APPLETON, WI — Samantha Jean Krebs, 40, from Appleton, Wisconsin, was sentenced to life imprisonment with a possibility of parole after 36 years for stabbing her boyfriend to death during a dispute last summer. This sentence was handed down following Krebs’ conviction of first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of 35-year-old Joseph “Joey” Carnot.
The fatal altercation occurred on June 18, 2024, in the apartment Krebs shared with Carnot. Court documents reveal that Krebs, who was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, used a kitchen knife to fatally wound Carnot once in the chest. Following the attack, she attempted to manipulate the crime scene and deceive law enforcement officials about the circumstances surrounding his death.
When two friends arrived at the residence planning to visit the couple, they encountered a critically injured Carnot. During police interviews, these witnesses shared that Krebs, visibly panicked, tried to persuade them to corroborate a story that Carnot had injured himself. In distress, she reportedly implored her friends, stating, “I can’t go back to prison,” pushing them to support her false narrative.
Krebs’ criminal history, which spans more than a decade and includes convictions for assault, multiple drug offenses, and negligent weapon use, played a crucial role in the trial. Prosecutors used her past to outline a pattern of violent and irresponsible behavior.
After the stabbing, Krebs quickly gathered her belongings, expressed her love with a kiss to the dying Carnot, and fled the scene in a car without license plates. She was later found at another friend’s house, continuing to deny her responsibility for Carnot’s death and maintaining that he had taken his own life.
During the trial, which lasted five days, Krebs testified, admitting to using drugs at the time of the incident and prioritizing her desire to avoid arrest for drug possession. The prosecution highlighted her immediate actions post-crime as indicative of her guilt, suggesting a deliberate attempt to misdirect the investigation.
The juror’s deliberation concluded after slightly more than five hours, resulting in a guilty verdict in September, rejecting Krebs’ assertions of innocence.
At the sentencing hearing, Krebs vehemently denied any involvement in Carnot’s death, expressing shock over people believing she could commit such an act, attributing her actions to poor decision-making influenced by drugs. Judge Vincent Biskupic of the Outagamie County Circuit Court was not convinced by her emotional pleas, emphasizing her lack of accountability and the strong evidence supporting the jury’s decision.
The judgment secures Krebs’ confinement for several decades, highlighting the tragedy of both the violent act and Krebs’ long-standing battle with substance abuse—themes symptomatic of broader societal issues concerning drug dependency and criminal behavior. This case not only brings closure to a grievous event but also echoes the extensive, often devastating impact of addiction and violence within communities.