Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
By Jon Ferguson, Healthy Hoosiers Foundation
IndyBar’s Lambda Committee was created as a place for LGBTQIA+ attorneys and their allies to join to both build a community and talk about the legal challenges that face this population. It has not always been the case, and some can say still is not, that attorneys could live their authentic lives in the law firms, courtrooms and offices where we practice. In fact, up until most recently, the personal lives of these folks existed only in gay, or queer, places. This marginalization and animus made the gay population vulnerable. This was heightened through the stigmatization during the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the laws on books preventing marriage, and even allowing for terminations based on sexual orientation. Proof of the risks marginalization can bring can be found in Indianapolis’ own history.
Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Herb Baumeister preyed upon vulnerable young men, specifically those from the gay community, luring them to his secluded home under false pretenses. Once alone and isolated, he would subject them to horrific acts of violence, ultimately taking their lives. Baumeister used this seclusion to bury their remains in the vast wooded areas surrounding his property, concealing his crimes from the outside world.
For years, Baumeister moved below the radar of authorities. Missing persons reports filed for the victims were often dismissed or inadequately investigated, allowing him to continue his murderous spree. Prejudices leading to anonymity made gay bars particularly attractive places for Baumeister to meet his victims. However, the truth began to unravel when a key witness was able to help police make a connection between a suspicious person linked with these disappearances. Julie Baumeister, the wife of the killer, consented to the search of their property after police contact and after she began to witness Baumeister’s behavior. The remains of eleven men were found, but only eight were able to be identified.
As the investigation intensified, Baumeister fled, eventually taking his own life in Canada. The full extent of his crimes remains unknown, but it is believed that he was responsible for the deaths of numerous individuals, their identities lost. As of early 2024, more than 10,000 portions of human remains from unknown victims are actively trying to be identified. Hamilton County Coroner’s office has appealed to the general public who may have a connection to any of the victims to complete a DNA test to assist with the identification.
Each one of these victims represents a real person who had hopes for the life that they wanted to live. Their stories were tragically cut short, and their identities lost to the very system that made them targets. It can be really easy to think of True Crime as an escapist genre, however, these folks should be walking around Indianapolis with us, but they are not because of a monster who was allowed free for far too long. We know the name of the murderer, but we may never know the names of all his victims.
IndyBar’s Lambda Committee hopes to bring community to the LGBTQIA+ population and their allies here in Indianapolis. We hope that you will join us for our first CLE, Horrors in the Circle City on Thursday, October 31, 2024, from noon to 1:30pm. We will screen parts of the WRTV Documentary, Forgotten at Fox Hollow, with Marc Mullins. We will use clips of the documentary to introduce the topic, explore the unique vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ individuals, examine the challenges of seeking justice for LGBTQ+ victims, and discuss strategies for overcoming systemic obstacles. Register today at www.indybar.org/horror!•
Jon Ferguson is an attorney in Indianapolis and Executive Director of the Healthy Hoosiers Foundation. He is an At Large member of IndyBar’s Board of Directors, is the Chair of IndyBar’s Lambda Committee, and is an Executive Committee member of Hispanic Lawyers Division. Ferguson received his bachelor’s degree from DePauw University and his J.D. from Tulane University in New Orleans. Ferguson lives in Indianapolis with his husband and two dogs, Bruno and Julep.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.