PRESTON, Minn. – The investigation into an accident that killed two Amish school children in a buggy wreck has taken 4/1/2 months because of the complexity of the case, Sheriff John DeGeorge said. The sheriff called a news conference amid growing public concern in Fillmore County about how long the investigation is taking — and also why the twin sisters, both now charged for the wreck, haven’t been arrested. Said DeGeorge: “I appreciate that people are paying attention, but it’s a whole lot tougher to answer if the suspect walks.” Samantha Jo Petersen, 35, has been charged wuth driving while high on meth and rear-ending the Amish buggy, and then swapping places her sober twin, Sarah Beth Petersen, to take the blame. Sheriff DeGeorge listed a massive quantity of evidence has had to be sorted through, including contradictory accounts from the sisters. So much evidence takes time to acquire and process, DeGeorge said: “If this were to go to trial before we have all this evidence back, we risk losing the case.”
Level of evidence
Sheriff DeGeorge and County Attorney Brett Corson were confident last week that their evidence against the Petersen sisters was sufficient to proceed with criminal complaints. However, Judge Jeremy Clinefelter wanted further evidence before signing arrest warrrants. So in lieu of arrest, the sisters have been served summons to present themselves in court on specified dates in late February and early March. Since the accident, which was in September, the sisters have moved out of their Spring Valley house in Fillmore County and relocated 60 miles away Kellogg. If they don’t show up for their court dates, they likely would d be arrested by Wabasha County authorities and transported in cuffs back to Fillmore County.
DeGeorge. At news conference at county seat in Preston. Elected Fillmore County sheriff in 2018.
Petersen twins. Samantha Jo and Sarah Beth. Mugshots from earlier arrests.
News conference
DeGeorge took reporter questions. In brief:
> Are the Petersen twins nearly identiical: “They’re difficult to tell them apart.”
> The twins had opportunity to concoct a story: “Sarah was on scene a short time before our first deputy arrived. That allowed them to come up with this story where Sarah would take responsibility for this crash and start to mislead this investigation from this very point.”
> What can you tell us about the twins’ records with police run- ins: “When we start digging into who we’re dealing with, yeah, that was something that would have raised our suspicion.,”
> Are the twins remorseful? “I don’t think that’s a question that would be appropriate for me to comment on.”
> Have the twins swapped roles in the past? “Yes.”
> How is the Menno Miller family dealing with the accident, whose four chiden were in the buggy and two of whom died? DeGeorge deferred on answering except that the family was being kept abreast of progress in the case: “I want to be respectful of the family.” Miller was not at DeGeorge’s news conference but said in an October interview that the family, in the Amish tradition, wasn’t seeking retribution. Miller: “It’s all about the accepting, but it would make it a little easier if they showed remorse.”