A twin sister who tried to fool the police during an investigation into a crash that killed two children has pleaded guilty.
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Per a report by People, Sarah Peterson pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal vehicular operation on Tuesday. These charges are on top of a further 16 counts concerning an incident in 2023 resulting in the death of two children.
Samantha Peterson, Sarah's twin sister, was reportedly driving an SUV that crashed into an Amish buggy carrying four children in Sumner Township. The incident on September 25 claimed the lives of two of the passengers. Wilma Miller, 7, and Irma Miller, 11. According to KSTP, Sarah tried to take the blame for the crash, claiming she was the driver. However, a witness described the SUV driver as wearing a 'Hy-Vee' employee shirt. Samantha was seen wearing the matching item of clothing.
KSTP explained that an officer at the scene was wearing a bodycam, corroborating the witness's statement about the shirt. Authorities allegedly caught the twins talking on a digital radio in a police car. During the conversation, Samantha reportedly said, "I think that one of the guys is on to me, but I don't really care. There's no way they would ever know the difference between the two of us, so they can't tell." Samantha also reportedly told a Hy-Vee employee that she was high on meth and "just killed two Amish people."
One Twin Allegedly Made Incriminating Searches On Her Cell Phone
Per the report by People, authorities started to notice inconsistencies in the twin's stories. Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge explained:
"It was determined through a series of search warrants, interviews, analysis of different data that, in fact, Samantha Peterson, Sarah's twin sister, was driving that vehicle." He also noted that the fact that the women were identical twins added "a lot of complexity" to the investigation.
Samantha allegedly made several incriminating searches on her cell phone. Those searches include "What happens if you get in an accident with an Amish buggy and kill two people."
Authorities have provided no motive for the identity swap. However, according to KSTV, a Hy-Vee employee theorized it may be because Samantha cared for Sarah's children while she was in prison. She may have wanted to return the favor. Samantha faces 21 felony charges, while Sarah is due to be sentenced on March 31, 2025.
