Sarah Beth Petersen (above top) has entered a guilty plea to two felony counts related to vehicular homicide in a complex case that has spanned several years, involving her twin sister Samantha Jo Petersen (above bottom). Both sisters, aged 35, are now facing the legal repercussions of their actions, which primarily stem from events following the tragic accident.

?I did, I lied,? Sarah confessed while accepting a plea deal, as reported by the Post Bulletin. She recounted receiving a distressing call from Samantha on the morning of September 25, 2023. ?She was crying. She was panicking and scared,? Sarah revealed during her hearing, indicating the gravity of their situation and the emotional turmoil they were experiencing.

During the chaotic moments following the crash, Samantha allegedly requested Sarah to switch places with her, claiming she hadn?t seen the buggy. ?At first, I said no,? Sarah recounted to her attorney before the court, according to Law & Crime. ?Then she made a remark saying she would go to jail for a long time,? highlighting the desperate measures they were both contemplating at that moment.

Now, having agreed to the risky swap, Sarah is potentially facing a maximum sentence of six months in jail and four years of probation. In exchange for her plea deal, all remaining charges against her were dismissed. This agreement is set to be formally ratified on March 31, marking a significant step in the legal proceedings surrounding this tragic case.

Samantha has seen some charges against her dropped but still faces several serious allegations, including vehicular homicide, felony operation of a vehicle, driving under the influence, and careless driving, as stated by the Post Bulletin. Her trial is scheduled to begin on July 14, with the stakes remaining high for her future.

Authorities had been suspicious of the alleged switch almost immediately after Samantha?s SUV collided with a horse-drawn carriage owned by the Miller family, an Amish community. Tragically, two of the family?s young children, Wilma, aged 7, and Irma, aged 11, lost their lives in this horrific accident, along with one horse. Additionally, two other siblings were injured but survived, adding to the catastrophic impact of this incident.

According to the criminal complaint against Samantha, a witness reported observing one sister shortly after the crash, followed by another sister??who looked similar? to the first??just kind of appeared? at the crime scene, raising suspicions about their identities and intentions.

The witness stated he ?saw the second girl hug the first girl and heard the first girl say that she didn?t see them until it was too late,? indicating a possible cover-up and confusion regarding their roles in the tragic accident.

Upon the arrival of law enforcement, it was Sarah who informed deputies that she was the one who struck the buggy. When asked for her identification, she claimed it was in a nearby black SUV, rather than the silver vehicle involved in the crash, further complicating the investigation.

Sarah allegedly claimed that the car involved in the accident belonged to her sister, asserting she was driving it because her own vehicle was being repaired. The deputy remarked that the two women ?looked extremely similar,? which fueled the suspicions surrounding their identities.

After conversing with Sarah in the squad car, the deputy continued recording as he stepped away from the vehicle. Court documents reveal that Sarah was overheard speaking to her sister, unaware that every word was being captured on tape.

?During the recording, Sarah can 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, which indicates a blatant disregard for the consequences of their actions.

Later, detectives uncovered a damning text message sent from Samantha to a friend, where she allegedly confessed, ?Made Sarah come and take the fall for it so I wouldn?t go to jail,? revealing the premeditated nature of their actions.

A manager at a Hy-Vee store, where both sisters were employed, stated 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 admission raises further concerns about the sisters’ actions leading up to the tragic event.

An HR supervisor at Hy-Vee also received a call from Samantha that day, in which she allegedly admitted, ?I f?ked up. I just killed two Amish kids; I hit a f?king buggy and killed two people? I?m not sober? I?m high on meth.? This confession highlights the severity of her state of mind at the time of the accident.

Surveillance footage confirmed that Samantha left work in a silver SUV shortly before the accident, and the phone linked to her was the one used to call 911, providing crucial evidence in the ongoing investigation.

A search warrant was executed at Samantha?s home, but upon arrival, Sarah claimed her sister was not present, according to the complaint. She also stated that she first contacted Samantha after the crash, having her sister call 911 in a dubious attempt to explain her twin?s absence.

When authorities entered the residence, they reportedly found Samantha inside and conducted a blood test, which allegedly revealed the presence of methamphetamine and THC, adding another layer to the allegations against her.

A social worker for Sarah?s 13-year-old daughter informed authorities that the girl claimed, ?my mother wasn?t the one driving,? while a text message from Samantha and an individual only identified as ?DH? allegedly supported her admission of guilt.

Samantha?s phone reportedly contained searches such as, ?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 persons are you going to jail?? These searches further emphasize the premeditated nature of her actions leading up to the tragic event.

In February 2024, Samantha faced a total of 21 charges, including vehicular homicide under the influence and fleeing the scene, while Sarah was charged with 16 felonies two days later, including falsely taking responsibility for a crime and aiding and abetting. Following Sarah?s plea deal, Samantha is now facing 17 remaining charges, as drug-related charges have been dropped.

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, the father of the two deceased children expressed his belief that the sisters ?were only thinking about themselves? in the aftermath of the crash. It?s noted that while the Amish community does not believe in the criminal justice system, he accepts the charges against the sisters as a necessary response to the tragedy.

?It was not a good scene, I?ll tell you that, when you see your kids scattered along the road,? he shared with WSJ, a poignant reminder of the human cost of this tragic incident.