Officials are closing in on the identification of another victim whose remains were found at Fox Hollow Farm in Westfield — but they are asking for the public’s help.
The victim, a man, was born between 1959 and 1972, and went missing as a young adult during the early to mid-1990s, according to info released by the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office on April 28.
Officials have identified the victim’s father using DNA, but have been unable to identify his mother.
Hamilton County Coroner Jeff Jellison, since his election in 2022, reopened the office’s investigation to try and identify more of the remains found on the property where the infamous killings took place.
What do we know about the unidentified victim from Fox Hollow Farm?
The victim’s remains were recovered at Fox Hollow Farm and yielded a DNA profile that does not match any entries in the Combined DNA Index System.
An extensive forensic genetic genealogy investigation, reaching as far back as the 1700s, successfully identified the victim’s deceased father but the coroner’s office hasn’t been able to identify the victim’s mother, preventing a positive identification of the victim.
The victim’s father was Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey, who was 6’-5” tall, worked in construction and lived in Indianapolis for most of his life. Harvey, who is now dead, may have operated a furniture store in Fort Wayne in the early 1970s. He was known to frequent New Albany, Indiana, and may have attended high school in Indianapolis during the early 1960s, according to the coroner’s office.
The victim’s father was married four times, and genetic evidence indicates Harvey’s wives may not be the mother of the victim whose remains were found at Fox Hollow Farm.
The victim the coroner’s office is trying to identify had pale skin, brown to dark brown or auburn hair and hazel brown eyes, according to research done by an expert in forensic genetics and DNA phenotyping.
The victim could have been adopted or in the foster care system, the coroner’s office said. The victim’s mother may have placed a son up for adoption or had a son, who lived with family, friends or in the foster care system.
The victim’s mother may have lived in, visited or gone to college in Indiana in the 1960s and would be between 71 and 95 years old today.
Who was Jerome Clarence ‘Jerry’ Harvey?
For JoNathan Harvey, he knew Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey as Uncle Jerry.
When he was growing up, Uncle Jerry lived with him for a few months, JoNathan Harvey told IndyStar. He added that, as far as living people go, he may know the most about Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey.
JoNathan Harvey told IndyStar he has many cousins he’s never met so it wasn’t a complete surprise that one of them could have been fathered by Jerome Clarence “Jerry” Harvey.
“Uncle Jerry was a character,” JoNathan Harvey said. “He was a gambler and a womanizer, that’s how I’d describe him.”
Even though he never met his cousin, who was likely killed at Fox Hollow Farm, it’s important to identify him still, JoNathan Harvey said.
“Someone out there could still be worrying about their kid or relative or wondering what happened,” JoNathan Harvey said. “It’s always important to ID someone missing. I’d hate to have someone missing that I cared for.”
Investigation into Fox Hollow Farm and one of Indiana’s most infamous suspected serial killers
In 1996, Hamilton County investigators discovered at least 10,000 crushed and burnt bones and bone fragments at the 18-acre property, off 156th Street and the Monon Trail.
Authorities have said they believe about 25 people were killed by Fox Hollow Farm owner Herbert Baumeister during the ’90s, but the number of victims could be higher.
The serial killer lured the victims, who were mostly young, gay men, to his property where he killed them and dismembered their bodies. Baumeister killed himself shortly after law enforcement began investigating his property.
Jellison is expected to be re-elected as coroner and continue to lead the office, as he’s not currently facing any challengers in May’s primary or November’s general elections. Since he reopened the investigation into the crimes, there’s been renewed interest and a Hulu docuseries released about the case.
Jellison and the coroner’s office also teamed up with He Knows Your Name ministry in 2024 to hold a funeral and bury remains of some of the victims found at Fox Hollow Farm. The coroner’s office, so far, has identified the remains of 10 men found at Fox Hollow Farm.
Anyone with relevant information on the victim or his mother is encouraged to contact the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office at 317-770-4415.
Contact Jake Allen at jake.allen@indystar.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @Jake_Allen19. Click here to get Hamilton County news sent straight to your inbox and subscribe to the IndyStar North newsletter.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Coroner needs help to ID Fox Hollow Farm victim. Here’s what we know
Reporting by Jake Allen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
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