DeepSummary
The episode revolves around the infamous serial killer Herb Baumeister, who murdered over a dozen gay men in Indiana from the 1980s to 1990s. Baumeister's odd behavior and fascination with things like drinking urine were apparent from a young age. As an adult, he struggled to fit in socially and owned thrift stores as a front for his murderous activities.
Unlike many other serial killers who basked in the spotlight, Baumeister was a hidden predator who killed anonymously. He would strangle his victims, burn their bodies, crush the bones, and scatter the remains on his 18-acre property called Fox Hollow Farm. When suspicions arose, Baumeister fled to Canada and committed suicide, never confessing to the murders.
Thousands of bone fragments were eventually found on Baumeister's property, and he is suspected of being the notorious 'I-70 Strangler' who killed several men along the interstate. The episode sets up a cliffhanger about the apparent haunting of Fox Hollow Farm, which will be explored in the next installment.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- Herb Baumeister was a prolific serial killer who targeted and murdered over a dozen gay men in Indiana, strangling them and disposing of their bodies on his property.
- Unlike many serial killers, Baumeister did not seek notoriety and killed anonymously, with little fanfare surrounding his crimes initially.
- Baumeister exhibited odd and antisocial behavior from a young age, including a fascination with urine and dead animals, hinting at his disturbed mental state.
- Baumeister's property, Fox Hollow Farm, became a literal boneyard, with thousands of bone fragments scattered across the land, reflecting his grisly disposal methods.
- Societal prejudices and dismissive attitudes toward investigating the disappearances of gay men at the time hindered law enforcement's efforts to catch Baumeister sooner.
- Baumeister committed suicide in Canada after authorities began closing in on him, never confessing to his crimes or revealing his motivations.
- The episode sets up a cliffhanger about the alleged haunting of Fox Hollow Farm, Baumeister's former killing grounds, to be explored in the next installment.
- The case highlights the different factors that contribute to a serial killer's notoriety or obscurity, despite the magnitude of their crimes.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “Herb also held grudges, which would develop easily and last forever, hinting at more of a borderline personality than schizophrenic. Family members would be cut off at the smallest slight. And he once didn't speak to his mother for four years simply because she said something he didn't like.“ by Marcus Parks
- “Baumeister also offed himself before he was arrested. And even though there was the same sort of mass investigation of his property, like Gacy's, you didn't have the dramatic footage of men carrying body bags filled with goopy remains like you did at Gacy's house in Des Plains, Illinois. But because Baumeister didn't reach star status, so to speak, only one somewhat reliable true crime paperback was written covering his life and crimes.“ by Marcus Parks
Entities
Product
Person
Book
Company
Place
Episode Information
Last Podcast On The Left
The Last Podcast Network
3/29/24
This week the boys get back to blood as we break down the murderous life of American serial killer and Heavy Hitter - Herb Baumeister better known as "The I-70 Strangler", who targeted and murdered over a dozen men in Indiana from 1980 to 1995.