UPDATE: Charges filed in deadly Bois Forte hit-and-run
December 27, 2024
TOWER, Minn.—Charges have been filed in a deadly hit-and-run accident that occurred on December 17, 2024, within the Bois Forte Reservation.
Eric Scott Peterson, 50, was charged with involuntary manslaughter in U.S. District Court in Bemidji last week. The criminal complaint, filed Dec. 20, alleges Peterson was driving home from Fortune Bay Resort and Casino when he struck and killed a woman walking along Lake Vermilion Reservation Road near Bois Forte Road.
As per the criminal complaint, the St. Louis County 911 Center received the report of an intoxicated male walking on Tibbets Trail Road near Fortune Bay Resort and Casino shortly before 9 p.m. on the 17th. Shortly after that, a second call was made reporting seeing a person lying along Lake Vermillion Reservation Road.
Bois Forte tribal law enforcement was then dispatched. An officer found a pair of boots and apparent dark blue vehicle debris at the location described in the calls. At 9:02 p.m. the same officer found an unconcious female with no pulse lying in a ditch along Lake Vermillion Reservation Road. The victim was transported from the scene and pronounced deceased.
The victim was identified as Amanda Boshey. The 38-year-old was the mother of five, a Bois Forte band member, and a laborer for Whitebird Services out of Local 1091.
Law enforcement contacted the Casino to see if they had footage that showed any dark blue vehicles leaving around the time of the call and were able to identify a blue Dodge Durango. Casino staff was also able to help identify the vehicles driver as Eric Peterson which was then confirmed by law enforcement. Also, Casino staff said the driver used a “player’s club card” associated with a driver’s license belonging to Peterson, the complaint said.
Footage shows that both of the Durango’s headlights were operational when it left. Footage later taken from the nearby Y Store showed at some point only the front driver’s side headlamp was operational.
Authorities were able to locate Peterson’s residence and located the blue Durango with damages in his driveway. Damages appeared consistent with debris collected at the scene according to court documents.
A search warrant was executed and it was discovered that Peterson’s BAC (blood alcohol content) was 0.048, approximately 7.5 hours after the alleged collision. Peterson told officers he had three to four drinks at the casino Dec. 17. After leaving around 8:30 p.m.
In a statement to police, Peterson stated that he believed he hit a deer on the way home, but did not stop to confirm what he hit.
An autopsy performed by the Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office on Dec. 18 listed Boshey’s cause of death as “multiple blunt force injuries,” and the autopsy collected blue-colored paint and metal fragments from her body and clothing, the complaint said.
The criminal complaint was filed Dec. 20 but sealed until Peterson was taken into custody. Officials requested the seal because they were concerned for Peterson’s safety and the safety of law enforcement taking him into custody, according to court records. He made his first court appearance Dec. 23.