Amish retreat leader accused of killing baby, forcing attendees to take up to 80 pills every day

COOPER COUNTY, Mo. (Gray News) - An Amish leader is facing charges after allegedly killing a baby, forcing attendees to take dozens of pills every day and refusing to let them leave the retreat, according to police.

Sam Shetler, 42, is charged with three counts of trafficking for the purposes of forced labor, one count of first-degree sodomy, four counts of first-degree kidnapping, one count of first-degree sexual abuse and one count of first-degree involuntary manslaughter, according to court records.

His charges date back to alleged incidents from as early as 2014, according to KRCG.

Shetler owned and operated Mercy and Truth, an Amish and Mennonite retreat in Cooper County, Missouri.

According to the Cooper County Sheriff’s Office, interviews with people who had contact with Shetler revealed allegations of sexual abuse.

Shetler also allegedly told people he had medical expertise, which led to the death of a 6-month-old baby in March 2025, according to court documents.

According to a probable cause statement, the baby had been sick for about four days and was having issues breathing, even “turning blue” several times. The baby was taken to Shetler, who allegedly provided a breathing treatment of lavender oil in a diffuser. Shetler also allegedly gave the parents instructions for how to use the oil on the baby.

The baby was put down for a nap, and an hour later he was found blue and unresponsive, according to the probable cause statement. The baby was pronounced dead at the scene, according to KOMU.

According to an autopsy report, the child died from pneumonia and had multiple viruses, including RSV and the virus that causes COVID-19.

According to another probable cause statement, Shetler made unwanted sexual contact with a woman and threatened to stop her from leaving the retreat. The woman told authorities that Shetler said if she tried to leave, he would kidnap her and hold her there longer.

Three other women, who were between 19 and 20 years old at the time, also shared their experience with Shetler at the retreat between 2014 and 2016.

The women said they witnessed Shetler pulling out a young boy’s teeth as a form of punishment, according to KOMU.

The women said at the retreat they were forced to take up to 80 pills every day and were told they were “demon possessed” when they would not be submissive to Shetler.

Each woman said she tried to escape during her stay.

Shetler has pleaded not guilty.