Thomas Ray Clevenger Jr., an 18-year-old male, tragically lost his life on September 6, 1990, in Darke County, Ohio. His death was linked to the infamous serial killer Herbert Richard Baumeister, who was suspected of murdering multiple men, primarily those who frequented gay bars in the Indianapolis area. Baumeister, a businessman from Indiana, was investigated for the deaths of over a dozen men in the early-to-mid 1990s, with authorities later discovering the remains of several victims on his
property.
Baumeister was also believed to be connected to the series of murders attributed to the unidentified "I-70 Strangler," who targeted young men and boys between 1980 and 1991, dumping their bodies near Interstate 70. The victims were often found naked or partially clothed, with strangulation being the primary cause of death. While Baumeister was never formally charged, he became the prime suspect in these cases. His crimes came to light when police uncovered human remains at his residence, leading to a warrant for his arrest. Before he could be apprehended, Baumeister fled to Canada, where he ultimately died by suicide in 1996.
The murder of Thomas Ray Clevenger Jr. remains a chilling chapter in the broader investigation into Baumeister's crimes. His death, along with those of other victims, contributed to the unraveling of one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in the Midwest. Despite Baumeister's death, the full extent of his crimes and the identities of all his victims may never be completely known.
