Sheila Hiltabidel is a name that may not ring a bell for many people, but she was involved in a shocking murder case that made headlines in 1981. Sheila Hiltabidel stabbed her husband, Larry Hiltabidel, to death in his sleep in their home in Clinton, Ohio. The motive behind the crime was that Larry had an affair with Sheila’s sister, Sherry, and fathered a child with her. That child was Jeremiah Raber, a reality TV star who appeared on the shows Breaking Amish and Return to Amish.
The Affair and the Murder
According to the Akron Beach Journal, Sheila Hiltabidel was 29 years old when she killed her husband on December 21, 1981. She allegedly stabbed him once in the chest with a kitchen knife and he died of his injuries about two hours later in the hospital. The detective stated that the Hiltabidels had gone out with Larry’s father and his brother to a bar for drinks and electronic games before Larry’s father dropped them off at their home at about 9:45 p.m.
The next day, Sheila was charged with murder and arraigned in Barberton Municipal Court. She pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to a psychiatric hospital for evaluation. She later changed her plea to guilty and was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison in 1982.
The reason behind Sheila’s violent act was that she had discovered that her husband had been cheating on her with her sister, Sherry, who was married to Dennis. Sherry had given birth to a baby boy, Jeremiah, in January 1980, and he was actually Larry’s son. Sheila had found out about the affair and the child through a letter that Larry had written to Sherry.
The Aftermath and the Reunion
Sheila Hiltabidel’s murder of her husband had a lasting impact on the lives of many people, especially the children involved. Jeremiah Raber was adopted by an Amish couple, Aaron and Mystic Raber, when he was 9 months old. He grew up in the Amish community and later decided to break away from it and pursue a different lifestyle. He became a TV personality and starred in the reality shows Breaking Amish and Return to Amish, which followed his journey of leaving the Amish and exploring the outside world.
Jeremiah did not meet his biological parents until he was an adult. He first contacted his mother, Sherry, through his half-sister, who reached out to him on social media. He revealed the incident in an episode of Return to Amish in 2018. He said that he was excited to meet his real parents, but he regretted his decision later. He said that his mother lied to him about many things and that his father was not Dennis, as he had believed, but Larry, who was murdered by his aunt.
Jeremiah also tried to connect with his father’s side of the family, but he faced rejection and hostility from them. He said that his aunt, Sheila, who was still in prison, sent him a video message saying that he was not her child and that she did not want him in her life. She also said that she had her own kids who loved her. Jeremiah’s siblings from his father’s side also cut off all contact with him and blocked him on social media.
Jeremiah said that he felt hurt and betrayed by his biological family and that he wished he had never met them. He said that he felt like he had no identity and that he did not belong anywhere. He said that he only hung onto his Native American heritage, as it was the only thing he knew about himself.
The Conclusion
Sheila Hiltabidel’s murder of her husband, Larry Hiltabidel, was a tragic and shocking event that had a ripple effect on many lives. Sheila Hiltabidel killed her husband for having an affair with her sister, Sherry, and fathering a child with her, Jeremiah. Jeremiah grew up in the Amish community and later became a reality TV star. He tried to reunite with his biological family, but he faced lies, rejection, and resentment from them. He said that he felt lost and alone and that he wished he had never met them. Sheila Hiltabidel’s story is a cautionary tale of how jealousy, anger, and violence can destroy lives and relationships.