Minnesota Man Found Guilty of Criminal Vehicular Homicide

DULUTH - Defendant Eric Peterson, 51, of Virginia, Minnesota, has been found guilty of one count of criminal vehicular homicide following a four-day trial, announced U.S. Attorney Daniel N.Rosen.

On December 17, 2024, Peterson struck and killed 38-year-old Amanda Boshey when driving along Lake Vermilion Reservation Road near the Fortune Bay Casino on the Bois Forte Indian Reservation. Peterson hit Ms. Boshey, who was walking on foot, shortly after he left the casino. In convicting Peterson, the federal jury concluded that he was driving his vehicle negligently while under the influence of alcohol.
Following

Following a four-day trial in Duluth, Minnesota, before the Honorable Judge Laura M. Provinzino, the jury returned a guilty verdict on count one, which charged Peterson with criminal vehicular homicide-in a negligent manner while under the influence of alcohol. Peterson was acquitted on count two, which charged Peterson with criminal vehicular homicide-while having an alcohol concentration of 0.08 or more as measured within two hours of the time of driving for the same fatality.

"We would like to extend our condolences to Ms. Boshey's family and the Bois Forte community." said FBI Minneapolis Division Special Agent in Charge Christopher D. Dotson. "Justice for Ms. Boshey's tragic death would not have been possible without substantial assistance from our tribal, local, and state law enforcement partners. We hope that holding the defendant accountable for their recklessness will provide some sense of justice for those who are forever impacted by this loss."

This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the FBI, aided by the BCA, the Minnesota State Patrol, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Nett Lake Tribal Police Department, the St. Louis County Sheriff's Office, and the Virginia Police Department. The coordination of resources between these law enforcement agencies was imperative to the swift identification and apprehension of Peterson and the ultimate resolution of this case.

Ms. Boshey was an enrolled member of the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. She is survived by five children as well as her siblings, parents, and other family and loved ones.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Garrett S. Fields and David M. Classen prosecuted the case.