CultNEWS101 Articles: 5/14/2026
Patrick Ryan
"The leader of a “cult-like” Amish community who was charged with several felonies, including manslaughter and sex crimes, was indicted by a Cooper County grand jury on Friday.
Sam Shetler, 42, of Boonville, is charged with three counts of trafficking for the purpose of slavery, 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. An arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Monday, May 11.
Shelter is accused of forcing teenagers work at the t 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 had died on March 6, 2025."
"Police in Cheshire have finished searches at the HQ of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light following allegations of sexual offences, forced marriage and modern slavery. Ten people were arrested and released on bail.
Officers stress the investigation is not about religion but serious criminal allegations involving one victim.
Kevin O’Sullivan interviews Imam & Broadcaster, Ajmal Masroor."
"The Religion-Government Collusion Prosecutors-Police Joint Investigation Headquarters launched a search and seizure on the 6th regarding allegations of embezzlement by Unification Church leader Han Hak-ja, targeting Unification Church facilities and other locations.
The task force dispatched investigators to the Unification Church’s Cheon Jeong Gung, Seoul headquarters, Hyojung Global Unification Foundation, and the residences of church officials, including Han, from the morning to secure relevant materials.
The search and seizure warrants were found to list Unification Church officials, including Han, as suspects in the embezzlement case. The task force is investigating allegations of occupational embezzlement at the Unification Church level. Previously, the task force executed search and seizure warrants twice on Unification Church facilities in January regarding similar allegations. This marks the first time the task force has conducted a forced investigation into Han’s alleged embezzlement."
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