Homeschooling’s 

Invisible Children

Martha Peight

Content note: Case narratives include descriptions of severe violence inflicted on children, including abuse and neglect, sexual violence, torture, and murder, as well as mentions of suicide and domestic violence. They also include photos of victims and perpetrators of violence.

Martha Peight

Martha Peight, b. 1989, was sexually abused by her father, Daniel R. Hostetler. Martha was homeschooled.

Hostetler abused Martha multiple times between 2002 and 2006. In 2007, Martha’s brother reported the abuse to David R. Fisher, the pastor of their Mennonite congregation, Shaver’s Creek Christian Fellowship. Fisher ordered Hostetler to confess to the congregation and counseled Martha to forgive Hostetler. The authorities were never notified. Fisher and Hostetler refused Martha’s request to go to a counseling center.

The abuse came to light in 2018 when Martha disclosed it to her therapist. The therapist reported it to the authorities. Hostetler pleaded guilty to indecent assault and Fisher pleaded no contest to endangering the welfare of a child.

Date: January 2018
Location:
Morris Township, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

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Documents: Date:
Huntingdon County man charged with indecent assault, sexual offenses 02-07-2018
‘We are done’: Mennonite women speak up on assault, sexual abuse 05-20-2019