In a shocking report, a man opens up about is cousin being killed by a notorious serial killer. Not only does he share the horrible truth that his cousin was a victim of Herb Baumeister, but he also shares a new chilling theory about how everything went down.
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Man Shares How His Cousin Was Killed By A Serial Killer
Serial killers are definitely on my list of top three most terrifying things. I think what is most terrifying about them, besides the heinous acts they commit and complete lack of remorse for them, is that they can so easily blend in to society. How often, after the fact, do we find out that serial killers were leading double lives.
Some of them even have families and normal a 9-5 job. Many are even considered "good citizens." Herb Baumeister was one of those serial killers that successfully blended in with society. He was a wealthy man in Indiana who owned a community thrift store. Additionally, he was a husband and father to three children. You see what I mean? A typical community and family man...except he was so much more.
Herb Baumeister was a notorious serial killer. The Daily Mail even argues that some people consider him to be worse that Jeffrey Dahmer. While we may never know exactly how many victims he killed or the full extent of his crimes, "It is estimated that he killed at least 25 victims." Most of those victims were young men that he picked up at local gay bars. However, some of them were much younger...like Eric Pranger's cousin.
A Terrifying Truth: Learning You Live Near Herb Baumeister
Eric Pranger shares how he and his cousin used to unknowingly play right outside of Herb Baumeister's store. When speaking to the Daily Mail he said, "I grew up in a house just about six to eight houses down from the store so I was always there riding my bike or on my skateboard."
Pranger's cousin, Allen Livingston, disappeared in 1993. Pranger wouldn't know what happened to him until years later when Baumeister's true nature was revealed. In 1996, when Pranger was nine years old, investigators discovered the truth about Herb Baumeister.
They swarmed his estate at Fox Hollow Farm and found various amounts of charred and burned human bones belonging to several of his victims. This horrifying truth shocked residents and changed the town forever. Pranger didn't realize his cousin was killed by the serial killer for quite sometime later. Now, two years after that discovery he has a new chilling theory about the whole ordeal.
New Chilling Theory About The Notorious Serial Killer
As if the idea of Baumeister kidnapping and murdering young boys and men wasn't eerie enough, Pranger has a new theory that he wasn't working alone. "I don't think Baumeister did this alone," he told the Daily Mail. "I think more people were involved." He continued, "I believe it's a whole group of men." Pranger came to this conclusion based on several factors.
First, a survivor's account shared that " Baumeister killed his victims in the pool room in the basement of his home." Then there was the supporting evidence. The Daily Mail shares that "The remains and bones were found beyond the house in the woods that surrounded the property, suggesting the victims' bodies were then dragged there."
Finally, Pranger drew on personal experience. He shared that he works at a funeral home. Therefore he knows the physical strength required for lifting and moving bodies. He shared, "I pick up bodies for a living and there's now way a man could handle all those bodies by himself." He continued on that a man of Braumeister's size would not be up to the challenge. From there, he argued that perhaps he could move a small man's body, but that many of his victims were too big for the serial killer to successfully move on his own. "Especially with the amount of men taken back to back," Pranger adds.
A Suspicious Person Of Interest
Finally, as Pranger relieves the horrible truth that his cousin was killed by a serial killer, he mentioned something else that felt off. A survivor of Herb Baumeister, Mark Goodyear, spoke out against him. Claiming that he met the serial killer in a bar and returned to his estate at Fox Grove with him. From there he shared chilling details of their encounter, like creepy mannequins in the home.
Then, Goodyear claims that Baumeister attempted to strangle him in the swimming pool room but he stopped him and escaped. He went to the police and ultimately played a large role in police finding Baumeister and his victims. Despite his connection to turning the serial killer in, Pranger has his doubts.
"He's a really sketchy guy. I think he knows more than what he told the police back then," Pranger shared. Additionally, retired Boulder County Sheriff's Office Detective and cold case investigator Steve Ainsworth also agrees with Pranger. Daily Mail shared his opinion on the matter. He stated, "He gives knowledge that he shouldn't have had - unless he was there."
While Goodyear denies any involvement, it does play into Pragner's chilling new theory. However, even Pranger admits that his theory is just speculation and he is not certain how anything happened.
