Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 37 Years for Drunk Driving Crash That Killed Four Siblings
Dec 12, 12:00 AM
A 48-year-old Wisconsin man, Scott Farmer, was sentenced to 37 and a half years in prison after his fifth drunk driving conviction led to a crash that killed four siblings. Waupaca County Judge Raymond Huber handed down the sentence on Friday, granting Farmer 342 days of credit for time already served, according to court records.
The fatal incident occurred on December 16, 2023, when Farmer drove westbound in the eastbound lane of Highway 10 in Weyauwega. His vehicle collided head-on with a car carrying Daniel Gonzalez, 25; Fabian Gonzalez, 23; and their sisters, Lilian Gonzalez, 14, and Daniela Gonzalez, 9. All four siblings died at the scene. Emergency responders found a large bottle of vodka inside Farmer's truck.
During the sentencing, prosecutors presented recordings of jailhouse calls between Farmer and his wife that contradicted his courtroom remorse. While Farmer told the court he wished he had died in the crash and prayed daily for the victims, the calls revealed a different sentiment. Farmer accused the victims' stepfather of running a sex trafficking ring out of his church. His wife reportedly said, "God was working through Scott" on the day of the crash. They also suggested that immigration checks should be conducted at the courtroom door, noting that many of the victims' family members are from Ecuador.
Judge Huber condemned the comments as "outrageous" and "offensive to the court."
The victims' mother, Paulina Schilling, shared her anguish during the proceedings. "A few days went by, and I had to go see them at the funeral parlor, which was the most heartbreaking day of my life," she said through a translator. "No one can imagine how I felt seeing all of them lifeless on a cot."
In August, Farmer pleaded no contest to four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the fifth time. As part of a plea deal, one other criminal count and four pending traffic citations were dismissed. He was initially arrested on multiple charges, including operating with a revoked license, possessing open intoxicants in a vehicle, reckless driving, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.
According to the criminal complaint, Farmer initially told officers after the crash, "I just spun out" and denied hitting anyone. He became belligerent toward firefighters and attempted to fight hospital staff. Eventually, he admitted to having had "a lot" to drink.
Deputies noted that Farmer exhibited signs of severe intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty maintaining balance. A blood test revealed his blood alcohol content was .346—more than four times the legal limit of .08 for regular drivers in Wisconsin. Due to his prior convictions, Farmer's legal limit was reduced to .02.
Farmer's history of drunk driving spans several decades, with convictions in 1999, 2001, 2006, and 2019.
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The fatal incident occurred on December 16, 2023, when Farmer drove westbound in the eastbound lane of Highway 10 in Weyauwega. His vehicle collided head-on with a car carrying Daniel Gonzalez, 25; Fabian Gonzalez, 23; and their sisters, Lilian Gonzalez, 14, and Daniela Gonzalez, 9. All four siblings died at the scene. Emergency responders found a large bottle of vodka inside Farmer's truck.
During the sentencing, prosecutors presented recordings of jailhouse calls between Farmer and his wife that contradicted his courtroom remorse. While Farmer told the court he wished he had died in the crash and prayed daily for the victims, the calls revealed a different sentiment. Farmer accused the victims' stepfather of running a sex trafficking ring out of his church. His wife reportedly said, "God was working through Scott" on the day of the crash. They also suggested that immigration checks should be conducted at the courtroom door, noting that many of the victims' family members are from Ecuador.
Judge Huber condemned the comments as "outrageous" and "offensive to the court."
The victims' mother, Paulina Schilling, shared her anguish during the proceedings. "A few days went by, and I had to go see them at the funeral parlor, which was the most heartbreaking day of my life," she said through a translator. "No one can imagine how I felt seeing all of them lifeless on a cot."
In August, Farmer pleaded no contest to four counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle and one count of operating a vehicle while intoxicated for the fifth time. As part of a plea deal, one other criminal count and four pending traffic citations were dismissed. He was initially arrested on multiple charges, including operating with a revoked license, possessing open intoxicants in a vehicle, reckless driving, and driving the wrong way on a divided highway.
According to the criminal complaint, Farmer initially told officers after the crash, "I just spun out" and denied hitting anyone. He became belligerent toward firefighters and attempted to fight hospital staff. Eventually, he admitted to having had "a lot" to drink.
Deputies noted that Farmer exhibited signs of severe intoxication, including slurred speech, bloodshot eyes, and difficulty maintaining balance. A blood test revealed his blood alcohol content was .346—more than four times the legal limit of .08 for regular drivers in Wisconsin. Due to his prior convictions, Farmer's legal limit was reduced to .02.
Farmer's history of drunk driving spans several decades, with convictions in 1999, 2001, 2006, and 2019.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com