Demons, “Cult” Control and a Baby’s Death: Inside the Horrifying Case Against Amish Leader Sam Shetler

An Amish retreat leader has been accused of sexual abuse and misleading his community about his medical expertise, leading to the death of an infant.

Sam B. Shetler is facing a series of charges including involuntary manslaughter, kidnapping, sexual abuse, sodomy and trafficking for the purposes of forced labor in connection to the alleged acts carried out at a Missouri retreat known as the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat, according to KOMU.

Shetler has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

Sam Shetler Accused of Forcing Teens to Work, Massaging Females 

According to a statement from the Cooper County Sheriff’s Office, “The retreat was under the control of one individual who took advantage of his position in the Amish Community to control, manipulate, coerce, and force vulnerable people for his own profit in different forms.”

Following an investigation into the alleged misdeeds at the center, Shetler was arrested on March 25 and initially charged with two counts of trafficking for the purposes of forced labor and sodomy or attempted sodomy, according to the sheriff’s office.

Between 2022 and 2026, several witnesses who spoke to the sheriff’s office described “cult-like” behavior at the retreat, according to a probable cause statement obtained by ABC 17 News. Then, in January, a witness came forward to report that he’d been forced to work at the retreat as a teen—sleeping in a cold attic all winter—along with other young boys.

The teens were often “leased out” to others in the community to perform work, while Shetler collected the proceeds, per the probable cause statement.

Shetler was also accused of forcing others to take pills—sometimes up to 100 a day—then sending "pill bills” to the victims’ families, authorities said.

Other witnesses alleged that Shetler had “control” over three women who he claimed were “demon possessed.” The 42-year-old has been accused of rubbing oil on the women to “remove the demons,” authorities said. One woman cited in the probable cause statement alleged that Shetler rubbed the oil on her genitals in an attempt to “heal” her from prior sexual abuse.

According to the complaint, ”Sam would mentally manipulate and mentally torture juvenile females, and young women into believing they were 'demon possessed' or that 'evil spirits' were present in order to 'control' them in exchange for self-gratification.”

Witnesses Come Forward to Report Infant’s Death, Allege Kidnapping

After Shelter’s arrest in March, more witnesses came forward, leading prosecutors to add additional charges against him.

According to a new probable cause statement obtained by KOMU, Shetler—who authorities have alleged misled others to believe he had medical expertise—treated a 6-month-old baby in March 2025 with lavender oil in a diffuser. He gave the child’s parents instructions on how to use the diffuser.

The child was put down for a nap and was found blue and unresponsive about an hour later, per the court documents.

The Boone County Medical Examiner’s Office later determined the child died from pneumonia and had several other viruses including RSV, authorities alleged.

"The negligence of Sam Shetler who identifies himself as a 'practitioner' and carries himself as one with medical knowledge was aware of this substantial and unjustifiable risk,” a detective sergeant wrote in the probable cause statement, “which constitutes a gross deviation from the standard of care which a reasonable person would exercise in this situation involving any unwell or ill child.”

Shetler is also accused of telling a woman staying at the retreat that if she tried to leave he’d kidnap her, per the court records.

Other female witnesses reported seeing Shetler pull out the teeth of a young boy as punishment, per the probable cause statement.

The women told investigators that they tried to escape the retreat several times and were told they were “demon possessed” if they refused to submit to the retreat leader.

Shetler appeared in court on the new charges on April 21 and entered a not guilty plea, KRCG TV reported. He’s currently being held without bond.

His next court appearance is scheduled for May 13.