歪歪漫画

PRESTON, Minn. 鈥� A complex chain of evidence led investigators to conclude a woman swapped places with her twin sister at the scene of a fatal crash in Fillmore County.

That same evidence is why neither Samantha Jo Petersen nor her sister Sarah Beth Petersen has been taken into custody on the dozens of charges they face from the September 2023 crash, Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge said in a press conference on Thursday, Feb. 8.

The charges were filed in Fillmore County District Court this week.

Wilma Miller, 7, and Irma Miller, 11, were killed on Sept. 25, 2023, when the driver of a 2005 Toyota 4Runner SUV struck the buggy they were riding in on Fillmore County Highway 1 near Racine. Their siblings Alan Miller, 9, and Rose Miller, 13, were also injured in the crash.

Recorded audio and witness accounts of a similar-looking woman arriving on the scene, who then changed clothes, led investigators to believe Sarah Petersen, who took responsibility for the crash, may have been covering for her sister Samantha Petersen.

Other evidence, including cellphone records, blood tests and an advanced crash report, supports that theory, DeGeorge said. However, that evidence takes time to acquire and process.

鈥淎ll of those things take a long time to get back,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f this were to go to trial before we have all this evidence back, we risk losing the case.鈥�

in Fillmore County District Court, including eight felony counts of criminal vehicular homicide and eight counts of criminal vehicular operation. The criminal complaint in Fillmore County District Court was filed on Monday, Feb. 5. relating to aiding an offender and taking responsibility for criminal acts. Those charges were filed on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Neither had been taken into custody as of Thursday afternoon.

DeGeorge said he understood the public frustration, as it took more than four months before charges materialized.

鈥淚 appreciate that people are paying attention,鈥� he said, adding that the questions were understandable.

鈥淏ut it鈥檚 a whole lot tougher to answer if the suspect walks,鈥� he said.