The recent identification of a previously unnamed victim has renewed focus on the decades-old Fox Hollow Farm serial killer investigation in Indiana.
According to Fox News, the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office confirmed the remains of Daniel Thomas Halloran in April 2025, marking him as the 10th known victim of suspected serial killer Herb Baumeister, as investigators sift through thousands of bones for further identifications.
The remains were discovered on the notorious 18-acre property in Westfield, Indiana, once owned by Baumeister. Originally investigated in 1996, Fox Hollow Farm became the center of attention when human bone fragments were first uncovered. That initial discovery launched an intensive inquiry into Baumeister, who had died by suicide in a Canadian park shortly after police began searching his land.
Baumeister, who owned a Sav-A-Lot thrift store chain in Indiana, was suspected of targeting young men he met in Indianapolis gay bars throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Authorities allege that he lured these men to his home, primarily when his family was away, and killed them in secret. He is believed to be connected to as many as 25 unsolved murders.
10,000 Bone Fragments Await Analysis
Despite the passage of nearly three decades, investigators continue to comb through the property. The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office is currently analyzing approximately 10,000 bones and bone fragments recovered from the site in hopes of uncovering more victims. The recent identification of Halloran is the latest progress in that ongoing work.
“We have 10,000 bones and bone fragments, so how many victims, you know, that will be is undetermined,” said Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison. His office still holds three unidentified DNA profiles and has committed to continuing identification efforts indefinitely. Jellison emphasized the emotional gravity of the case, sharing that he views each set of remains as an individual tragedy, not simply statistics. He stated his team will keep working toward identifications, without estimating a total victim count until the process is complete.
Coroner Vows to Continue Investigation
“This investigation will far exceed my time in this office,” Jellison said, acknowledging the long-term nature of the forensic work. He reiterated his commitment to the case and to the families of those who never returned home. Even after his tenure ends, he hopes the effort will persist until all possible victims are named.
Public efforts to honor the victims have also continued. A funeral and dedication service took place in August 2024 in Westfield to remember those lost in the case. The service aimed to provide closure for the families and the broader community affected by the crimes. The case has continued to draw national attention, including through television coverage. An ABC News documentary titled “The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer” examined new theories and discoveries in the case.
Claims Surface of Secret Videotaping
A chilling new element surfaced in the documentary: the possibility that Baumeister may have secretly filmed his crimes. Retired detective Cary Milligan, who once worked the case, expressed suspicion after noticing a vent in the basement entertainment area of Fox Hollow Farm. He believed it may have hidden a camera.
“Something to relive … the murders,” Milligan said, describing his reaction to the discovery. “We’re looking through the bottom of the entertainment area … and we noticed this vent,” Milligan said. He suspected that Baumeister could have used videotaping as a way of exercising psychological control over his victims. However, no tapes have ever been recovered to verify this theory.
Community Remains Haunted by the Case
The property has remained a place of morbid curiosity. Over the years, various incidents have drawn attention, including the theft of the original Fox Hollow Farm sign in 2012. A replica now stands in its place, serving as a reminder of the property’s grim past. Forensic experts working on the case say each identification offers a small piece of closure. However, the scale of the remains being processed means that full resolution may still be years away. Even now, families with missing loved ones continue to wait for answers.
Throughout the investigation, local officials have remained mindful of the human toll involved. “I heard someone say recently that one death is a tragedy, two or more deaths are a statistic,” Jellison stated. “And I think we have several tragedies because you have to treat each one of these individuals separately.”
Years After Killer's Death, Questions Remain
Despite Baumeister’s death in 1996, he has remained central to one of Indiana’s most disturbing murder cases. The details surrounding his life—including his double existence as a businessman and suspected killer—continue to attract investigators and journalists alike. The fact that no charges were ever brought against him has deepened the mystery.
Authorities stress that the investigation is far from over. With thousands of bones left to analyze and several DNA profiles yet to be matched, officials expect their work at Fox Hollow Farm to continue well into the coming years. While justice may never be fully served with Baumeister’s suicide, Jellison and his team remain committed to giving the victims back their names, piece by piece. Their persistence continues to shed light on a dark chapter in Indiana’s history—one that still leaves many questions unanswered.
