Renewed Effort to Identify Victims of Indiana Serial Killer Advances with DNA Technology

Investigators are using forensic genealogy and DNA samples to identify remains linked to Herbert Baumeister, whose victims were discovered in the 1990s.

Herbert Baumeister, a suspected serial killer, is believed to have murdered at least 25 men and buried their remains on his Indiana property in the 1980s and 1990s.
A renewed identification effort is leveraging advanced DNA technology and forensic genealogy to match remains with relatives of missing men from the era.
To date, nine victims have been identified, including Allen Livingston in 2023, bringing some closure to families after decades of uncertainty.
The project faces challenges, as many of the remains were burned or crushed, making DNA extraction difficult, though future advancements may aid in identification.
Authorities are encouraging relatives of missing men to submit DNA samples to assist in the ongoing effort, which could take several more years to complete.