The deeply conservative Amish community of Apple Creek, Ohio was left reeling after the brutal murder of a young mother. Barbara Weaver was found dead in her home in June of 2009, prompting a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding her death. Shockingly, all evidence pointed toward her husband’s involvement, leading to an in-depth examination of his personal life. The television programs ‘Murder in Amish Country: The Amish Stud’ on Investigation Discovery and ‘Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver’ on Lifetime both detail the police’s eventual success in bringing Barbara’s killers to justice. Let us delve into the details of this tragic case.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Barbara Weaver are under investigation. The cause of her death is currently unknown and being looked into.
Born in the month of February in the year 1979, Barbara D. Weaver spent the majority of her life in Apple Creek. She tied the knot with Eli Weaver in the month of May in 1999 and together they had five children. A tender-hearted and cherished member of the community, Barbara was known for her gentle disposition and unwavering love for her children. However, on the morning of June 2, 2009, one of her children made a harrowing discovery that would change their lives forever.
Barbara was discovered unresponsive in her bed, and her child immediately sought help from a nearby neighbor who then contacted 911. Upon their arrival, the authorities discovered that Barbara had tragically passed away due to a single gunshot wound to her chest. The weapon used was identified as a .410-gauge shotgun. After ruling out robbery as a possible motive due to a lack of forced entry and unscathed money in plain sight, investigators began to focus their investigation on Eli, Barbara’s husband, as he was not present at the time of the incident.
The case of Barbara Weaver’s death has been a matter of much speculation and investigation. The identity of the perpetrator of this heinous crime remains unknown, and the circumstances surrounding her demise have left many questions unanswered. Despite the tireless efforts of law enforcement officials and private detectives, the mystery of Barbara Weaver’s murder continues to elude those seeking answers.
During the incident, Eli was on a fishing excursion with a group of companions. He informed the authorities that he had last seen his spouse at approximately 3 a.m. on that day, and his companions corroborated his statement. However, as the investigation into the Weaver’s relationship progressed, the officials discovered some unsettling details. Barbara’s sibling informed the police that Eli had been disloyal previously, having departed from the marriage on at least two occasions to cohabit with non-Amish women before returning to the community with the approval of the elders.
Upon investigation, it was discovered that Eli engaged in online communication with several women, betraying Barbara with multiple partners concurrently. These conversations often revealed his discontent with the marriage, and led some of these women to report that he had expressed a desire to have his wife killed. Additionally, it came to light through acquaintances of Barbara that Eli had been involved in a long-term relationship with another woman, Barbara Raber, for roughly six years, despite being married to Barbara.
Barbara Raber, who was once a member of the Amish community, was a mother of three who was married. She was commonly referred to as the “taxi lady” within her community. Afterward, she admitted to having had an affair with Eli, a man from her community. She maintained that their relationship had ended six months prior to the incident. But the discovery of Eli’s secret cellphone revealed a different story. Messages exchanged between the two indicated that their relationship was still ongoing, and the phone was registered under her name.
Eli and Raber had discussed the possibility of removing Barbara from their lives, even going so far as to consider various methods such as poisoning, medication, or even detonating their home while their children were still inside. Eli suggested that their innocent children would go to heaven. Before leaving, Eli instructed Barbara on where to park her car and mentioned that the garage door was unlocked. In addition, Raber’s internet search history revealed that she had researched poisons, gases, and ways to eliminate an individual.
