Kriti Mehrotra
Directed by Jessica Harmon, Lifetime’s ‘Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story’ revisits the 2009 homicide of 30-year-old mother of five Barbara Weaver, which left the Amish country utterly baffled. That’s because she was found shot to death in her bed in her Apple Creek, Ohio, home, only for investigations to reveal that her husband and his mistress were responsible. However, if we’re being honest, it is the victim’s elder sister, a kind, compassionate, and loving woman named Abigail, who intrigues us the most in the biographical crime drama, making us wonder more about her.
Abigail is Indeed the Fictional Embodiment of Barbara Weaver’s Sister
From the moment we first come across Abigail (portrayed by Clare Filipow) across our screens, it is evident that she shares a tight-knit bond with her sister, Barbara Weaver. They may have their differences in terms of what they desire out of life or how they want to spend their Rumspringa, but they know where they stand with their family, faith, and community. Therefore, even though Abigail did not approve of her sister’s involvement with Eli Weaver when it started, she stood by her through thick and thin, and that’s precisely what Barbara’s real-life sister Fannie Cristy Troyer did too.
According to records, Barbara was one of four children born to Emma and David Troyer Miller, who raised the entire family under the Old Order Amish Church in Apple Creek, Ohio. She thus grew up surrounded by joy and religion, in the company of her sister, Fannie, and her two brothers, Leroy Miller and Michael Miller. It has been reported that their mother sadly passed away following a year and a half battle with cancer in 2008, so the sisters were closer than ever by the time the summer of 2009 rolled around. In other words, Fannie knew a lot of details regarding Barbara’s marriage as the latter had confided in her a lot over time.
Barbara Weaver’s Sister Played a Significant Role in Helping Solve Her Case
Although Barbara’s husband had an alibi for where he was at the time of her murder – on a fishing trip at Lake Erie – he was quickly deemed the prime suspect thanks to Fannie. After all, the latter didn’t hesitate to approach authorities with what she knew after her sister was found dead, revealing to them that her marriage was far from sunshine and roses. She was the one who let officials know that Eli had been unfaithful to Barbara at least twice in the past and that the mother of five believed he had started straying from the marriage again. As per records, she was allegedly sure he had to have been responsible in one way or another.
According to Fannie’s account, Eli also often withheld money from his wife despite knowing she had a household full of five children to manage and feed, even though his business was doing well. In fact, she asserted her belief that it wasn’t about a lack of funds but about control, especially as she recalls incidents when it seemed he wanted to isolate her from the community. As per records, there was one occasion when he didn’t give Barbara enough money to buy ingredients when it was her turn to bake pies for the church, and there were times when she didn’t even have enough for monthly groceries.
As if that’s not enough, Fannie even told detectives that Barbara and Eli’s personal connection was also not what it once used to be because she knew her sister was seeing a counselor. Barbara struggled with his infidelities and his treatment of her as well as their children, which her sister could see was draining all the spark from behind her eyes and the joy for life she once held. Therefore, when she was found dead, Fannie did not hesitate to contact officers, reveal everything she knew, and then seemingly even testify in court when the matter went to trial. In other words, she did her best to ensure her sister gained the justice she deserved.
Read More: Barbara Weaver Murder Details and Investigation Timeline
