The Fox Hollow Murders Review

 

Okay my squirrel friends. I have a doozy for you. The Fox Hollow Murders: Playground of a Serial Killer is an unsettling case that takes you down several rabbit holes. If you love true crime stories that leave you questioning everything—especially the competence of investigators—then the Fox Hollow Murders will have you fully engrossed and slightly horrified.

For those unfamiliar, this case revolves around Herb Baumeister, a seemingly successful businessman with a secret life that was more sinister than anyone could have imagined. The eerie Fox Hollow Farm, where he lived, became the backdrop for the discovery of skeletal remains belonging to multiple missing men—all suspected to be victims of Baumeister’s murderous rampage.

Now, here’s where things get even more frustrating. While there was plenty of suspicion around Herb, law enforcement didn’t exactly leap into action to bring justice for the missing men. The fact that many of them were gay men seemed to play a role in the lack of urgency and media attention. Society was, unfortunately, in its usual state of indifference when it came to crimes targeting marginalized communities.

And then… enter Mark Goodyear.

Mark claimed to be a victim, but something about his story just doesn’t sit right. You know that moment when you watch a documentary and someone’s recounting their experience, but instead of sympathy, you start giving them the side-eye? That was Mark Goodyear. My spidey senses tell me that if anyone deserves to be on a watchlist, it might be him. I mean, the man was close to Herb, and yet somehow managed to emerge from this whole ordeal relatively unscathed? Doesn’t that feel suspicious?

Even more maddening is that Herb’s death shut the door on further investigation. He died before he could face trial, leaving behind more questions than answers. And despite the gruesome discovery of human remains at his property, the overall investigative effort into both his death and the missing men was mediocre at best.

It’s baffling how little effort was put into uncovering the full scope of this case. The missing men deserved better—full investigations, media scrutiny, and public outrage. Instead, there was mostly silence.

If you haven’t checked out the documentary on this case yet, I highly recommend it. It’s one of those stories that will leave you shaking your head, ranting about investigative failures, and possibly rethinking your trust in anyone who seems too “normal.”

Because let’s face it—sometimes the most terrifying monsters are the ones blending in, hiding behind wealth, status, and a well-manicured lawn. I give this documentary 3 out of 5 acorns.