By Kevin Williams
Authorities in Michigan are spinning a rather fantastical tale about the possibility of a murderer from their area hiding out among the Amish in Maine. Â Sounds like something straight out of a fiction novel or a movie script. Â Let's examine the possibility.
If someone convicted of a crime were to join an Amish community I'm not sure Maine would be the place to do it. Â Yes, it is true that the settlements near Smyrna and Unity are more open to outsiders. Â They even have a church building and services in English. Â But it's also that very openness that would make it hard to hide. Â The communities are very small so a fugitive spinning a yard would stand-out more. Â On the other hand, in this case the alleged fugitive is a 67-year-old man who might come across as harmless to most. Â And I have seen first-hand outsiders approach the Maine Amish with the desire to learn more about their life and possibly join and they've been welcomed. Â That said, the settlements are so small that all it would take is one visit from law enforcement to spread around a flyer and the guy would be immediately exposed.
So, if you are going to be a fugitive and hide out among the Amish, choose a large sprawling Amish community where people come and go a lot more. Â You'd be far less likely to attract attention.
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