The Amish Serial Killer — True Crime
The man who left more questions than answers when he died. But even before death, you most likely would have never gotten the truth from him anyways.
Eli Stutzman Jr grew up in an Amish community in Apple Creek, Ohio. People who knew Eli when he was still in the community, said that he had always rebelled against not just their way of life, but his father, who was a high-ranking bishop.
The Questionable Fire
In 1977 his wife was pregnant when she died in a barn fire under questionable circumstances.
When the authorities tried to question Eli about the fire, he was elusive and gave inconsistent stories about what had happened.
Eli said that the barn was struck by lightning and caught fire. His wife, who was five-months pregnant, supposedly ran into the blaze to rescue milking equipment.
But those who knew Eli said they believed he started the fire and trapped his wife inside because he didn’t want any more children.
The Break
It’s said that Eli had an emotional breakdown after his wife’s death. He wired his house for electricity, stopped farming, shaved his beard, which is all against traditional Amish rules.
