By Dave Elias
WTRF
November 18, 2008
http://www.wtrf.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=47155&catid=149
[with video]
BERGHOLZ, Ohio -- The Ohio Valley's Amish Community is growing, but also growing are the problems inside the Amish Order. But how much do we really know about this secret society?
7 News Investigative Reporter Dave Elias is taking a closer look in a two part series, regarding a community we seem to know so little about…a community until now that is shrouded in secrecy.
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The Amish go about their daily lives making little eye contact with the rest of the world. People who until,only lately, seem hidden from the rest of the world. But recent scandals involving child rape, death threats, and even cover-ups have caused 7News to take a closer look…
Their religion dictates a world without color; black buggies, long dark clothes, and as you're about to read, dark secrets.
They're perhaps best known for their fine Amish furniture and home cooked meals.
Walnut Creek Cheese is a big tourist attraction because many folks want to get a closer look at Amish life. Bruce King is the manager there. He says employing Amish has its benefits.
King said, "It's a tremendous asset. They're extremely honest and hard working."
Such hard workers that most young men never finish the 8th grade and instead, they work in the fields and the women tend to house chores…
But stress on this community is growing and even they themselves are starting to acknowledge it.
Mary Miller, with the Amish community said, "We also have our problems. But they're different problems than yours. But we have our problems yeah."
Their problems recently thrust into the spotlight because of Eli Mullet. Jefferson County Sheriff Fred Abdalla claims Mullet has called his house three times threatening to kill him.
That was only the beginning. A child custody battle over two Amish Children forced the Sheriff to remove the kids from this school after allegations of sex abuse in the community.
7News Reporter Dave Elias presented the question to the Sheriff regarding a SWAT team was sent to the school.
"Did we raid the school? No Way! " Abdalla said.
But the Amish community was accusing the Sheriff of terrifying them.
"Statements were made to the kids that I was going to put poison in needles and stick needles in them. You tell children that and sure they're going to be scared. " Abdalla added.
Even scarier to the Sheriff was the discovery that Chris Mullet, part of the same Amish community, was molesting his own relatives.
But the Amish community wanted the crime covered up after Chris Mullet confessed he did the unthinkable. They even demanded he never see the inside of a jail cell, all in the name of God!
Miller added, "If you ask for forgiveness and they show us they're sorry. We don't think about it. If it happens today tomorrow it's forgotten."
I've discovered this is only the tip of the iceberg. The Amish live a very controlled life. They have very strict rules for what they wear how they're to keep their home.
But even more freightning to many of us outside of their way of life, is their desire to keep so many things hushed up.
Wednesday, in Part 2, Elias will talk with one Amish couple who was ex-communicated and it might shock you to find out why.
If you want to hear more about this be sure to tune into 1340 WSTV and 1290 WOMP as we further explore this radio and TV Investigation, "Shrouded in Secrecy".
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