Ego Hindered Cam Newton’s Profitable Pursuit, Claims DS “Q”

Sarah Beth Petersen (shown above, top) has entered a guilty plea to two felony counts of vehicular operation in connection with this long-standing case involving her twin sister, Samantha Jo Petersen (shown above, bottom). Both sisters, now 35, are facing legal repercussions, although their pleas pertain specifically to actions taken after the tragic accident.

“I did, I lied,” Sarah confessed while accepting a plea deal, according to the Post Bulletin. She recounted receiving a frantic call from Samantha on the morning of September 25, 2023. “She was crying. She was panicking and scared,” Sarah recalled during her court appearance, indicating the emotional turmoil following the accident.

In the chaos of the moment, Samantha allegedly asked Sarah if she would be willing to switch places. “At first, I said no,” Sarah informed her attorney prior to court proceedings, as reported by Law & Crime. “Then she made a remark saying she would go to prison for a long time,” which hinted at the desperate measures they were both contemplating.

After agreeing to attempt the switch, Sarah now faces a maximum sentence of six months in jail accompanied by four years of probation. As part of the plea deal, all remaining charges against her have been dismissed. This agreement is scheduled for formal acceptance on March 31.

Samantha has had some charges against her dropped but still faces numerous serious allegations, which include vehicular homicide, felony operation, driving while impaired, and careless driving, as stated by the Post Bulletin. Her trial is set to commence on July 14, with significant implications for her future.

Authorities had their suspicions about the alleged switch almost immediately after the accident, which occurred when Samantha’s SUV collided with a horse-drawn carriage belonging to the Miller family, an Amish community. Tragically, two of the family’s young children, Wilma, 7, and Irma, 11, lost their lives in the collision, which also claimed the life of one horse. Additionally, two other siblings were injured but survived the harrowing incident, highlighting the dire consequences of the crash.

According to the criminal complaint against Samantha, a witness reported seeing one woman at the scene after the crash, followed by another woman—“who looked similar” to the first—“just kind of appeared” shortly after. This observation raises questions about the alleged actions taken by the sisters in the aftermath of the tragic event.

The witness then stated he “saw the second girl give the first girl a hug and heard the first girl say that she didn’t see them until it was too late,” further compounding the mystery surrounding the sisters’ intentions and potential guilt.

When law enforcement arrived, it was Sarah who told the deputies she was the one who hit the buggy. When asked for her identification, she claimed it was inside a nearby black SUV, claiming it was not the silver vehicle involved in the crash. This statement raised further red flags for the authorities on the scene.

Sarah allegedly claimed that the vehicle involved in the accident was her sister’s, asserting that she was driving it because her own car was in the shop. The deputy noted that the two women “looked extremely similar,” which played a crucial role in the investigation and the suspicions about their intentions.

After conversing with Sarah in the police vehicle, the deputy kept his digital recorder running as he moved away from the car. According to court documents, Sarah was overheard speaking to her sister, unaware that every word was being captured. This oversight would later play a significant role in the investigation.

“During the recording, Sarah could be heard saying, ‘I think one of the guys is onto me but I don’t really care… there’s no way they could ever know the difference between the two of us so they can’t tell,’” according to the complaint. This admission raised significant concerns about the sisters’ intentions and their views on the ongoing investigation.

Furthermore, detectives uncovered a damaging text message sent from Samantha to a friend, in which she allegedly stated, “Made Sarah come and take the fall for it so I wouldn’t go to jail.” This revelation highlights the extent of the deception and the lengths to which they were willing to go.

A manager at a Hy-Vee store where both sisters were employed reported that Samantha messaged him on the day of the crash, admitting, “that she messed up and was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the crash.” This statement further substantiates the claims regarding Samantha’s impaired state during the incident, leading to questions about her accountability.

An HR supervisor for Hy-Vee also received a call from Samantha that same day, in which she reportedly exclaimed, “I f–ked up. I just killed two Amish people; they were children… I just hit a f–king buggy and I killed two people… I am not sober… I am high on meth.” This alarming admission raised further concerns about her mental state and accountability at the time of the accident.

Security footage also captured Samantha leaving work in a silver SUV shortly before the accident, with a phone linked to her being the one that called 911 in the aftermath. This evidence played a crucial role in establishing her presence at the scene of the crime.

A search warrant was executed at Samantha’s residence, but when authorities arrived, Sarah claimed her sister was not home. She also stated that she called Samantha immediately after the crash and had her sister call 911, seemingly attempting to cover for her twin in the face of mounting evidence.

Upon entering the house, law enforcement reportedly found Samantha present and administered a blood test, which allegedly revealed the presence of methamphetamine and THC. These findings added further complications to the ongoing investigation and the charges against her.

A social worker for Sarah’s 13-year-old daughter also informed authorities that the girl claimed, “my mom wasn’t the one who was driving,” suggesting a possible attempt to distance her mother from the incident. Additionally, a text message from Samantha and another individual known only as “DH” allegedly reaffirmed her admission of guilt.

Samantha’s phone reportedly contained searches related to the incident, including, “What happens if you get in an accident with an Amish buggy and kill two people,” “how to lock an iPhone from cops,” and “if you hit a buggy and kill two people are you going to jail?” These searches indicate a level of premeditation and awareness of the potential consequences of her actions.

In February 2024, Samantha faced a total of 21 charges, including vehicular homicide while under the influence and fleeing the scene. Two days later, Sarah was hit with 16 felony counts, including taking responsibility for a crime falsely and aiding and abetting. Following Sarah’s plea deal, Samantha is now confronted with 17 remaining charges, as some drug-related offenses were dropped.

In a conversation with The Wall Street Journal, the father of the two deceased girls expressed his belief that the sisters “were thinking about themselves” in the aftermath of the crash. While the Amish community does not support the criminal justice system, he acknowledged the seriousness of the charges against the women, shedding light on the community’s perspective on justice and accountability.

“It was not a good scene, I’ll tell you that, when you see your children scattered along the road,” he recounted, emphasizing the tragic impact this incident had on their family and community.