Possible hate crime, Amish bishop attacked over shunning incident
A group of Amish allegedly targeting bishops involved in a 2007 shunning incident attacked a local family Tuesday, Oct. 4, shaving the mens’ beards.
Holmes County Sheriff Tim Zimmerly said deputies are investigating the assault of six individuals in a Township Road 606 home. According to Zimmerly, a group of four individuals entered the home and shaved a bishop’s beard, as well as the beard of the bishop’s son, who is a deacon.
Zimmerly said four residents of the home were also attacked, being thrown into chairs and the wall. The victims include a 13-year-old girl.
The attacks appear to be perpetrated by followers of a former Amish bishop named Sam Mullet. Mullet left the Amish church in 2007 over a shunning incident, when he recommended certain individuals of a Fredericktown, Ohio, church be banned. A state-wide council of bishops met and decided against Mullet’s decision.
The bishop attacked Tuesday was part of the council, Zimmerly said.
“They entered the house, said they were there because of Sam Mullet and the shunning,” Zimmerly said. “They threw a lady down in a chair and a 13-year-old girl against the wall (and) cut the mens’ beards and hair.”
According to reports from Jefferson, Carroll and Trumbull counties, Mullet has targeted other members of the Amish community in similar attacks. Reports indicate that the group also cut women’s hair, but “that did not happen” in the Holmes County assault, Zimmerly said.
Zimmerly said the four individuals who carried out the assault at the bishop’s home had come to Holmes County with 24 other people in a truck and horse trailer. Zimmerly said the driver was instructed to take them to the bishop’s home, not knowing the group’s intentions.
The suspects are believed to be residing in Jefferson County, Zimmerly said.
Mullet’s followers wear Amish clothing “but no longer claim to be Christian,” Zimmerly said. He said the investigation is being looked into as a possible hate crime.
Zimmerly said he plans to file charges of aggravated burglary and kidnapping, as well as assault charges, with the prosecuting attorney’s office.
Holmes County Sheriff Tim Zimmerly said deputies are investigating the assault of six individuals in a Township Road 606 home. According to Zimmerly, a group of four individuals entered the home and shaved a bishop’s beard, as well as the beard of the bishop’s son, who is a deacon.
Zimmerly said four residents of the home were also attacked, being thrown into chairs and the wall. The victims include a 13-year-old girl.
The attacks appear to be perpetrated by followers of a former Amish bishop named Sam Mullet. Mullet left the Amish church in 2007 over a shunning incident, when he recommended certain individuals of a Fredericktown, Ohio, church be banned. A state-wide council of bishops met and decided against Mullet’s decision.
The bishop attacked Tuesday was part of the council, Zimmerly said.
“They entered the house, said they were there because of Sam Mullet and the shunning,” Zimmerly said. “They threw a lady down in a chair and a 13-year-old girl against the wall (and) cut the mens’ beards and hair.”
According to reports from Jefferson, Carroll and Trumbull counties, Mullet has targeted other members of the Amish community in similar attacks. Reports indicate that the group also cut women’s hair, but “that did not happen” in the Holmes County assault, Zimmerly said.
Zimmerly said the four individuals who carried out the assault at the bishop’s home had come to Holmes County with 24 other people in a truck and horse trailer. Zimmerly said the driver was instructed to take them to the bishop’s home, not knowing the group’s intentions.
The suspects are believed to be residing in Jefferson County, Zimmerly said.
Mullet’s followers wear Amish clothing “but no longer claim to be Christian,” Zimmerly said. He said the investigation is being looked into as a possible hate crime.
Zimmerly said he plans to file charges of aggravated burglary and kidnapping, as well as assault charges, with the prosecuting attorney’s office.
Published: October 7, 2011
