Former Amish woman claims KC-area chiropractor sexually abused her

Editor's Note: Due to the nature of sexual assault, some parts of this story may be disturbing to readers/viewers.

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A former Amish woman claims a Kansas City-area chiropractor sexually abused her when she was a teenager.

Nearly 20 years later, Fannie Hershberger shares her story with the KSHB 41 I-Team in the hopes that others will have their say, too.

“I was scared. I was scared to death, but they are not alone,” Hershberger said.

The FBI investigated Dr. David Clark and searched his office in Oak Grove more than two years ago.

According to court documents, the FBI believed Clark had sexually abused dozens of victims over the decades, mostly from the Amish community.

Although federal prosecutors did not file charges, Jackson County prosecutors charged Clark last September “in connection with sexual assaults of juveniles and adult women.”

PREVIOUS COVERAGE | Oak Grove chiropractor charged with sex crimes against patients

“We did our duty. We felt that a case that should be filed was not above the minimum requirements,” said Jackson County Attorney Jean Peters Baker.

The case took an unexpected turn when Clark died in January 2024 and the criminal proceedings against him had to be dropped.

Hershberger and another woman are seeking justice through a civil lawsuit originally filed against Clark and his company in December 2023.

Hershberger's story

The trauma still haunts Hershberger.

When she was 14, she says, her Amish parents took her to Clark on a bus trip from Bertha, Minnesota, to Oak Grove, Missouri.

“All I knew was that my parents took me to the doctor because of pain,” Hershberger said.

The chiropractor, known for his holistic treatment, had a practice in Oak Grove in eastern Jackson County, Health+Plus.

According to archives on his website, he called himself “The Doctor the Amish Trust!”

“And this doctor was supposed to help me,” Hershberger said.

Hershberger says it took her nearly two decades to process what happened next. She says a major reason for that was her Amish upbringing.

“It was considered shameful to talk about anything sexual, so I didn't say anything,” Hershberger said.

Hershberger says she left her Amish community at 17.

The former Amish woman spoke to the Arizona I-Team.

“It was my little sisters who really pushed me to keep going, to speak up and share my experiences,” Hershberger said.

LINK | Read the lawsuit

In her civil suit, now against the estate, Hershberger claims Clark sexually abused her while she was a patient. Another woman joined the suit, making similar allegations.

Hershberger's lawsuit also accuses Clark of performing “chiropractic manipulation, pelvic manipulation, or visceral manipulation” on her and other alleged victims.

“I didn't know much about doctors and what they were supposed to do,” she said. “I didn't know much about that at the time.”

LINK | Clark's estate's response to Hershberger's lawsuit

In its response to Hershberger's lawsuit, the attorney for Clark's estate denied the allegations but acknowledged that Clark is licensed as a chiropractor in the state of Missouri and does not hold any other medical degrees.

FBI agents search Clark's office

Photo credit: Ruth Ann Hafner, Focus on Oak Grove

In June 2022, FBI agents searched Clark’s office.

An FBI special agent claims, according to court documents, that Clark exploited his position to “make his victims believe that the sexual abuse he committed against them was appropriate and medically necessary.”

The special agent estimates that Clark sexually abused dozens of victims as early as the 1980s, including some from the Amish community.

The agent added: “For many of the alleged victims, the chiropractor was their first contact with a medical professional.”

Law professor gives insight into the Amish community

The I-Team spoke with Marci Hamilton, a professor of constitutional law at the University of Pennsylvania, to gain more insight into the Amish community.

“Amish women and girls are the perfect victims because they don’t learn about sex,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton reviewed the probable cause statement and the civil complaint against Clark.

“The big red flag for me in this case was that a chiropractor was doing what were called gynecological exams,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton is also the founder and CEO of Child USA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to civil rights and preventing child sexual abuse.

She explained why Amish women and girls often remain silent about sexual assault.

“Many women in the Amish community have learned through observation that silence is the safest path for them. But the tragedy is that this only provides more opportunities for those who would take advantage of them,” Hamilton said.

“What would your message be specifically to Amish women and girls?” asked KSHB 41 investigator Cameron Taylor.

“My message to Amish women and girls is that being sexually assaulted is never sacred, and the practices that led to your sexual assault must be investigated and eliminated,” Hamilton responded.

Criminal charges against Clark dismissed after his death

In September 2023, the Jackson County District Attorney's Office filed charges against Clark, including first-degree sexual abuse and first-degree sodomy.

Hershberger was the informant in this case.

“We believed in the evidence and we believed we could hold the defendant accountable for these actions. I am grateful that we were given this opportunity and were able to file the charges,” said Jackson County Prosecutor Jean Peters Baker.

“What warning signs did you notice when you originally made these charges?” asked Cameron Taylor of KSHB 41.

“This is not a medical service and certainly not one provided by a chiropractor, so of course they come first,” Baker replied.

Prosecutors dropped the criminal case after Clark died in January. Clark's obituary said he died of heart failure.

“I think it's always hard when you have to face victims and tell them that for some reason you couldn't get justice for them,” Baker said. “This falls into one of those categories where we just didn't have the time to go through the process, even though this behavior spanned decades.”

Baker praises Hershberger's courage to reveal himself.

“I really pray that she will get some justice, and not just her,” Baker said.

When Hershberger learned of Clark's death, she explained what was going through her mind.

“I was disappointed. Yes, I was disappointed,” Hershberger said.

Hershberger's civil suit still pending

Hershberger's civil case is ongoing. In the meantime, she told the I-Team what she's focused on.

“You know, what I'm really working on right now is feeling valuable,” Hershberger said.

She also wants to make a difference by requiring Amish leaders to report, and she hopes her story will encourage others from her former community to come forward.

“There are others in the community who are still dealing with this, and if I don't say anything, I can't ask anyone else to say anything,” Hershberger said.

The I-Team reached out to the attorney representing Clark's estate but never received a response.

The date for the civil trial has been set for August 2025.

Although Clark's practice no longer exists, the I-Team found that another company that also offers holistic services has taken over the practice.

We reached out to the owner of the company for comment but received no response.

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If you have been sexually abused, you may receive benefits from MOCSA by calling the 24-hour crisis hotline at 816-531-0233 in Missouri and 913-642-0233 in Kansas.

The state of Kansas also offers a crisis hotline at 1-888-END-ABUSE (888-363-2287).

Officials said it doesn't matter how long ago the attack occurred, they are still ready to provide support and resources.