A Missouri man, who billed himself as a “healer” within the Amish community, has been charged with involuntary manslaughter after he was accused of giving a sick baby ineffective medicine.
Luxury Handbag Shopping previously reported that Sam Shetler was arrested in March in connection with a number of unrelated crimes, which included sex trafficking and kidnapping, that took place at his rural retreat.
Amid the investigation into his crimes, police said they connected Shetler, 42, to the death of a 6-month-old boy who was found unresponsive by his parents in March 2025.
The boy’s parents told detectives that they brought their son to Shetler, who was known as a “holistic doctor” within the Amish community in Booneville, Missouri, and ran the Mercy and Truth Retreat.
The parents said they were seeking treatment after they noticed their son was “turning blue,” according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Law & Crime. Shelter allegedly performed a “lavender breathing treatment” on the boy on March 6, 2025, before he sent him home.
Soon after, the parents found the boy unresponsive and “blue in color” after they put him down for a nap. The parents were unable to find Shelter, so they went to a neighbor to call 911 for help. Emergency medical personnel then reported to the scene, where they pronounced the boy dead.
The baby’s autopsy revealed that he had several viral infections that included RSV and COVID-19 when he died, according to police. Meanwhile, his official cause of death was listed as “pneumonia complicating polyviral respiratory infection.”
Investigators learned about the incident after Shelter was charged with sex crimes one year later. Amid the investigation, detectives spoke to someone who worked for the Mercy and Truth Retreat and they explained that the Amish community viewed Shetler as an “actual” doctor or “healer.” Shelter allegedly told the community that non-Amish medical doctors “do not know what they are doing.”
The employee also told detectives that Shetler told the staff to use an oil diffuser while treating the baby for breathing issues. Shetler allegedly neglected to check on the baby while he was in his care because he was “too busy with the girls and the horses,” the employee claimed.
Additionally, the staff member said that the employees noticed the baby’s condition was “declining.”
The medical examiner who performed the autopsy said that the baby could have possibly been saved if he had received traditional medical treatment.
In light of the discovery, Shetler was charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the baby’s death. He was previously charged with three counts of sex trafficking, four counts of kidnapping and one count each of sodomy and sexual abuse.
Shelter is being held at the Cooper County Jail without bond. He is next scheduled to appear in court on May 13.
It is not currently clear if Shelter has entered a plea regarding any of his charges or if he has retained legal counsel following his arrest.
The Cooper County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment regarding Shelter’s recent charge.
