‘Cult-like’ Amish leader to appear in court after newly filed charges

BOONVILLE, Mo. (KMIZ)

The leader of a “cult-like” Amish community will make his first appearance in court Tuesday, one day after seven new charges were filed, including manslaughter in the 2025 death of an infant.

Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, will appear in the Cooper County Courthouse at 9 a.m. Tuesday in front of Judge Keith Bail.

Shetler is now charged with three counts of trafficking for forced labor, a count of first-degree sodomy, first-degree sex abuse, four counts of kidnapping and one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter. He was originally arrested and charged last month. The additional charges were filed on Monday. He is still being held at the Cooper County Jail on a $100,000 bond.

Five new victims from the Amish community came forward to speak with investigators following Shetler's arrest after a years-long investigation into an Amish Mennonite retreat run by Shetler.

Witnesses say Shetler discouraged the parents of a six-month-old baby from getting medical help at a hospital.

According to court documents, a deputy learned from the youth’s parents that the child had been sick since March 2, 2025,  and was having breathing issues and had “turned blue.” The parents brought the baby to Shetler, who allegedly identified as a “holistic doctor.”

Shetler allegedly gave a “lavender breathing treatment” that the parents gave to the baby, but the baby was not responsive on March 6, 2025. A biology virus report indicated the baby had multiple viruses, including COVID-19.