IN - Amish Father Charged with Incest, Child Molestation

[noZme]

Fort Wayne, Indiana

"The Adams County prosecutor today filed "incest and molestation charges" against 55-year-old Andy Eicher of Berne. Police arrested the Amish man late Friday afternoon, on five felony counts. "

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/18223154.html?video=YHI&t=a

A 16 year old, one of Eicher's 10 daughters, confessed to a neighbor that her father had molested her since age 5 and she "couldn't take it anymore". The neighbor confronted the child's mother who said his actions were sinful compared with drinking a beer or not wearing a bonnet while riding in a buggy! :waitasec:

Two more daughter's have come forward to say they are also victims of molestation by their father. The neighbor, Cherie Dailey, reported the molestation to police in November but Eicher was not charged until April 25. Dailey said "It {molestation} is so rampant in the Amish community and someone needs to break the cycle and bring it out and hold people accountable so these girls will not be ashamed."

Child Protection Services is working with the family.

 

[Filly]

Isolation from society. This is such a sin for these girls. In cases like these if their own sect even decides on punishment they throw like a months worth of shunning tops. I think they call it Meidung when they shun you. Then the victim is the person gets all the mistreatment. That had to be an incredibly painful thing for this poor girl to do. I'm not certain of the age for their Rumspringa for when they can go out and basically sow their oats, but I so wonder if this girl told during this period. Maybe trusting that LE would take care of that old man. It does sound bonkers that the mother of this poor kid likens incest of children to drinking a beer, but she probably believes this. Men run the show and man you better not go against them. There's alot of genetic disorders in Amish communites. People wonder why?

 

[KarlK]

In cases like these if their own sect even decides on punishment they throw like a months worth of shunning tops. I think they call it Meidung when they shun you.

I think the shunning and such only applies when someone breaks the sect's rules. If they break the law they end up in court like anyone else. Unfortunately in such closed communities inbreeding is inevitable and that may explain the rise in violent crime within the Amish and similar groups. I remember reading a magazine article that mentioned that the Elders or whatever they call their leaders were considering imposing a rule that Amish from Pennsylvania wishing to marry within the sect could only marry Amish from other groups located in a western state (Montana?) or Canada, this to lessen the risk of genetic defects. But since all three communities descend from the same few original families I don't think this would have much of an effect. Well, I guess marrying your second cousin is better than marrying your first cousin, but still.

 

[luthersmama]

I think the shunning and such only applies when someone breaks the sect's rules. If they break the law they end up in court like anyone else. Unfortunately in such closed communities inbreeding is inevitable and that may explain the rise in violent crime within the Amish and similar groups. I remember reading a magazine article that mentioned that the Elders or whatever they call their leaders were considering imposing a rule that Amish from Pennsylvania wishing to marry within the sect could only marry Amish from other groups located in a western state (Montana?) or Canada, this to lessen the risk of genetic defects. But since all three communities descend from the same few original families I don't think this would have much of an effect. Well, I guess marrying your second cousin is better than marrying your first cousin, but still.

There is no central leadership in the Amish or Mennonite communities. Each congregation has its own leadership that decides the "rules" for that little community. So there is no "national" Amish leadership that has the authority to regulate marriage outside of the local congregation.

Unfortunately, rumors and allegations of child abuse have been rampant regarding the Amish for a long time. There are people who also feel that their 18th-century customs for managing their animals are cruel. I have mixed feelings about this.

The Amish have been granted blanket exemptions from educational requirements and vaccination requirements, with the result that the kids are rarely able to talk freely with someone outside the community. I know quite a few people who deal with the Amish on daily basis. They are admired for their quiet strength, but they can be extremely obnoxious as well. Kind of like most other humans.

While I'm sure that the vast majority of Amish are kind, there are bad apples in every group and the isolation makes it easier to avoid detection.

 

[panglossian]

We have a large Amish community close by and I prefer them to do repairs on our equipment and home. They are so hardworking and knowledgeable and do it immediately.
They also have heartbreaking illnesses that are rampant, lots of Leukemia, organ failure. I know much of it is genetic and the deaths of children occurs in nearly every family.
My relatives live among the Amish homes and were not aware of the molestation issues. That was a sad article to read.

 

[golfmom]

Here's a bit more on the story: http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/18185189.html

 

[golfmom]

http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/18223154.html

Nicole Pence: “The young girl came to you in October... You (Dailey) told police in November... And they arrested him in April. Satisfied?”

Cherie Dailey/Neighbor of Amish Family: "No I am not satisfied. This took entirely too long. They treated this case different. If it hadn't been an Amish person."

Eicher's being held on a 20-thousand dollar bond. The Adams County Sheriff says Andy Eicher evoked his religious right not to be photographed for a mug shot, at this time.

 

[southcitymom]

Maybe soon someone will go in with trucks and guns and CPS workers and take all their children into protective state custody.

 

[panglossian]

Maybe soon someone will go in with trucks and guns and CPS workers and take all their children into protective state custody.

I've heard the Amish are weathering the economic crisis very well, that there is more wealth in Amish hands than any other group. They are investing in alternative power like solar arrays and geothermal and way ahead of the general population in this respect, too.
They don't live in compounds like that and it would be difficult to go to all the farmsteads in this country and round em up.

 

[Filly]

Maybe soon someone will go in with trucks and guns and CPS workers and take all their children into protective state custody.

Come on SCM they don't have plural marriages the Amish. They don't marry their daughters they just sexually abuse them. I shouldn't say that as it's obviously not all Amish men that commit incest or sexually abuse children. A while back a paper up in Lancaster, PA had a continuing series of stories about the abuse in the Amish community. I'll have to look for it. It was called something like "Silent Shame". It was interesting.

 

[southcitymom]

Come on SCM they don't have plural marriages the Amish. They don't marry their daughters they just sexually abuse them. I shouldn't say that as it's obviously not all Amish men that commit incest or sexually abuse children. A while back a paper up in Lancaster, PA had a continuing series of stories about the abuse in the Amish community. I'll have to look for it. It was called something like "Silent Shame". It was interesting.

The FLDS weren't invaded and split up because of plural marriage. The Amish have been accused for years of the type of stuff the FDLS is getting trotted out for.

 

[Filly]

The FLDS weren't invaded and split up because of plural marriage. The Amish have been accused for years of the type of stuff the FDLS is getting trotted out for.

SCM, I was being facitious. However ya spell that. That's what happens in typing. I'm aware of all the accusations against the Amish. I lived in Lancaster for a time. Admittedly I don't know anything about FLDS. I mean I know that was not the reason that went down. The plural marriages. I'll find that series the paper did in Lancaster about the abuse against kids in the Amish community.

 

[southcitymom]

SCM, I was being facitious. However ya spell that. That's what happens in typing. I'm aware of all the accusations against the Amish. I lived in Lancaster for a time. Admittedly I don't know anything about FLDS. I mean I know that was not the reason that went down. The plural marriages. I'll find that series the paper did in Lancaster about the abuse against kids in the Amish community.

I didn't catch that - we really do need a tongue-in-cheek icon here!!

 

[Jolynna]

Are there statistics somewhere offering evidence that more Amish and Mennonite engage in incest than those of other denominations?

I live in an Amish/Mennonite neighborhood and consider some good friends.

AS far as incest, unfortunately, being a certain religion doesn't keep all evil out. The kids I know sure seem healthy and happy. I haven't seen any pregnant 13 or 14 yr.-olds.

I admit i am prejudiced. Amish and Mennonites are great neighbors.

 

[noZme]

i think filly zeroed in on the difficulty and that' s isolation.

one thing's for sure... there are no amish kids surfing the net tonight.

 

[mysteriew]

Yeah, but while the Amish women and children suffer some isolation, their isolation does not seem as severe as the FLDS. I live near a small community, and I have noted that they interact with their neighbors and other community members. They also allow their children to make their own decision as to whether or not to continue living in the Amish lifestyle. Yes, if they break the Amish rules, the punishments are pretty severe- but not usually life threatening. On the whole, the community does seem to adjust their lifestyle to the local laws.

When someone says Amish man accused of a sex crime, it stands out to me. Because it is a foreign lifestyle to me. But in truth, I don't see Amish man accused of sex crime near as often as I see men and women in other lifestyles being accused.

 

[southcitymom]

Are there statistics somewhere offering evidence that more Amish and Mennonite engage in incest than those of other denominations?

I live in an Amish/Mennonite neighborhood and consider some good friends.

AS far as incest, unfortunately, being a certain religion doesn't keep all evil out. The kids I know sure seem healthy and happy. I haven't seen any pregnant 13 or 14 yr.-olds.

I admit i am prejudiced. Amish and Mennonites are great neighbors.

I want to make it absolutely clear that I am not disrespecting the Amish/ Mennonites. They seem amazing to me. My initial post on the matter was sardonic. I am just pointing out that the FLDS in Texas are having their way of life obliterated right now because of suspicion of this type of activity (children having sex with adults and incest).

I can't help but wonder who's next.

 

[KarlK]

The Amish have been granted blanket exemptions from educational requirements and vaccination requirements, with the result that the kids are rarely able to talk freely with someone outside the community.

Don't they have some sort of tradition where young people are allowed to leave the community and live with the "English" (I think that's how they refer to mainstream society) for a period of time (a year?) so that they can compare and find out whether or not they have what it takes to be a member of the sect and therefore get to choose which lifestyle they prefer? I can see why this would be useful: it weeds out potential "heretics" who may question the rules and creed, something most Churches, not just the Amish, prefer to avoid.

What I'm getting at is that surely some of the young Amish who settle in mainstream society would report abuse once made aware that such behavior is unacceptable?

 

[Filly]

Karl, Yes. It's called Rumspringa or Rumshpringa. My German is bad, but supposedly it translates to running around or jumping. Not all Amish refer to this period as this though. I'm fairly sure that starts at age 16 and that would make sense as this poor girl is 16. That would give her opportunity to be able to feel comfortable with someone outside who she could talk to.

 

[panglossian]

The Amish are not isolated.
I don't know why this perception keeps being stated.
They live in communities that are integrated with non Amish. They shop the same stores, own businesses, employed at businesses, run and attend public auctions of livestock and produce on weekly or daily basis. On a street there could be an Amish household, then a Baptist, then another Amish, then a Lutheran and on and on.
They mingle, talk, shop, help others just like the rest of us. How hard is this to understand? They have their own church practices as do other denominations of Christians. Again, no more isolated than a devout Episcopalian or Methodist.
I see little Amish children walking down the side of the road for great distances with no adult.