Lily Peters live updates – Teen suspect arrested for murder after Chippewa Falls girl ‘strangled to death’ in Wisconsin

Who was Lily Peters?

Lily was a fourth-grader at Parkview Elementary School.

Police have ruled her death a homicide after finding the child’s body in a wooded area Monday morning.

The police search

Police K9s and drones searched the wooded area, as additional law enforcement members were on foot along the Duncan Creek Trail, where the bike was found.

Lily Peters was found dead the next morning.

Was Lily Peters murdered?

Chief Kelm announced a 14-year-old suspect, who was known to Lily, as a suspect in the case.

What happened to Lily Peters? continued

Overnight, officials located a bike they believe belonged to the 10-year-old in the woods near her aunt’s home.

“We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lily Peters during this tragic time,” Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said.

What happened to Lily Peters?

Officials located the body of missing child Iliana “Lily” Peters, 10, in a wooded area near the Duncan Creek Trail in Wisconsin at about 9.15am Monday.

Lily’s father reported his daughter missing on Sunday evening after she failed to return home from visiting her aunt nearby.

Police said the girl lived about four blocks from the family member’s home.

Suspect could face life in prison

If convicted of the allegations, the minor accused of killing 10-year-old Lily Peters faces life in prison.

If the suspect is prosecuted in adult court, according to the Independent, he risks a maximum sentence of life in prison for homicide, 60 years for sexual assault, and life in prison for sexual assault of a child.

Support for Chippewa Falls community

A neighboring school district has offered its assistance to the school district where Lily Peters, a 10-year-old fourth-grader, was slain, the Independent reports.

Mike Johnson, the superintendent of the Eau Claire Area School District, wrote to parents on April 26 to offer help “through staffing and other resources” to the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District.

Where can public send in tips?

Anyone with information can call the Chippewa Falls Police Department’s non-emergency line at 715-723-4424, then dial #1.

Police urge public to continue cooperating

Even after the suspect’s arrest, Chippewa Falls Police continue to solicit the public for information concerning Lily Peters’ murder, per the Independent.

On April 26, Police Chief Matthew Kelm stated that the investigation is still in its early stages and that authorities are working to establish a case against her accused killer.

Danger warnings lifted in Chippewa Falls

Following the arrest of the single suspect in the Lily Peters’ murder case, the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District has rescinded its suggestion that students should not travel to and from school alone.

The district announced in a message to parents that it was no longer asking parents to pick up and drop off students at their schools, citing the news that the suspect had been apprehended by police, per the Independent.

Court appearance set for May

The suspect is due in court again on Thursday, May 5 at 3.30pm CT.

The decision on whether or not the defendant will be appointed representation in the future will be made at the hearing next week.

Suspect’s charges

The minor faces charges of first-degree intentional killing, first-degree sexual assault, and first-degree sexual assault resulting in serious bodily damage to a child under the age of 13.

Two of the three counts, according to District Attorney Wade Newell, carry a possible sentence of life in prison.

District attorney reveals suspect’s intention

District Attorney Wade Newell said in court: “His intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get-go when he left the house with the victim going down the trail.”

The 14-year-old, who is in eighth grade, allegedly punched and knocked Lily to the ground before hitting her with a stick, according to Newell.

Newell also said the suspect then strangled her to death and sexually assaulted her.

How old is the suspect?

The minor accused of murdering 10-year-old Lily Peters is 14 years old.

24-hour Twitter silence for Lily

Many users have decided to partake in a 24-hour moment of silence in honor of Lily.

Lily’s autopsy may take days

On April 27, Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten told The Independent that preliminary findings will not be disclosed for at least another day or two.

Patten explained that the delay is due to officials conducting a comprehensive forensic autopsy as well as further tests on the girl’s remains.

When a death is suspected of being a homicide, this is the usual procedure, he explained.

Chilling ‘confession’ of alleged ‘killer,’ continued

Newell alleged that the 14-year-old, who is an eighth-grader, punched and knocked Lily Peters to the ground before hitting her with a stick.

He then allegedly strangled her to death and sexually assaulted her.

The teen is charged with 1st-degree intentional homicide, 1st-degree sexual assault, and 1st-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 resulting in great bodily harm.

Chilling ‘confession’ of Lily Peters’ alleged ‘killer’

The 14-year-old suspect in the Lily Peters case allegedly told cops that he intended to rape and kill the 10-year-old.

District Attorney Wade Newell said in court on Wednesday: “His intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get-go when he left the house with the victim going down the trail.”

Suspect to return to court

The suspect in the Lily Peters’ case has another court date set for next month.

He is due back in court on May 5, at 3.30pm.

‘This was a serious threat’

At the hearing on Wednesday, Judge Ben Lane was quoted as saying: “This was a serious threat to the community, so the court is concerned this could be a further threat if released.”

A $1million cash bond was ordered for the suspect, along with conditions of no contact with juveniles or possession of dangerous weapons.

‘From the get-go’

Prosectuors indicated the suspect in Lily Peters’ death had planned to kill her prior to the attack, saying, “he wanted to rape and kill her from the get-go.”

They alleged the juvenile punched Peters in the stomach, knocked her down, and strangled her nearly to death before he raped her, according to NBC15.

Bail conditions

For conditions of the $1million bond, the state also requested that the 14-year-old suspect has no contact with any juveniles and does not possess any dangerous weapons, KARE11 reported.

Judge issues $1 million bond for suspect

The suspect in the death of Iliana “Lily” Peters appeared in court in Chippewa County District Court via video call on Wednesday afternoon, KARE11 reported.

At the bail hearing, the state asked for a $1 million cash bond for the suspect.

Suspect revealed to be male

Prosecutors have identified the suspect in Lily Peters’s death only through his initials and as a 14-year-old boy, Fox News reported on Wednesday.

Autopsy being performed

An autopsy will be performed on Lily Peters and results could come very soon, Fox News reported.

Lily’s remains were sent across state lines to Ramsey County, Minnesota, which includes the city of St Paul, for the autopsy.

It will be performed there and officials in that area said the results would be announced by authorities in her hometown.