The Amish & Crime

A man has been arrested and charged after what investigators describe as a months-long pattern of harassment & indecent exposure aimed at young females in the Amish community near DeGraff, Ohio. The Logan County Sheriff’s Office laid out the allegations in a press release, via Peak of Ohio: Detectives from the Logan County Sheriff’s Office have been investigating multiple reports received within the last several…

It looks like another run of targeting the Amish has come to an end. A Brocton, New York man is facing a 35-count indictment over a string of burglaries at Amish homes in the far western end of the state. The burglaries happened in various parts of Chautauqua County, which is home to several separate Amish settlements. More from WGRZ: Chautauqua County District Attorney Jason…

Following the news of once-Amish Eddie R. Gingerich’s arrest and felony charges tied to running an unlicensed health facility, the Iowa Capital Dispatch reported more on the story. Reporter Clark Kauffman provides more details on Gingerich’s clientele, and how his practice was outfitted. We also learn more on some individual patient cases – two that turned out poorly, and one with a positive outcome. Claims…

There have been a couple of recent updates on the Mercy & Truth Retreat case. Retreat Leader Sam Shetler, indicted on 10 counts including multiple felonies, pleaded not guilty Wednesday in the Cooper County, Missouri Courthouse. Also, in what I would assume is a “win” for his side, he had previously requested – and been granted – a new judge in his case. However, that…

A formerly Amish Iowa man is facing charges for the second time — including two felony counts — over an unlicensed rural health facility, which once drew many Amish customers. Authorities are now alleging that patients were injured and died, and that Eddie R. Gingerich collected hundreds of thousands of dollars running the operation. From KTVO: Eddie Gingerich, 36, was arrested on April 22 by…

Sam Shetler, the Amish man who led the Mercy and Truth Retreat in Cooper County, Missouri, was indicted by a grand jury Friday — and the indictment includes an upgrade that puts life in prison on the table. This is the latest development in a case we’ve been following since Shetler’s arrest in late March. If you’re new to the story, Shetler was arrested March…

Missouri Amish retreat leader Sam Shetler has seen the number of charges against him grow following a court appearance yesterday – with some quite serious ones joining the list. In addition to prior trafficking and sodomy charges, he now faces counts of kidnapping and even involuntary manslaughter, regarding the death of a baby. More details on the new charges below. First here’s a summary from…

Last April, we learned of the theft of five Labradoodle puppies from an Amish farm in Lancaster County. Someone had slipped into the barn under cover of night, taken the pups — and also made off with the owner’s “black box” phone and a piece of paper. At the time, police were investigating, and a suspect hadn’t been named. And that was the last we…

Sam Shetler of Mercy and Truth retreat made his first court appearance Tuesday. The Amish man who led the Cooper County, Missouri retreat center was arrested March 25th, and faces charges of trafficking and sodomy. Shetler appeared by video feed, with a number of attendees including Amish people in the courtroom. In this appearance, we learn that Shetler does not yet have a lawyer. He…

A very disturbing story out of Missouri. An Amish man named Sam Shetler, leader of a Plain community “retreat”, has been arrested following a multi-year investigation. Accounts describe appalling behaviors — including extreme control over the young people entrusted to his care, to the level of physical and even sexual abuse. Shetler is now in custody and faces several felony charges. From the report at…