The religious persecution theory: Some speculated that the family had been targeted by outsiders with anti-Amish bias. Holmes County had experienced occasional tensions between Amish and non-Amish residents over road usage and property disputes. Perhaps the Millers had been victims of violence.
But there was no evidence of forced entry, no signs of struggle, and no similar incidents in the area.
The voluntary departure theory: Others suggested the family had chosen to leave the Amish faith and disappeared to avoid shunning. Some Amish do leave the community, though typically young adults, not entire families.
But the Millers left behind everything—their farm, their animals, their possessions, even money in a drawer. People planning to leave don’t abandon resources they’d need to start over.
The accident theory: Perhaps the family had been traveling together somehow and met with an accident—fallen into water, been caught in a sudden storm, encountered a vehicle accident on a remote road.
