Second Petersen twin charged following fatal buggy crash
(ABC 6 News) – The second Petersen twin has been charged in connection with a crash involving an Amish buggy that killed two children.
On Monday, Feb. 5, 35-year-old Samantha Jo Petersen of Kellogg was charged with eight counts of criminal vehicular homicide, eight counts of criminal vehicular operation, two counts of DWI, and counts of no proof of insurance, careless driving and speeding.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, her identical twin Sarah Beth Petersen, also of Kellogg, was charged with four counts of taking responsibility for criminal vehicular homicide, four counts of aiding an offender who committed criminal vehicular homicide, fourt counts of taking responsibility for criminal vehicular operation, and four counts of aiding an offender who committed criminal vehicular operation for a total of 16 felonies.
The court documents allege, as did Fillmore County search warrants last year, that Samantha Jo Petersen caused the crash that killed two children on County Road 1 in rural Stewartville, then called her twin sister to assume responsibility, as Samantha Petersen had allegedly taken methamphetamine before driving.
Both women’s charging documents referenced conversations with Hy-Vee staff, who allegedly told law enforcement that Samantha took care of her sister’s children while she was in prison and that Sarah may feel the need to return the favor.
They also noted that Sarah Beth Petersen had told officers Samantha was not in their shared residence when they came to seize her phone and take a vial of blood for testing — even though she was later found in a bedroom.
Neither sister had been taken into custody Wednesday, Feb. 7. Court documents note that Sarah Beth Petersen had been convicted of Conspiracy to Distribute a Controlled Substance in January of 2022, and was currently on parole.
Sarah Beth Petersen is scheduled to make a first court appearance April 1.
Samantha Jo Petersen is scheduled to appear on her own charges March 25.