Appleton, WI – A 40-year-old woman was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday for the fatal stabbing of her boyfriend. Samantha Jean Krebs was found guilty of intentional homicide for the death of 35-year-old Joseph “Joey” Carnot during a confrontation in their shared apartment.
The incident occurred on June 18. Krebs stabbed Carnot in the chest and attempted to convince witnesses that he had wounded himself.
Outagamie County Circuit Court Judge Vincent Biskupic sentenced Krebs to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 36 years.
Two witnesses arrived at the couple’s apartment only to find Carnot bleeding from his wounds. One witness reported that after discovering the scene, Krebs urged him to tell the police that Carnot had stabbed himself.
Krebs expressed fear of returning to prison during the encounter with witnesses. Court records detail a history of previous convictions for offenses including battery and possession of controlled substances dating back to 2011.
Despite the evidence, including testimony that claimed she was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, Krebs maintained her innocence throughout the trial. During her defense, she insisted she was not responsible for Carnot’s death, claiming she was shocked and focused on avoiding drug possession charges.
Prosecutors argued that Krebs had intentionally stabbed Carnot and attempted to cover it up. They highlighted her behavior immediately following the stabbing, which included kissing Carnot and telling him she loved him before she later left the apartment.
Krebs was found guilty after jurors deliberated for just over five hours. She faced intense questioning during the trial, including a moment where a prosecutor pointed out that she left her fiancé to die on the floor of their kitchen.
In her statements during the trial and sentencing, Krebs expressed confusion over her culpability and asserted that she did not deserve such a severe sentence. Judge Biskupic rejected her claims of innocence, insisting that her narrative was not credible.
