Herbie's Hallowed Ground

The Killer: Herbert Richard Baumeister (April 7, 1947-July 3, 1996) was an American businessman and serial killer suspected of murdering young men during the 1980s and 1990s. Indianapolis police became suspicious of Baumeister when a witness claimed that a man calling himself "Brian Smart" picked him up at a gay bar, took him to a secluded mansion, and tried to strangle him in the pool house. The authorities identified "Brian Smart" as Herb Baumeister and carried out a search of Fox Hollow Farm, the 18-acre estate Baumeister had purchased in 1988. The search turned up the remains of 10 men that have since then been identified. Baumeister received the nickname "The I-70 Strangler" for dumping his earlier victims along Interstate 70; a practice that ended when Baumeister purchased Fox Hollow Farm and was able to bury the victims in his wooded backyard. When he learned that a warrant was issued for his arrest, Baumeister fled to Ontario, Canada  where he committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. While he left a 3-page suicide note, he did not mention the hidden remains of his victims, nor did he admit to any crime.

His victims, as well as the means by which they were murdered, are listed below:

*Lawrence White, October 13, 1972: Clubbed about the head with a baseball bat Mullin found in his parents' garage. According to Mullin, White had telepathically asked to be sacrificed.

*Mary Guilfoyle, October 24, 1972: Stabbed to death in the chest and back after accepting a ride from Mullin.

*Father Henri Tomei, November 2, 1972: Attacked and stabbed by Mullin at St. Mary's Catholic Church. According to Mullin, Tomei telepathically volunteered to be his next victim.

*James and Joan Gianera, January 25, 1973: Deciding that the man who introduced him to drugs had ruined his life, Mullin went to the couple's home and shot both with a rifle. After, he repeatedly stabbed their corpses.

*Kathy Francis, Daemon Francis, and David Hughes, January 25, 1973: After murdering Gianera and his wife, Mullin went to the previous residence of his former friend and murdered the woman and her two sons living there. He shot and stabbed each victim.

*Brian Card, Mark Dreibelbis, David Oliker, and Robert Spector, February 6, 1973: Stumbling upon four teenagers camping illegally in a state park, Mullin shot each with a pistol for "polluting" his forest.

*Fred Perez, February 13, 1973: While working in his front yard, Perez was shot and killed when Mullin pulled up in his 1958 Chevy station wagon and used his rifle to shoot Perez in the chest.

The House: Built in 1963, this three-bedroom two-bathroom house is a one-story, modern mountain home located in Felton, California. Before being remodeled, the house included what would traditionally be called a mother-in-law suite. (A bedroom and bath at the opposite end of the house from the other bedrooms, thus allowing privacy for guests.) Located behind the garage, and with a private entrance on the rear deck, this room was mostly likely Herbert Mullin's bedroom. The other two bedrooms, for his parents and his sister, were probably larger, and having the access to the room via a back door would have allowed Mullin the opportunity to quietly slip in and out without anyone noticing. In addition, having his own space would have allowed him to sneak in and take a shower to wash off his victims' blood.

The Floor Plan: While I was able to find the location of the Mullin's family home, I could only find pictures taken inside the house after its remodeling. Instead if guesstimating what the original floor plan was like, I decided to focus on what I believe to have been Herbert's bedroom and bath. I felt that would be appropriate since my research showed that Mullin spent most of his time in his room meditating and worshipping the shrine of his dearly departed friend.