A 42-year-old Missouri man who operated as an alternative healer has been charged with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of a 6-month-old infant who died after receiving non-medical treatment for serious respiratory infections.
Sam Shetler was arrested following an investigation that revealed his connection to the infant’s death in March 2025. The charges came to light during a separate investigation into allegations of sex trafficking and kidnapping that led to his arrest in March.
According to court documents, the infant’s parents brought their son to Shetler after observing that the child was experiencing breathing difficulties and had begun turning blue. The parents identified Shetler as someone who provided holistic medical services to their community in Booneville, Missouri, where he operated an establishment called the Mercy and Truth Retreat.
On March 6, 2025, Shetler allegedly administered what he described as a lavender breathing treatment to the infant before sending the family home. Later that day, the parents discovered their son unresponsive and blue in color when they attempted to wake him from a nap. Unable to locate Shetler for assistance, they sought help from a neighbor who contacted emergency services.
Emergency medical personnel who responded to the scene determined that the infant had already died. A subsequent autopsy revealed that the child had been suffering from multiple viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19. The medical examiner determined the cause of death to be pneumonia complicating polyviral respiratory infection.
During the investigation into separate criminal allegations against Shetler, detectives interviewed an employee who had worked at the Mercy and Truth Retreat. This individual revealed that community members regarded Shetler as a medical practitioner or healer, and that he had promoted the belief that conventional medical doctors lacked proper knowledge.
The employee disclosed that Shetler had instructed staff members to treat the infant’s respiratory distress using an oil diffuser. Despite reportedly promising the parents he would monitor the child’s condition, the employee stated that Shetler failed to check on the infant, claiming he was occupied with other matters involving horses and other individuals at the retreat.
Staff members at the facility had observed that the infant’s condition was deteriorating, according to the investigation. The medical examiner’s assessment indicated that the child might have survived if he had received conventional medical treatment for his infections.
The involuntary manslaughter charge represents one of multiple criminal allegations Shetler currently faces. He has also been charged with three counts of sex trafficking, four counts of kidnapping, one count of sodomy, and one count of sexual abuse. These charges stem from allegations that he had been sexually abusing teenage girls and young women at his retreat.
Shetler is currently detained at the Cooper County Jail without bond. His next scheduled court appearance is set for May 13, where he will face proceedings related to both the involuntary manslaughter charge and the additional criminal allegations.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about unregulated alternative medical practices and the risks associated with foregoing conventional medical treatment for serious health conditions, particularly in cases involving vulnerable populations such as infants and children.
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