Connor

First, a man has a harrowing sexual encounter with someone who says his name is Brian Smart. The encounter happens in an indoor pool area at a massive estate and involves some really scary acts of autoerotic asphyxiation. The experience leaves the man so shaken that he reports it to the police. And second, Herb Baumeister's 13-year-old son finds a human skull in their backyard.

When he brings his mother outside to show her, they find even more remains nearby. Now, believe it or not, this news doesn't immediately reach police. That's because Herb Baumeister tells his wife that the bones likely belong to a cadaver his father once used in his medical practice.

When he brings his mother outside to show her, they find even more remains nearby. Now, believe it or not, this news doesn't immediately reach police. That's because Herb Baumeister tells his wife that the bones likely belong to a cadaver his father once used in his medical practice.

The explanation makes very little sense given his father was an anesthesiologist, but it's enough to stave off an investigation for the moment. Eventually, though, the man who had that scary sexual encounter with another man who called himself Brian Smart sees Brian driving around Indianapolis.

The explanation makes very little sense given his father was an anesthesiologist, but it's enough to stave off an investigation for the moment. Eventually, though, the man who had that scary sexual encounter with another man who called himself Brian Smart sees Brian driving around Indianapolis.

Hyper aware of all the disappearances happening, the man writes down the car's license plate, gives it to police, and that's when officials learn that Brian Smart is actually her Baumeister. Soon enough, investigators are knocking on the door to Fox Hollow Farm.

Hyper aware of all the disappearances happening, the man writes down the car's license plate, gives it to police, and that's when officials learn that Brian Smart is actually her Baumeister. Soon enough, investigators are knocking on the door to Fox Hollow Farm.

They tell Herb's wife, Julie, that her husband is a suspect in the disappearance of several gay men in the area, which, as you can imagine, is a lot of information to process all at once. But once again, Herb has an explanation. He says none of it is true. He ties the accusations to an employee at his work who he says has a vendetta against him.

They tell Herb's wife, Julie, that her husband is a suspect in the disappearance of several gay men in the area, which, as you can imagine, is a lot of information to process all at once. But once again, Herb has an explanation. He says none of it is true. He ties the accusations to an employee at his work who he says has a vendetta against him.

He essentially tells Julie, whatever you do, don't let police on the property. She listens at first, but after a while she has doubts. She and Herb stop talking. Julie files for divorce. And then, one day, while Herb's away, she goes back to the police and invites them to search Fox Hollow Farm once and for all. And that's when they find thousands of bones and bone fragments.

He essentially tells Julie, whatever you do, don't let police on the property. She listens at first, but after a while she has doubts. She and Herb stop talking. Julie files for divorce. And then, one day, while Herb's away, she goes back to the police and invites them to search Fox Hollow Farm once and for all. And that's when they find thousands of bones and bone fragments.

It's a huge break, but it comes with an equally big catch. Police don't arrest Herb. They can't, because he never returns home. Herb's body is found eight days later by some campers in a Canadian park, dead by suicide. He leaves a note behind that mentions plenty, but there's not a single word about any murders or remains. The news makes headlines all across Indiana. Here's Jeff.

It's a huge break, but it comes with an equally big catch. Police don't arrest Herb. They can't, because he never returns home. Herb's body is found eight days later by some campers in a Canadian park, dead by suicide. He leaves a note behind that mentions plenty, but there's not a single word about any murders or remains. The news makes headlines all across Indiana. Here's Jeff.

Jeff gets involved 26 years later.

Jeff gets involved 26 years later.

Jeff left law enforcement and started his own private business, which he ran until someone at the coroner's office asked if he'd consider working for them.

Jeff left law enforcement and started his own private business, which he ran until someone at the coroner's office asked if he'd consider working for them.

Coroner is an elected official in Indiana. They can hold office for up to eight years, two four-year terms. When Connor spoke to him at the end of 2024, Jeff was finishing up the second year of his first term.

Coroner is an elected official in Indiana. They can hold office for up to eight years, two four-year terms. When Connor spoke to him at the end of 2024, Jeff was finishing up the second year of his first term.

Responsibilities for the position vary depending on jurisdiction and state, but they're wide-ranging and include notifying family members of the deceased, interviewing witnesses, testifying in court, collecting evidence, and performing autopsies.