True crime author Gregg Olsen was so haunted by the murders committed by Amish man Eli Stutzman that he wrote two books about him.
His 1990 book “Abandoned Prayers: An Incredible True Story of Murder, Obsession, and Amish Secrets” and its 2024 follow-up “The Amish Wife: Unraveling the Lies, Secrets, and Conspiracy That Let A Killer Go Free” show the far-reaching terror caused by Stutzman and examine allegations that he got away with murder multiple times.
Lifetime has adapted “Abandoned Prayers” into its upcoming movie “Sins of an Amish Husband.”
Stutzman belonged to the Swartzentruber Amish order and grew up in Apple Creek, Ohio. His father was a bishop in that community. In 1979, Stutzman left the order and took his young son with him after the suspicious death of his wife.
“Sins of an Amish Husband” premieres Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET. Kelly Fullerton wrote the film, and Linda Lisa Hayter directs.
‘Sins of an Amish Husband’
The Lifetime movie centers on Sarah (Maddy Hills), an Amish woman whose sister Ida (Karis Cameron) dies in a barn fire. Ida’s husband, Eli, says Ida came to him to tell him about the fire, then ran back to save milking equipment. He said Ida then died from a heart condition.
Sarah doesn’t believe the fire was an accident or that her sister had a heart condition. She suspects Eli (Jean Luc Bilodeau), her brother-in-law, is behind the tragedy. Eli flees the scene with his son Danny, who is later found frozen to death in a cornfield in Nebraska. People called him “Little Boy Blue” until a phone call identified him as Eli’s son. Sarah tries to get answers and justice for her family.
Spoiler warning: The following section includes details from the real-life case that may reveal events depicted in the Lifetime movie.
The true story
Stutzman’s story continued long after Ida’s death. After leaving the Amish community, he took Danny with him and became connected to a series of deaths across several states.
In 1989, Stutzman was convicted in the murder of a man and was suspected in several other deaths. He also served time for abandoning his son’s body. Stutzman was released on parole after serving 16 of his 40 years in prison and soon after died by suicide.
Documentaries, podcasts
If the Lifetime movie and the book aren’t enough for your true-crime-loving self, there are other avenues to explore. Not surprisingly, the tale of Eli Stutzman has been fodder for documentaries and podcasts: “Murder in Amish Country: The Amish Serial Killer” (Season 1, Episode 2) on Discovery+, the independent doc “The Amish Serial Killer,” and the podcasts “Murderish” and “Crimes We Didn’t Commit.”
Book 2: ‘The Amish Wife’
Olsen revisits the case of the former Amish farmer and continues to fight to prove Ida Stutzman was murdered. He returns to the Amish community, whose members he says were not forthcoming with investigators.
Olsen told the New York Post that he is still seeking justice for Ida.
“I couldn’t get it out of my mind,” he said. “I do believe—I know—Ida was murdered.”
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