BERGHOLZ, Ohio --

The Jefferson County sheriff is investigating after another alleged Amish bead-cutting attack Wednesday night.

Sheriff Fred Abdalla said the alleged incident happened in Bergholz, in the Amish community led by Samuel Mullet.

According to investigators, an elderly couple from Michigan traveled to Bergholz to see their son, who is married to one of Mullet's daughters. It had been a long time since the son or his children had seen his parents. When the parents got the invitation through letters to come to Bergholz, they were hopeful to reconnect with their son and their grand children.

Abdalla said he had been contacted before the meeting through the couple's other children in Ashland County. They told the sheriff they were concerned that their father and mother could be in danger if they went to Bergholz and said everyone in the Amish community seems to be frightened by Mullet.

In response, Abdalla met with the couple, took them to see their son, and stayed in the Bergholz area while the family visited.


The father and mother reported that during the visit, the situation became heated. The son grabbed his father and started to cut his beard off, with the help of the grandchildren. At one point, the mother tried to help her husband and her daughter-in-law -- Mullet's daughter -- grabbed and restrained her from helping her husband.

After the visit, Abdalla said he witnessed the father with his beard and all of his hair cut off.

No charges have been filed yet because the victims don't want to press charges.  However, the information has been turned over to the FBI and there may be federal charges they can pursue with or without the victim helping the case, Abdalla said.

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