Jellison works to give families closure after 26 years
The REPORTER & WISH-TV
Twenty-six years ago, deputies from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office searched the grounds of Fox Hollow Farms, located just west of U.S. 31 on 156th Street in Westfield. The search resulted in the discovery of thousands of decomposed and charred remains of what is believed to be at least 25 people.
The property where the remains were found was owned by Herbert Baumeister, an individual that police suspected in luring gay men to his home and then killing them. Baumeister died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound shortly after the investigation began.
From the discovery of these remains, only eight people were identified.
Jellison
Jeff Jellison, who takes office in January as the new Hamilton County coroner, said DNA technology has advanced, and it is time to identify the rest of the men.
“These remains represent people,” Jellison said. “For the past 26 years these people have been placed on a shelf at the University of Indianapolis, and that is not acceptable. We need to make every effort possible to identify these people and return them to their loved ones.”
The University of Indianapolis Archeology and Forensic Lab was used during the initial investigation to help police excavate remains. They also assisted in identifying the eight individuals, Jellison explained.
Indiana law requires the coroner to make all reasonable attempts to identify individuals found deceased in their county.
“I don’t believe we have met our obligation,” Jellison said. “Just because we couldn’t do something 26 years ago doesn’t mean we should just give up and walk away. DNA was a relatively new tool for law enforcement 26 years ago. It was very expensive and often took months to complete. Now, DNA profiling has become faster and more user-friendly.”
Jellison said his office needs comparison samples. Nearly 10,000 bones and bone fragments were discovered at Fox Hollow Farms.
“We’ve identified approximately 100 bones that we know are viable for DNA extraction,” Jellison said. “Many of these bones are very, very small – small as a fingernail because they were crushed. Many of the longer bones were burnt before they were discarded, so DNA may not exist in those bones.”
Baumeister was believed to have coerced young men in Indianapolis gay bars to return to his Westfield house before killing them. He took his own life before law enforcement could arrest him.
Jellison is stressing the need for anyone with a male relative or friend missing from the 1980s to mid-1990s in Indiana or other states to come forward and give a DNA sample or a tip to help the investigation.
“If anyone is a family member of a male individual that went missing in the mid-80s to mid-90s, we need you to step forward and provide us with a DNA sample,” Jellison said. “The process is quick, simple, and only involves swabbing the inside of the cheek.”
In an effort to identify the remains, Jellison will lead a group of investigators representing the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, Fishers Police Department DNA Unit, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Missing Persons Division, Indiana State Police Biology Unit, the University of Indianapolis’ Archeology and Forensic Lab, and deputies from the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office.
“We have a huge job in front of us; however, I have confidence this team of police officers and forensic specialists will exhaust all efforts to identify the individuals that were brutally murdered and discarded on Herb Baumeister’s property,” Jellison concluded.
The investigation would not be happening without Jellison’s dedication. He said he wants to bring closure and give the men a final resting place.
“I tell people these people were forgotten, but they’re not forgotten any longer,” he said.
If believe you are a relative of a missing person who may be connected to this case, please call the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office at (317) 770-4415.
Click here to watch the television segment wherein WISH-TV reporter Danielle Zulkosky interviewed Jellison on Wednesday afternoon.