‘Cult-like’ Amish leader requests new venue in case involving baby’s death, sex crimes

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A man accused in a criminal case involving a baby’s death and accusations of sex crimes and slavery has requested for his case to be moved to another county.

Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is charged with three counts of trafficking for the purpose of slavery/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 is being held at the Cooper County Jail without bond. A hearing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

Shetler’s attorney filed a motion on Tuesday asking the judge to move the case to either Montgomery, Monroe or Shelby counties.

The motion suggests that because of the small size of Cooper County and the amount of attention the case has received; it claims residents of the county would be “prejudiced” against Shetler if they were pooled for a jury.

Shetler – who had been described in court documents as a “cult-like” leader of an Amish community --is accused of forcing teenagers to work at the Mercy and Truth-Amish and Mennonite Retreat without pay and rubbing oils on young females to "heal" them, court documents in previous reporting indicate.

Following his March arrest, more victims came forward and accused Shetler of posing as a doctor that gave a “lavender breathing treatment” to a baby who suffered from multiple viruses in 2025, including COVID-19, court documents in previous reporting say. The baby died on March 6, 2025.