Crash Which Killed Two Amish Children: One Twin Pleads Guilty
From the Minnesota Star-Tribune:
A 36-year-old woman is pleading guilty to concocting an identity-swapping scheme with her twin sister to deceive law enforcement about who was actually driving an SUV that hit an Amish buggy in southeastern Minnesota, killing two of the four children aboard.
Sarah Beth Petersen, 36, of Kellogg, Minn., pleaded guilty Tuesday afternoon in Fillmore County District Court to two counts of criminal vehicular operation in connection with the crash shortly before 8:30 a.m. Sept. 25, 2023, along southbound County Road 1.
The collision southeast of Stewartville killed Wilma Miller, 7, and Irma Miller, 11. Surviving their injuries were siblings Allan Miller, now 10, and Rose Miller, now 14. The four children were riding to school at the time of the crash, with Rose holding the reins, a family friend said.
The plea agreement between the prosecution and the defense calls for Petersen to serve no more than six months in jail and be put on four years’ supervised probation.
So after their attempts to get the charges dismissed last year, it looks like it has come to this. One twin is pleading guilty, and will not serve more than a half-year in prison.
Sarah here is the twin who prosecutors say tried to take responsibility for the accident in place of her sister Samantha, who the state says was the one actually driving.
Drug tests also showed several drugs in her system at the time of the crash (methamphetamine, amphetamine and THC).
Samantha did not make a plea deal, and is scheduled to go to trial on July 14.
She is charged with “criminal vehicular homicide, criminal vehicular operation, driving under the influence of an illicit drug and other lesser counts.”
Sarah Petersen expressed a sort of remorse via her attorney:
“Obviously, Sarah’s heart goes out to the Millers,” her attorney, Daniel McIntosh, said shortly after the guilty pleas were entered. “She’s a mother herself.”
The Amish girls’ father, Menno Miller, was interviewed about the loss of his daughters about a month after the crash.
Among other things, he expressed a desire to get a simple apology. “That’d go a long ways,” says Menno. “Yes it would.” No word on whether that’s happened yet.
so sad
I know the Amish don’t think much of the death penalty…
Needless to say: I am not Amish…
Those twins both should get life or worse.
Just my humble opinion, mind you.
Two beautiful young lives snuffed out, because the “twins” thought drugs were cool.
This noe moe than six month sentence is a travesty of justice.
A joke. A VERY bad one.
what????
SIX MONTHS for the death of two children, lying about it and having narcotics in her system? Unbelievable. Where is the justice for this poor family with two beautiful girls missing from their lives?
Petersen Plea Agreement
OMG!! I’m from Minnesota, born & raised, and I’m shocked at this latest turn of events. Here I thought Minnesota laws were fair & even. Now I know the truth. Something MUST be done. Laws must be changed, and soon. Before two more precious lives are taken from our world. Um, Your Honor . . . Objection!!
6 months for the nondriver
The 6 month sentence was for the nondriver. The driver is going to trial. People here are posting as if the driver were being let off. Another case of trial by public opinion by armchair judges. Since this is about the Amish perhaps we can all try to understand their highly rigid view of forgiveness which takes the teachings of Christ to their logical end.
This story states that the 2 women were trying to get the charges dismissed. When that failed, the one plead guilty which is an admission of guilt. That’s not being an armchair judge. She admitting to doing wrong(after trying to get away with it). 6 months is light for trying to help her sister get away with homicide.
It sounds like the other sister is going to trial because because no plea deal was offered or she refused to accept the punishment.
And refusing to apologize is probably because her lawyer doesn’t want her to say anything that could be used against her in the trial. I would not be surprised if the defense plays the victim card saying she had a tough childhood that lead her to a life of drug use(or something similar).
One can forgive. But forgiveness does not have to mean one can avoid jail and walk free.
Disgrace
I know the Amish will forgive. That is their way, but until OUR (English) society puts more pressure on those that drive under the influence and hold these people accountable there will continue to be senseless deaths.
This crash happened in full daylight…absolutely no excuse. And don’t tell me she is “sorry and she is a mother also”! If she was a GOOD mother, she wouldn’t be on the drugs and she DEFINITELY would not have been trying to dodge her responsibility for her actions!! Completely and utterly DISGRACEFUL!
All those pocks on their faces is a quick giveaway to their meth use. I don’t care if the one has children, she didn’t care about the consequences of her drug use and two children are dead. I certainly hope she gets a proper sentence at the end of her trail. Shame on the sister also who tried to lie and say she was the driver.