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CHAPTER 26

On October 19, I talked to Ervin, and he advised me that his brothers and sisters in New York had Amish company for the first time since the arrest of their parents. My brother Pete's oldest boys visited them. Pete's boys stated that Pete said that they were welcome to visit the Miller children as long as they agreed to leave things the way they were at the Miller children's home, and not make any trouble for their cousins. I told Ervin I thought that was very nice. I thought maybe the nice conversation I'd had with my brother had helped ease tension.

In the early morning hours on October 22, Fran decided she would try to call the Lehman Hardware store in Kidron, Ohio in the middle of the Amish settlement. The manager answered the phone and Fran politely began explaining who she was and what she was after. She went into detail about the Miller children, everything that had happened to them, and how they were essentially without even the barest necessities. The manager, Zack, listened patiently, then told Fran they have a fund set up for just such circumstances. He asked for a phone number of an agency where they could donate through, and Fran told him to call the renewal house and speak to Sheila Easton.

Fran also called the Spector Store, a cloth store in Mt. Eaton, Ohio, which is run by the true Old Order Amish. She asked to speak to the manager, Sarah Mast and told her basically the same thing. Sarah said they would love to donate, but it would have to be within the State of Ohio, that was their store policy.

However, Sarah suggested that we try contacting the Old Order Amish Bishops. We'd tried that before and they'd all been willing to help until they contacted the Swartzentruber, Hershberger and the Miller Bishops. Fran thanked Sarah for trying to help.

On October 23rd through October 25th, I stayed busy trucking. On the twenty-fifth we received a phone call from the manager at Lehman Hardware telling us they'd sent a box of dishes to our niece and nephews in New York. We thanked them and advised them on the week of the 25th of November, we would personally show our appreciation. Zach at Lahman Hardware said he was looking forward to meeting us in person.

I had a lengthy conversation with the children. Clara, age 11, no longer cries herself to sleep. She seems to have made a major change for the better. She even appears mischievous at times. Catherine, age 6, seems happy, too, as long as her parents are at a distance. Malinda, age 5, is quick to tell her parents at visitations what is on her mind. She's only four years old, and it's clear she doesn't want to have her parents at home. If she just hears the word belt or whip, she goes off in a corner and starts crying.

She still has a heart murmur, but the doctors say she will probably out grow it. Rachel, age 19, has a hearing aid in one ear. She lost almost all the hearing in that ear due to the extensive untreated ear infections she had as a child. Ervin, age 27, is still expelled from church in Ohio for helping his brothers and sisters, but otherwise he's doing well. Kevin, age 19, worries a lot for his brothers and sisters and their well being thought he, too, appears generally relieved.

This week Kevin was able to work all week at Ray Chambers, so that was good news. He's hoping to get off public assistance. Paul, age 16, is starting to feel his oats. It's not hard for him to crack a smile, and he's always helping around the house, with the cooking, the dishes and laundry. Stephen, age 12, has made a major recovery and no longer wears a constant frown. Stephen is also the oldest of the four children going to school. Betty, age 15, at times appears normal happy, but she also has mood swings.

I'm convinced it's psychological caused by being locked in the closet with a weapon by her parents. Betty was convinced that she would be shot at some time. She's on Prozac, which is an anti-depressant, but she's slowly recovering. Then there's little Raymond, age 7. He's a lot like Malinda still easily upset.
Evidence of child abuse is still very noticeable in Raymond. His grades in school aren't good.

Overall these children all have made a major come back. The deep hurt so obvious on their faces before is no longer so visible. Before when you talked to them, they looked down at the ground. Now, they can look you in the eyes, and it doesn't take every ounce of strength they have got to crack a smile. Recently Michelle got to speak to her friend Mary, a daughter of Mahlon Yoder, which did my niece a lot of good. Mary told Michelle how much she missed her. They have been best friends since childhood. Mary went into great detail about how the Amish parents in Upstate New York went out of their way to try to discredit the Miller children. Mary further stated that the rumors had gotten so far fetched that they were nearly impossible to believe. She said that often the younger Amish got together and talked about the Miller case.

Mary said, "The younger Amish found it hard to be ordered by their parents to go and help Andy and Emma Miller on their farm. We feel by doing this that we are supporting your parents, Michelle. We don't agree with what your parents have done to all of you just because most of our parents do agree with your parents."
Mary was working across the road from the Miller children at Kokomo Corners.
Michelle wasn't aware of this until she went over there to buy eggs and milk for her and her brothers and sisters. Michelle and Mary had a great conversation.

Mary said, "I have to leave. I can't talk too long. Michelle, you know how married people are about this case. I think you will start seeing a change in Upstate New York slowly but surely." Michelle sounded happy when she told me this.

This week the Miller children also took their buggy to the repair shop, run by Simon Slaubauch. They asked Simon to fix the buggy wheel just good enough so it would last for a little while. The word was quickly spread to the Miller children's parents. Andy Miller went over to the repair shop and told Simon Slaubauch that he wanted that buggy fixed right, and that he was paying for the bill. On Friday October 31st during their visitation Andy handed the children a container of black buggy paint and told them it was so they could paint their buggy and make it look nice.

The week of the October 20th was the first time Andy and Emma went to their court ordered counseling. My sister broke down and cried convulsively, she is apparently starting to realize that she has done some terrible things. Andy didn't budge an inch. The next week they skipped their counseling visit, claiming they forgot. Michelle was going to the therapy session with a driver and as they passed her parents place Michelle noticed they were still at home so she stopped in. Michelle walked in the house and said, "Mom aren't you going to your counseling today?"

Emma replied, "Oh my God, I forgot."

Michelle said, "You and Dad can ride with me and my driver into Ogdensburg."

"We'll be ready in just a couple minutes," Emma said. Michelle walked outside as her father walked in. They waited a couple minutes outside with their driver, and then her Dad walked out and said, "Michelle, we have a horse and buggy now, and it's too late for us to make it in there with our buggy. We'll just wait and go to counseling next week."

"Well, I just thought I'd offer," Michelle said and left.

I'm concerned for my sister's safety. If Andy is too pig headed to admit he has a problem, there's nothing I can do about it. But I will continue to do everything in my power to start easing tensions between the Miller children and the Amish community.

During the week of November 16th, I learned that on November 4th Harvey Hershberger, an Amish man from Knox County, Ohio lost his children to Social Services. He belongs to the same church as my sister Amanda does. Just 48 hours later he was reunited with his children. It happened so quickly because the Hershbergers realized what a terrible mistake they had made.

They told Social Services they would do whatever it took to get their children back. I hope the day comes soon when Andy and Emma do the same. But if they don't, I'm prepared to give their children a home. I keep praying for a peaceful ending. In the meantime, I continue to try and ease tension between the Miller children and the Amish from Upstate New York. One thing is for sure: things are changing for the better for these children.

On the 19th of November Michelle went into the Hospital and stayed for three days. They ran all kinds of tests and found nothing. I'm seriously concerned about Michelle's state of mind. Lately, whenever I call up there, Michelle is yelling at the children, telling them to shut up and get out of the way. I believe that the pressure is getting to Michelle and something is going to have to be done. I no longer put too much weight on anything she says, but I take into consideration that Michelle takes a lot of prescription drugs.

On 12th and 25th of November, 1997, a home study was done at our residence in Guernsey County, Ohio, as requested by the state of New York. The Commissioner from Guernsey County Social Services ordered caseworker Julie Jackson to do the study. In that report it stated that Social Services from New York wanted the State of Ohio Social Services to question me about whether I had anything to do with an Amish sawmill that mysteriously burned down in St. Lawrence County, N.Y. Social Services from N.Y. also wanted to know if I have been terrorizing the Amish in St. Lawrence County.

On November 12 when Caseworker Julie Jackson walked through the door of our house, she appeared nervous and frightened. We were nervous too at first, because we didn't know what to expect. Julie wasn't in our home for long before she relaxed and realized that perhaps Social Services from N.Y. had a vendetta against the Yoder family.

Julie explained that she had tried to avoid taking this case because of the ridiculous and outrageous report St. Lawrence Social Services had presented to Guernsey County Social Services. I read some of that report, and it was quite shocking. The Amish had Social Services convinced that I was out of control. We passed the home study with flying colors, and asked for a copy of the report the St. Lawrence Social Services sent to Guernsey County Social Services. We also requested a copy of the home study.

Julie replied, "David, I don't know if I can do this. Why do you want a copy of both reports?"

"Simple. If the Miller children can't be reunited with their parents we want to give them a home. We don't want Social Services from St. Lawrence to lie and say we weren't cleared to give the Miller children a home."

Julie said, "Okay I can understand that. I'll see what I can do. But I still don't understand what you want with the report that St. Lawrence Social Services sent to Ohio."

I said, "Julie, if Social Services discriminates against us and puts the children in a foster home, I want to be able to prove how prejudiced Social Services from New York is towards me."

"I truly sympathize with you, but that's highly irregular, still, I'll ask my supervisor and see what I can do. I'll also need a criminal background check on you and your wife to make sure you have a clean record.” Julie was a true professional nothing like N.Y. Social Services.

A week later Julie sent us a letter with a copy of the home study that was done on us. In the letter it clearly stated that there was no reason for Social Services to deny us custody of the Miller children. Julie said she couldn't give us a copy of the report that was sent to them of us from N.Y. Social Services, but she was able to give us a copy of the study that the State of Ohio did on us.

Julie said, "Call me if you need further assistance. It's truly been my pleasure meeting you and your family."

The week of Thanksgiving of 1997 I contacted 50 Bishops and one preacher throughout Holmes and Wayne County, Ohio and New York, trying to get the Amish motivated one more time. This week we also had a meeting with Bishop Menno Miller from Guernsey County, Ohio.

He said, "The Miller children are welcome to come to our church and school system even if they lived with us." Menno himself was interested in possibly giving them a home. I assured Menno that if he did I'd stay clear of the case.
He furthermore stated, "We will be holding a meeting concerning these issues as soon as possible, and that there will be a couple of preachers going to New York the first week in December to talk to Bishop Jacob Miller."

Menno Miller said, "If Andy and Emma Miller are considered unfit parents I don't see any reason why some Amish family from either Ohio or New York couldn't give these children a home. It won't bother us if the law was involved and ran occasional checks to see if the children are okay."

Menno went into great details, in his opinion a person should do whatever it takes to get these children back in the Amish community, they would work with the law. "Well," I said, "Menno, that's good. But it hasn't happened in New York.”
"David, New York settlement is a little different. It has its own reputation." We must have talked for forty-five minutes, though I could have easily spoken to this man all day long. I figured with all the rumors going around about me that Menno wouldn't be so nice to speak to.

Menno said, "Yes, David, I heard all the rumors. But I've known you for years and you're not a dangerous man." I shook his hand good-bye with a big smile on my face, and told him it truly was an honor.

This week Michelle went in for a check up. She was again complaining about pain. Michelle's Doctor was able to convince her that she was doing all right and refused to keep her in the hospital. I don't know, one minute Michelle seemed okay and the next minute she seemed about to die. I know it's the pressure. Michelle claimed she had such a bad headache that she could see the ceiling in the living room move when the kids were playing upstairs. Poor Michelle, the burden of all of this, fell squarely on her shoulders.

Due to Michelle's instability at this time, I thought would be a good idea if Ervin made a trip to N.Y. to visit his brothers and sisters. If anyone could help Michelle, it would be Ervin. The day after Ervin left to go home from New York his two sisters, Mary and Anna and Anna's husband Jonas arrived in New York and spent all afternoon and even ate supper with their brothers and sisters.

The sisters stated that before they went back home they would come back, spend the night and help them sew clothes. Emma was also going to be busy helping sew clothes for her children. Michelle called the emergency squad that afternoon and went to the emergency room at Hepburn Hospital in Ogdensburg. Again they ran tests and found nothing. They gave her medicine and sent her home.