authorities who had a history of finding strangled men along I-70, linking them to the Indianapolis gay community. This connection, combined with a witness who identified Baumeister's car and confirmed Tony's description, intensified the focus on Baumeister and his estate.
The investigation faced significant obstacles, including the initial reluctance of Hamilton County to act, Baumeister's apparent awareness of the police scrutiny, and the eventual suicide of Herb Baumeister before definitive charges could be filed. However, it was Julie Baumeister's eventual cooperation, spurred by her son's discovery of bones on their property and her own growing suspicions, that led to the excavation of Fox Hallow Farms. This revealed eleven bodies, providing crucial evidence of Baumeister's crimes. The episode concludes by reflecting on the devastating impact on Baumeister's family, the lingering questions about the missing heads, and the enduring mystery of the estate itself.