# Famous Serial Killers from Indiana: A Deep Dive - Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/what-famous-serial-killers-are-from-indiana/ - Published: 2023-11-02 - Author: Lillie Gabler - Categories: [Tips](https://33rdsquare.com/category/home/tips/) --- As a home improvement expert and true crime buff, I‘ve taken a keen interest in researching the notorious serial killers that have emerged from the quietly sinister state of Indiana. While Indiana evokes images of wholesome farmland and basketball hoops, a darker human evil has lurked in the shadows of the Hoosier State. Join me as I peel back the layers on some of Indiana‘s most infamous serial killers and criminals who have left a trail of tragedy in their wake. ## Herb Baumeister – The I-70 Strangler Herb Baumeister, later dubbed the I-70 Strangler, preyed upon gay men during the 80‘s and 90‘s, meeting them at gay bars and then luring them to his Westfield, Indiana estate. An estimated 9-15 men lost their lives to this twisted serial killer. Baumeister would target men who had few ties to family or community, people who were more easily forgotten. After luring them home through his charm and good looks, he would ply them with alcohol and then strangle them to death. The bodies would later be buried in shallow graves on his property or dumped into nearby rivers. It wasn‘t until 1996 when investigators discovered the remains of Baumeister‘s victims scattered around his property that the full scope of his horrific crimes came to light. **Key Stats on Herb Baumeister:** - Years Active: 1980s-1990s - Victim Count: Estimated 9-15 men - Age: Late 40s during killings - Gender: Male - Motive: Unconfirmed, but suspected hatred of homosexuality due to repressed urges. Mental illness probable. - Method: Strangulation - Fate: Committed suicide in Canada after remains found on his property ## Donald Harvey – The Angel of Death With an estimated victim count of around 90 people, Donald Harvey is one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. Harvey was an orderly at hospitals in both Kentucky and Ohio during the 1970‘s and 80‘s. This critical hospital access enabled him to poison patients under his care, often with cyanide, arsenic, or by introducing fecal matter into IV or food supplies. While his true victim count may never be fully quantified, Harvey eventually confessed to more than 70 murders across the various hospitals where he was employed. He seemed to enjoy playing God and deciding who lived or died. **Key Stats on Donald Harvey:** - Years Active: 1970-1987 - Confirmed Victim Count: 37, estimated around 90 - Age: 18-38 during killings - Gender: Male - Motive: Enjoyment of power over life and death - Method: Poisoning, suffocation, tainted IVs/food - Fate: Died in prison of natural causes in 2017 ## The Burger Chef Murders One of Indiana‘s most infamous unsolved mass killings is the brutal slaying of four young employees at a Burger Chef restaurant in Speedway in 1978. On the night of November 17, 1978, four teens were closing up the Burger Chef restaurant: Ruth Shelton (18), Mark Flemmonds (16), Jayne Friedt (16), and Daniel Davis (16). The next morning when the manager arrived, the restaurant had been ransacked for money, the safe emptied, and all four employees had vanished. Two days later, the bodies of three of the victims were found shot execution style in a remote wooded area 20 miles outside town. Mark Flemmonds (16) was never found. In the more than 40 years since the tragic murders, no suspects have ever been arrested or charged. The Burger Chef killings remain an open, unsolved investigation in the Indiana community with a $22,000 reward still being offered for information leading to an arrest. **Key Facts on the Burger Chef Murders:** - Date: November 17, 1978 - Location: Speedway, Indiana - Victims: 4 teenage employees shot execution style - Missing Money: Over $500 stolen from registers - Investigation Status: Unsolved, open investigation with $22,000 reward ## Steven Judy Steven Judy stands as one of Indiana‘s most vicious serial killers and rapists. While he committed his crimes in Florida, his spree began soon after dropping out of high school in his hometown of Indianapolis. In 1979, Judy abducted, raped, and murdered a young mother named Terry Lee Chasteen. Judy kidnapped Chasteen at gunpoint from the gas station where she worked, while her three children waited in the car. After raping and murdering Chasteen by drowning and strangulation, Judy left her body in the woods and stole her car. Showing zero remorse, Judy confessed to the crime after being arrested just days later. Despite appeals, he was executed by electric chair in Florida in 1981 at the age of 28. **Key Facts on Steven Judy:** - Years Active: 1979 - Confirmed Victims: 1 - Age During Crime: Early 20s - Gender: Male - Motive: Sexual assault - Method: Kidnapping, rape, strangulation, drowning - Fate: Executed by electric chair in 1981 ## Larry Eyler – The Highway Killer Larry Eyler‘s four-year murder spree claimed the lives of at least 21 young men and boys. His victims were mostly vulnerable runaways or prostitutes that he would pick up on highways around Illinois and Indiana. Once abducted, Eyler would torture and murder his victims, dumping the bodies along roadsides, in abandoned buildings, and in garbage containers. Eyler‘s killing spree finally ended when he was arrested in 1983 for the abduction and murder of 15-year old Daniel Bridges. Despite being linked to 21 murders, some experts suspect Eyler may have killed as many as 60 people before his capture. **Key Facts on Larry Eyler:** - Years Active: 1982 – 1983 - Confirmed Victims: 21 - Suspected Victims: Possibly up to 60 - Victim Type: Young men and boys - Motive: Unconfirmed. Suspected thrill of the hunt/power - Method: Torture, stabbing, dismemberment - Fate: Died on death row of AIDS-related illness ## Paula Cooper – One of America‘s Youngest Female Killers Paula Cooper holds the tragic title of being one of the nation‘s youngest convicted female serial killers. In 1986, when she was just 15 years old, Paula Cooper murdered 78-year old Ruth Pelke during a robbery. Cooper and three other girls gained entry to Pelke‘s home after expressing interest in a Bible study program. Once inside, Cooper brutally stabbed the elderly woman 33 times. The four teens then ransacked Pelke‘s home looking for money and valuables. Cooper confessed and was sentenced to death, although her sentence was later reduced to 60 years. She served 27 years before being released from prison in 2013. **Key Facts on Paula Cooper:** - Year of Crime: 1986 - Age During Crime: 15 years old - Victim: Ruth Pelke (78 years old) - Motive: Robbery - Method: 33 stab wounds - Sentence: Initially death, reduced to 60 years - Time Served: 27 years - Release: 2013 ## Possible Active Serial Killers? In recent years, Indiana police have explored possible active serial killers around the state. However, no definitive conclusions have been drawn. From 2011-2015 in Gary, Indiana, eight women were found strangled or smothered in vacant buildings around the city. Police theorized a serial killer could be to blame, although no pattern could be established and no one was ever charged in the murders. Additionally, between 1980-2010, around 40 college-aged men drowned in bodies of water across the Midwest, including Indiana. Investigators noted smiley face graffiti near the waterfronts where many victims were found, leading to theories of a "Smiley Face Killer." But again, no motive or concrete pattern has emerged. While these cases raise suspicions, the truth of whether an active serial killer or killers are currently operating in the Hoosier state remains unknown. Indiana police encourage citizens to remain vigilant and report any relevant tips. Indiana‘s history shows that even quiet, unassuming states can generate some prolific, notorious, and downright evil serial killers. As a crime buff, digging deeper into the history and facts around these Indiana serial killer cases continues to both fascinate and disturb me. The human capacity for harm and violence seems boundless – proving that true evil knows no location or boundaries. My thoughts go out to all the victims and families impacted by these horrific acts over the years. By learning from the past, hopefully we can build a safer future. Stay vigilant, my friend. --- Source: [Famous Serial Killers from Indiana: A Deep Dive](https://33rdsquare.com/what-famous-serial-killers-are-from-indiana/)