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Samuel Hochstetler

True Crime All The Time

54m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode covers the tragic murder of 28-year-old Rosanna Kinzinger in an Amish community near Rutland, Ohio, and the subsequent investigation, trial, and guilty plea of 18-year-old Samuel Hochstetler. The hosts examine how the crime shocked the small, close-knit community of ten families where Rosanna lived and taught school. After her body was discovered face down and nude in her trailer, Hochstetler initially volunteered to help the grieving family and comfort her parents while secretly being the perpetrator. When eventually questioned by authorities, he confessed to having a sexual encounter while placing a blanket over her head, claiming the death was accidental. Later, legal battles ensued regarding whether Hochstetler, given his Amish background and language barriers, truly understood his Miranda rights when confessing. Ultimately, the judge suppressed his initial statements, leading prosecutors to offer a plea deal that resulted in Hochstetler pleading guilty to aggravated murder and receiving a sentence of 25 years to life in prison.

  • Authorities determined that Rosanna Kinzinger's official cause of death was positional asphyxia resulting from a non-consensual sexual assault. 11:35
  • Samuel Hochstetler volunteered to help around the victim's farm and stayed as a guest in her parents' home during the weekend of her funeral without anyone knowing his involvement. 13:24
  • The defense successfully argued that Hochstetler's initial confession should be suppressed because his Amish upbringing prevented him from understanding legal concepts like Miranda rights and an attorney. 24:14
  • Faced with the suppression of the confession, prosecutors offered a plea agreement to hedge their bets before trial. 53:47

Chapters

  1. 0:00
  2. 1:14
    Episode Introduction and Host Greeting

    Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson welcome listeners and introduce the episode’s focus on the Amish teenager Samuel Hoshdeller.

  3. 8:43
    Discovery of Rosanna’s Body and Initial Investigation

    Neighbors find Rosanna’s body, authorities call 911, and the community’s response is described, highlighting the small, tight-knit nature of the Amish town.

  4. 15:29
    Samuel’s Role as Person of Interest and Confession

    Police identify Samuel as a person of interest, detain him, and he confesses to killing Rosanna during a sexual encounter, claiming it was accidental.

  5. 24:01
    Trial Arguments and Defense Strategy

    Defense attorneys argue Samuel’s limited education and language barriers, while prosecutors maintain the crime was a non-consensual murder.

  6. 34:55
    Legal Proceedings: Miranda Rights and Suppression Hearing

    The case centers on whether Samuel understood his Miranda rights; a judge rules his statements inadmissible, impacting the prosecution’s case.

  7. 43:49
    Plea Deal and Guilty Plea

    Samuel pleads guilty to aggravated murder, leading to a reduced charge set and a sentence of 25 years to life.

  8. 50:07
    Community Impact and Emotional Fallout

    The hosts discuss how the Amish community coped, the shock of welcoming the murderer into their homes, and the lasting trauma for Rosanna’s family.

  9. 55:04
    Reflection on Justice and Moral Questions

    Mike and Gabby reflect on the moral complexities, the role of the legal system, and the difficulty of achieving closure in such a case.

  10. 57:39
    Closing Remarks and Episode Wrap‑Up

    The hosts conclude the episode, emphasizing the uniqueness of the case and encouraging listeners to stay safe and engaged.

Highlights

  • 2:18

    Amish Teen Charged with Murderdata

    The hosts introduce the case of Samuel Hochstetler, an Amish teenager sentenced to 25 years to life for aggravated murder following the death of Rosanna Kinzinger.

  • 8:43

    Discovery of the Bodystory

    Neighbors went looking for Rosanna after she was unseen for a day, and Moses Troyer found her body nude and face down on her bed inside her trailer.

  • 15:36

    Hochstetler Confesses to Killinginsight

    During a recorded police interview, Samuel admitted to being in the trailer and placing a blanket over Rosanna's head during sex, realizing afterward she was dead.

  • 35:03

    Judge Suppresses Confessionstrategy

    Judge Linda Warner ruled that Samuel's incriminating statements were inadmissible because his Amish background meant he did not understand his Miranda rights.

  • 43:49

    Guilty Plea Entereddata

    Samuel pleaded guilty to aggravated murder just days before his trial was scheduled to begin, admitting he purposely caused her death during a rape.

  • 50:48

    Dislodged Dentures and Asphyxiainsight

    The prosecutor detailed that Samuel pressed on Rosanna's torso and covered her face with blankets with such force that he dislodged her lower dentures.

Quotes

  • “The following day, March 13, a group of neighbors went looking for Rosanna after they realized no one had seen her all day.”
    Unnamed speaker · 7:54
  • “He admitted to placing a blanket over her head while he had sex with her.”
    Unnamed speaker · 15:49
  • “The Meigs County Coroner's Office immediately declared Rosanna's death suspicious.”
    Unnamed speaker · 10:54
  • “In January 2026, prosecutors asked the judge to reconsider her ruling suppressing Samuel's incriminating statements...”
    Unnamed speaker · 34:55
  • “He was the one to break the news to Rosanna's parents.”
    Unnamed speaker · 10:37
  • DraftKings Casino 0:00–1:08
  • Quince 19:03–20:33

About this episode

18-year-old Amish teenager Samuel Hochstetler was accused of killing 28-year-old Rosanna Kinsinger in an Amish community near Rutland, Ohio. Rosanna was found dead in her trailer on March 13, 2025, after being last seen the previous day. Her death was ruled positional asphyxia, and investigators determined she had been raped and murdered. Join Mike and Gibby as they discuss Samuel Hochstetler. This case became complicated by questions about Hochstetler’s understanding of his Miranda rights. His attorneys argued that his Amish upbringing, limited formal education, and language barriers prevented him from understanding the consequences of speaking with investigators. You can help support the show at patreon.com/truecrimeallthetime Visit the show's website at truecrimeallthetime.com for contact, merchandise, and donation information An Emash Digital production See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

0:00
54:37

8,802 words · 3 speakers

Topics

  • Amish
  • Ohio
  • Meigs County
  • Pennsylvania Dutch
  • Rutland
  • Meigs County Coroner's Office
  • Hidden Pictures
  • The Last One at the Wedding
  • Look With the Cat Dragged In

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