Amish Controversies

Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Cranston Drove For The Amish

Rebekah Byler Murder Case Update: Cranston Drove For The Amish

Shawn C. Cranston, accused in the killing of Amish mother Rebekah Byler, had a preliminary hearing on Friday, March 15th. It lasted over three hours and saw more than 10 witnesses called to testify. After looking at reporting from the case, I’ve put together some of the takeaways here, compiled from several reports linked within this post. 1) Cranston as Amish taxi driver Cranston apparently…

Why doesn’t Amos Miller just get a permit to sell raw milk?

Why doesn’t Amos Miller just get a permit to sell raw milk?

That’s the question Lancaster County Judge Thomas Sponaugle asked in the ongoing legal saga between Amish dairy farmer Amos Miller and the state of Pennsylvania. “Why doesn’t Amos Miller just go get a permit … just like every other Amish farmer in the county and commonwealth does if they want to sell raw milk?” the judge asked. “Doesn’t he see in his heart that’s all…

Tainted Egg Nog Triggers Raid On Amish Farm; Supporters Raise $75,000+

Tainted Egg Nog Triggers Raid On Amish Farm; Supporters Raise $75,000+

The matter of Amos Miller, an Amish organic farmer in Lancaster County who has clashed with the government for years over the sale of raw milk products, is making headlines again. Miller’s troubles date to 2015, when the government alleged that a listeria illness which sickened two and killed one person had its source in milk from Miller’s farm. Miller in turn objected, claiming the…

Indiana Man Receives 8-Year Sentence For Fraud Targeting Amish & Mennonites

Indiana Man Receives 8-Year Sentence For Fraud Targeting Amish & Mennonites

An Indiana man who schemed Amish and Mennonite investors out of millions of dollars has been sentenced after being found guilty of fraud in May 2022. From WNDU: SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) – A Goshen man has been sentenced to just over eight years in prison and has been ordered to pay over $2 million in restitution for his role in an investment fraud scheme….

Bizarre: Man With Amish Appearance & Name Sought To Kill 11 Amish Children

Bizarre: Man With Amish Appearance & Name Sought To Kill 11 Amish Children

Bizarre and disturbing story out of an Amish community in Missouri. A man (who happens to have an Amish appearance, and a name typical among Amish) allegedly confessed to seeking to kill 11 Amish children in the community. The number is oddly specific, and the story doesn’t elaborate on who the children were, or why that number. This is reported by local news channel KTTN:…

Someone Is Throwing Rocks Through Amish Windows In Ohio

Someone Is Throwing Rocks Through Amish Windows In Ohio

And not only rocks. Someone (or someones) is attacking Amish homes in the early morning hours, throwing dangerous objects through home windows. This has played out in a series of attacks on Amish residences in north-central Ohio over the past several months. From the report by News 5 Cleveland: MEDINA, Ohio — The Medina County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a string of crimes committed against…

Excerpts from “Of Buggies and Blinkers”, on The Ohio Buggy Lighting Law

Excerpts from “Of Buggies and Blinkers”, on The Ohio Buggy Lighting Law

Today’s guest post is by Joe Donnermeyer of the Journal of Plain Anabaptist Communities. It is on a topic that we have covered fairly extensively over the past several years – the buggy lighting issue, particularly as it has unfolded in Ohio. The state’s 2022 law requiring flashing lights on buggies predictably brought about conflict with members of the most conservative Amish communities. Joe shares…

Amish Avoid Jail In Buggy Lights Case. But The “Solution” Might Only Escalate Things

Amish Avoid Jail In Buggy Lights Case. But The “Solution” Might Only Escalate Things

Twenty-six members of the Amish community appeared in Ashland Municipal Court Friday to address fines levied against them for refusing to comply with Ohio’s new law requiring flashing lights on animal-drawn vehicles. At a hearing in January, the judge suggested that jail time would be coming in April if the fines were not paid. Predictably, the Amish involved have not changed their stance. And it…

Amish TikTok Star Promotes “Wild” Version of Rumspringa

Amish TikTok Star Promotes “Wild” Version of Rumspringa

A new cast member on the “reality” show Return to Amish named Johnny Detweiler has been sharing his wild Rumspringa life on TikTok. He has amassed a good-sized following of over 100,000 followers (I expect that will likely double or triple as the show has just started a new season). I’m not too keen on embedding TikTok videos, but you can check out the channel…

On Amish “Dentists”

On Amish “Dentists”

Do the Amish have their own dentists? Well, not in the sense of the certified, licensed professionals that you think of when you think “dentist”. But they do have people who provide basic dental services in some communities. This basically boils down to pulling teeth – both the ones you can see, and wisdom teeth – and some who make dentures to replace those pulled…