A Life Upended by Unthinkable Horrors
In the quiet suburbs of Indiana, Julie Baumeister lived a life that many would have considered idyllic. She was a wife, a mother of three, and a business partner to her husband, Herbert Baumeister. But the foundation of their life, built on a sprawling estate known as Fox Hollow Farm, concealed a horrifying secret that would eventually shatter her world and shock the nation.
This is the story of Julie Baumeister, a woman who unknowingly lived with a monster. It is a story of dawning horror, unimaginable loss, and the quiet resilience required to rebuild a life from the ashes of a tragedy.
The Early Years of a Fateful Marriage
Juliana “Julie” Saiter married Herbert “Herb” Baumeister in November 1971. Their early years together were marked by both hope and turmoil. Within just six months of their wedding, Herb was admitted to a psychiatric hospital, an event Julie later described as a period when her husband was in pain and needed help.
Despite these early challenges, the couple moved forward. They had three children—two daughters and a son—and built a life together. With financial help from Herb’s mother, they opened the first of their two Sav-A-Lot thrift stores in 1988, pouring long hours into the business and achieving considerable success.
A Seemingly Perfect Life at Fox Hollow Farm
In 1992, their success allowed them to purchase Fox Hollow Farm, an 18-acre estate in Westfield, Indiana. To the outside world, they were a successful family living the American dream. The farm was a beautiful, secluded property where they could raise their children.
However, the idyllic setting masked a growing darkness. Julie would later recall that their physical relationship was minimal, and she noted Herb’s increasingly strange and harsh behavior towards others. He even cut off contact with his own mother for four years after a disagreement.
The First Cracks in the Facade
A chilling turning point came in 1994. Julie’s teenage son made a gruesome discovery in the woods behind their home: a human skull. When Julie went to investigate, she found not just one, but multiple fragments of human bones.
Confronted with the discovery, Herb dismissed the remains as part of a medical skeleton that had belonged to his late father, an anesthesiologist. Though deeply unsettled and suspicious, Julie did not know how to react and let the matter drop, a decision that would later haunt her.
An Unraveling of Lies and a Shocking Discovery
By the mid-1990s, police in Indianapolis were investigating a string of disappearances of young gay men. An eyewitness who had escaped an attack from a man he knew as “Brian Smart” eventually led investigators to Herb Baumeister, who had been using the alias.
As the investigation closed in, the Baumeisters’ marriage and business crumbled. In June 1996, with her suspicions about her husband mounting, Julie filed for divorce. This time, when police asked to search the property, she gave them her consent.
The search of Fox Hollow Farm uncovered a scene of unimaginable horror. Investigators found thousands of burned and crushed human bone fragments scattered across the 18-acre property—the remains of the missing men. As a warrant was issued for his arrest, Herb fled to Canada, where he took his own life on July 3, 1996, leaving behind a note that made no mention of the murders.
Rebuilding a Life from the Ruins
In the wake of her husband’s death and the horrifying revelations, Julie Baumeister faced the daunting task of rebuilding her life and protecting her children from the fallout. She reverted to her maiden name, Julie Saiter, creating a necessary distance from the name that was now synonymous with murder.
Determined to provide for her family, the Indiana University graduate embarked on a new career path. She started in retail management at Gap Inc. and Old Navy before finding long-term stability in the banking industry. In 2005, she began working as a Personal Banker at Old National Bank, where she has remained for nearly two decades.
Where is Julie Baumeister Today?
Today, Julie Baumeister lives a quiet and private life in Fishers, Indiana. She is an empty nester who finds joy in simple pleasures, like spending time with her beloved dog, gardening, and catching up with close friends.
While the scars of the past will never fully disappear, she has moved forward with quiet strength and dignity. She remains fiercely protective of her children’s privacy, allowing them to grow up away from the shadow of their father’s crimes. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable darkness.
