Judge Jeremy Clinefelter sentenced Samantha Jo Petersen, 37, to four years in prison for criminal vehicular homicide and 23 months for criminal vehicular operation causing great bodily harm. He issued the sentence on October 16 after nearly two years of hearings that followed a September 2023 crash that killed two Amish children and injured two others in Fillmore County.
The courtroom filled with emotion as members of the public, reporters, and family members quietly listened. Residents from across the county attended, drawn by the gravity of a case that had weighed on the community since the tragedy.
Investigators determined that Petersen drove under the influence of methamphetamine when her vehicle struck a horse-drawn buggy carrying four of Menno and Sarah Miller’s children. The crash killed Irma and Wilma Miller, ages seven and 11, and seriously injured Allan and Rose, their siblings. The crash happened on Fillmore County Road 1 north of Spring Valley.
Toxicology tests confirmed methamphetamine in Petersen’s system. The Fillmore County Sheriff’s Office led the investigation, and the County Attorney’s Office filed 21 charges, ranging from felony vehicular homicide to misdemeanor traffic violations.
During the investigation, authorities uncovered an attempted cover-up. Petersen’s identical twin sister, Sarah Petersen, initially told deputies she was the driver. The sisters wore similar clothing that morning and changed shirts after the crash to confuse witnesses. Sarah later admitted she lied to investigators and pleaded guilty for her role after the fatal crash. Judge Clinefelter sentenced her earlier this year, and she has since completed her jail term.
A victim advocate read Sarah Miller’s written statement aloud in court, recalling the morning of the crash and the chaos that followed. Sarah described how she rushed to the scene of the accident and saw neighbors gathered around the wreckage, trying to help her children. Sarah said she looked at her daughter Irma and knew immediately that she was gone. She turned next to her other children, desperately asking if Wilma was still alive. One woman at the scene looked up and told her, “We’re working on her.” Moments later, Sarah learned that her “dear little sweet Wilma” had also passed away. “These, Your Honor,” she wrote, “are the memories I will carry ‘til my last days – memories of September twenty-fifth, twenty-twenty-three, which changed our lives forever.”
Sarah later reflected on the days that followed the crash. She described the long hours at the hospital, the exhaustion, and the uncertainty that surrounded her children’s recovery. Despite her pain, she ended her statement with quiet faith. “Our hearts are broken,” she said, “but we will try to continue on with God’s help.”
A victim advocate also read a statement from Menno Miller. “I am here today speaking as a father to all those here who are also fathers,” he wrote. He said that he taught his older children to drive their gentle pony and never worried about them going to school that morning. After he learned of the accident, he rushed to the hospital where he found out that Irma and Wilma had died and that Allan and Rose were seriously hurt. “As a father, I cannot describe the feelings rushing through me,” he said. “My daughters will always be 11 and seven.”
Menno wrote that his family faced judgment about his children driving their buggy again after the crash, when his children started returning to school. “What message does that send – that because we do things differently, we are less deserving than others?” he asked. “No one will know the anxiety of watching our children leave for school those first days. We have now hired someone to drive our children to school so others do not judge us as bad parents.” He ended with a plea: “To all the fathers present today, never miss an opportunity to listen to your child’s laugh, see their smile, or hug them. It could be your last chance.”
When Samantha Petersen had the chance to speak, she addressed the Miller family directly. Reading from a prepared statement, she said she was deeply sorry for the lives lost and the harm caused. “The loss of Wilma and Irma’s lives and the harm that I’ve caused to Allan and Rose are entirely my fault,” she said. “Every day I wish it could have been me instead of them.” Petersen said she has remained sober for two years and learned to live honestly. “Integrity and honesty must guide my life moving forward, no matter how difficult the truth may be,” she said. “I’m committed to my sobriety and to honoring the memory of the children I took from this world so that nothing like this ever happens again.”
County Attorney Brett Corson urged the court to impose the presumptive prison term. He said Petersen’s work in treatment was commendable, but her behavior after the crash showed continued deception. He said Petersen had a long history of chemical use, two prior DWIs, and several controlled-substance offenses. He reminded the court that Petersen had once used her sister’s name in a prior arrest, revealing a pattern of dishonesty.
“At the time of the crash, we had multiple deceptions,” Corson said. “There’s not a constitutional right for deception.” He added that even Petersen’s niece knew that lying was wrong, a point Judge Clinefelter later repeated. “If a child can understand that, there’s no excuse for an adult who doesn’t,” Corson said.
Defense attorney Carson Heefner asked the judge to consider Petersen’s rehabilitation. He said she completed several treatment programs and maintained sobriety for two years while under supervision. “She has been nothing but extremely remorseful,” Heefner said. “She’s complied with everything asked of her and continues to help others in recovery.” He said Petersen’s family remains supportive and that she sought treatment instead of self-destruction after the crash. “She was contemplating suicide, Your Honor,” he said. “Instead, she chose life and accountability.”
Judge Clinefelter denied the defense request for a lighter sentence. He said that while Petersen had made progress, her actions demanded accountability. “The conduct itself cries out for accountability,” he said. “Thirty-six hours later, law enforcement came to your door and you were still attempting to not be caught. It took other people doing the right thing. Other people know the difference between right and wrong – and that includes a child who knew lying was wrong.”
He said Petersen’s deception deepened the Miller family’s pain and delayed justice. “If you really look at those text messages, it was all about you and what was happening to you in your life, at a time when children were literally dying in a ditch,” he said.
Clinefelter then formally imposed the sentence. “Miss Petersen, I am committing you to the Commissioner of Corrections for a period of 48 months,” he said. “Minnesota law requires that you serve at least two-thirds, or 32 months, with the remaining 16 months on supervised release.” He also imposed a concurrent 23-month term on the second count and ordered Petersen to pay $39,717.73 in restitution to the Miller family, plus standard fees and a DNA sample.
Before ending the hearing, the judge explained that the sentence followed Minnesota’s sentencing guidelines. He said state law requires judges to stay within the presumptive range unless there are “substantial and compelling reasons” to depart. “The sentence may not seem long compared to the loss of two young lives,” he said, “but the guidelines exist to ensure that every person convicted of this offense in Minnesota is treated the same under the law.” Prosecutors had asked for the “top-of-the-box” term, but the plea agreement and lack of qualifying aggravating factors limited the sentence to 48 months.
Clinefelter closed the hearing with a message about responsibility and redemption. “Actions have consequences,” he said. “Human life and criminal conduct that takes human life should be punished. Accountability matters. This is not something you can undo. But you can live your life chemical-free. If you can really move forward as a person free of methamphetamine, you have that opportunity in front of you. I hope you take it.”
With that, he remanded Petersen into the custody of the Fillmore County Sheriff to begin serving her sentence at the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Shakopee. He thanked those who spoke and adjourned the court.
Anonymous says
She wouldn’t know honesty and integrity if it kicked her in the face. I guarantee someone told her that’s how she should feel and that’s what she should say. Neither of these girls give a hoot about anyone or anything but themselves. What are they gonna get, who can they use. Who’s life can they destroy.