WI- Iliana "Lily" Peters, 10, Chippewa Falls, 24 April 2022 **MEDIA ONLY** NO DISCUSSION

[Seattle1]

Prosecutors: 14-year-old planned to kill Chippewa Falls girl “from the get-go”

4/27/22

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - Chippewa Co. prosecutors gave the first glimpse of the allegations against the 14-year-old who is accused of raping and killing Lily Peters earlier this week.

In the eighth grader’s first court appearance, prosecutors asked the court to impose a one-million-dollar cash bond, saying that the defendant intended to rape and kill the 10-year-old girl from the outset of the attack.

Prosecutors argued the need to protect the community from the teenager and because he may be a flight risk. He is charged with 1st-degree intentional homicide, 1st-degree sexual assault and 1st-degree sexual assault of a child. Two of the three charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. The 14-year-old is being tried in adult court.

The court concurred and set the bond at $1 million, also ordering that he not have any contact with other juveniles nor have any dangerous weapons. His next court date is set for May 5, at 3:30 p.m. Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm previous said that the defendant was not a stranger to Peters, and was known to her

[..]

Peters was found dead near the Duncan Creek Trail in Chippewa Falls Monday morning after being reported missing Sunday evening. Kelm said the defendant was arrested in the City of Chippewa Falls Tuesday evening.

Kelm said over 200 tips were provided to the Police Department, which Kelm said were critical to the investigation. Police executed a search warrant at 422 N. Grove Street, near where Peters’ body was found, on Tuesday, Kelm said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Department of Criminal Investigation finished processing the crime scene Monday night, and the Chippewa County Coroner’s Office removed Peters’ body to conduct a forensic autopsy. The Medical Examiner’s Office in Ramsey County, Minn. is handling the autopsy.

 

[Seattle1]

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

I'm the initial court hearing for the juvenile arrested in the murder of Lily Peters. So far, no public documents are filed. And the search warrants remain sealed.

10:40 AM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

The hearing starts at 1pm (central.) So far in the courtroom are at least 7 members of the Chippewa Falls Police Department. Appears to be investigators who worked on the case. The juvenile is going to appear over video conferencing. Not in person.

10:41 AM · Apr 27, 2022

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

The D.A. just presented the criminal complaint in court. Suspect is 14 years old. An 8th grader. District Attorney Wade Newell: "his intention was to rape and kill victim from the get-go when he left with her going down the trail."

11:05 AM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

D.A. Newell revealed that the 14yo suspect knocked Lily to the ground, strangled and sexually assaulted her. He wants $1mil bond. Defense attorney asking for $100k.

11:06 AM · Apr 27, 2022

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

Judge Ben Lane: "this was a serious threat to the community, so the court is concerned this could be a further threat if released." $1 mil cash bond ordered, conditions no contact with juveniles or have dangerous weapons.

11:07 AM · Apr 27, 2022

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

There is another hearing being scheduled for next week -- 3:30p on Thurs May 5 -- to discuss issues such as who will represent the juvenile suspect.

11:09 AM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

No one from the victim's family is here in the courtroom and I cannot see anyone from the suspect's family either. On the video screen -- he is a thin, dark haired boy who sat, mostly looking down, throughout the hearing.

11:10 AM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

Now that I've seen the juvenile suspect via video monitor, I know for sure that I encountered him earlier while reporting on this story. He answered the door when I knocked -- I asked for an adult who was not home -- I offered condolences and left. Very eerie now in hindsight.

1:04 PM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

He's charged with 1st Degree Murder, 1st Degree Sexual Assault, and 1st Degree Sexual Assault of a Child Under 13 Resulting In Great Bodily Harm. It's in adult court right now. His attorneys can petition to move it to juvenile court but the burden is on them to show why.

1:06 PM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

If it stays in adult court, this 14-year-old eighth grader faces up to life in prison.

1:06 PM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

The neighbors who I interviewed last night, upon realizing who likely was locked up in connection with the murder, started crying. They can't imagine the kid they know doing something like this.

1:09 PM · Apr 27, 2022·

Lou Raguse@LouRaguse

Replying to
@************
We are holding back on some of the relationship details right now because the court is protecting his identity -- at least for now.

1:12 PM · Apr 27, 2022·

 

[Seattle1]

Juvenile suspect arrested in connection with the death of a 10-year-old girl in Wisconsin | CNN

Updated 11:19 AM EDT, Wed April 27, 2022

Police in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, have arrested a juvenile suspect in connection with the death of 10-year-old Illiana “Lily” Peters, Police Chief Matthew Kelm said Tuesday night.

“The suspect was not a stranger, the suspect was known to the victim,” Kelm told reporters. “We do not believe there is any danger to the community at this time.”

The chief did not release the name of the suspect, who is in custody, or say how the suspect and Lily knew each other.

A bond hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Wednesday, according to the Chippewa County District Attorney’s Office.

 

[Seattle1]

Lily Peters live updates: Police update on arrest, search warrant

4/26/22

On Monday, 10-year-old Iliana Peters, also known as Lily, was found dead near a walking trail in downtown Chippewa Falls. Police are investigating her death as a homicide and on Tuesday evening announced that a juvenile has been arrested.

[..]

In a six-minute press conference Tuesday, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm declined to provide additional information about the arrest of a juvenile suspect Tuesday.

Saying the arrest was made “early this evening,” Kelm declined to provide the age or sex of the suspect, whether the suspect is related to Lily Peters or where the suspect was arrested.

[..]

What Kelm did say was the suspect was known to Lily and there is no longer any danger to the public.

[..]

 

[Seattle1]

Chippewa Falls neighbors remain on edge after Lily Peters death

4/26/22

"When we get more info, if he’s caught or not," Jeremy Machnik, standing outside his home with his wife, Shelby told FOX 9. "He could be in Florida by now, he could be a block away. We don’t know."

[..]

The Machniks live on Grove Street, where Lily spent that Sunday, and they recall seeing her that day, as they often did when she was at her relatives.

"Between about 1 and 3 [p.m.], one of her cousins was on a hoverboard, he had his hands behind his back and she was on rollerblades holding on. And they were scooting down the street just laughing," said Jeremy.

Shelby Machnik is no longer letting her own kids outside on their own, noting the heavy police presence provides some comfort, but far short of what answers would bring.

"As far as we know," she said, "it could be anybody in this neighborhood. And that’s just not sitting with me at all."

 

[Seattle1]

Warning 'predator on loose' after Lily Peters, 10, found dead in woods

 

[Seattle1]

phoebemurraytv@phoebemurrayTV

JUST IN: Chippewa Falls Police says ALL new information regarding the Lily Peters case will be announced via the police departments Facebook page.
@WEAU13News

6:46 AM · Apr 26, 2022 from Chippewa Falls, WI
__________________________________

ETA: add Police FB link -- no login required to view

Chippewa Falls Police Department

 

[Seattle1]

Chilling clues in 10-year-old girl's 'homicide' - as more may be in danger

"By now, you have most likely heard about the tragic incident that occurred last night into today, claiming the life of a CFAUSD student," the school's superintendent Jeff Holmes said in a statement to parents.

"We feel that it is important for you to know about what we may share at this time. We do not plan to formally announce what happened, as we are not privy to those details - we believe that law enforcement needs to be the ones to decide what or how much to share in that regard.

 

[Seattle1]

Update: 10-year-old Lily Peters Found Dead After Riding Bike to Aunt’s Home, Killer at Large

4/25/22

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Iliana “Lily” Peters disappeared Sunday after she left to visit her aunt, who lives around four blocks away. The child’s father contacted police at around 9 p.m. Sunday and reported that no one could find her. She was seen by family members that evening but didn’t return back to her home off of 50 block of E. Birch Street in Chippewa Falls.

According to ABC 18, Lily’s bicycle was found Sunday night near her aunt’s house, close to a walking trail between the end of N. Grove St and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot.

During Monday’s press conference, Kelm said that police found Lily’s body in a wooded area near a trail she took to visit her aunt. He declined to say whether Lily ever made it to her aunt’s home or how she was killed, but confirmed that investigators are treating the case as a homicide.

“We’re only a day into the investigation. This is a major incident, and we want to make sure we do it correctly, properly,” he said.

 

[Seattle1]

Mary McGuire@mcguirereports

Here’s a map showing where the body of 10-year-old Lily Peters was found this morning in relation to her parent’s home and her aunt’s home. She was last seen leaving her aunt’s home last night and was reported missing around 9 p.m. Sunday.
@FOX9



1:01 PM · Apr 25, 2022

 

[Seattle1]

4/25/22 -- WATCH: Police provide update on missing Chippewa Falls 10-year-old

Police presser begins at 3:40 minute mark

 

[Seattle1]

4/26/22 -- WATCH LIVE: Suspect arrested in 10-year-old WI girl's death

 

[Seattle1]

4/26/22 -- WI DOJ: Lily Peters case did not meet AMBER Alert criteria

 

[Seattle1]

4/27/22 -- WATCH: Lily Peters homicide suspect in court

 

[Seattle1]

Missing girl, 10, found dead in Chippewa Falls, WI near brewery; police investigating as homicide

4/25/22

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm says Iliana Peters' death is being pursued as a homicide.

Police began searching for the girl, who went by the name Lily, after her father reported Sunday evening that she hadn't returned home from a visit to her aunt's house.

Police used drones and search crews to comb the woods near the Leinenkugel Brewery. Her body was found about 9:15 a.m. Monday.

Police said a bicycle believed to be hers was found in the woods a short distance from her aunt's residence near the Duncan Creek walking trail and the brewery's parking lot.

Kelm told the public to remain vigilant as they do not have a suspect in custody and the public could be in danger.

 

[Seattle1]

4/25/22

Chippewa Falls Police Department

Chippewa Falls police searching for missing child

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - The Chippewa Falls Police Department is searching for a missing child.

10-year-old Iliana M. Peters, who goes by the name Lily, a fourth grader at Parkview Elementary School, was reported missing Sunday at 9 p.m. by her father.

Peters’ father said she did not return home after visiting her aunt’s house on the 400 block of North Grove Street. She was last seen by family members Sunday evening. Peters was supposed to be heading home to the 50 block of East Birch Street, but she wasn’t found in the area. Her bike was found after dark near her aunt’s home near the walking trail between the end of North Grove Street and the Leinenkugel’s Brewery parking lot.

Peters was last seen wearing a purple quarter-zip long-sleeve shirt with black stretch pants and gray shoes.

K9 teams from the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department and Lake Hallie Police Department were called in to search the area last night. The Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department also used a drone to search the woods near the area Peters went missing. Meanwhile, Chippewa Falls Police investigators continued to follow-up with family and friends who might have information.

Currently, the incident does not meet the criteria for an Amber Alert, according to the Chippewa Falls Police Department, who said they contacted the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation.

Anyone with information about Peters’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Chippewa County Dispatch Center at 715-726-7701 and select Option 1.

 

[Seattle1]

CFPD: Homicide investigation underway for 10-year-old girl; there may be a danger to the public

 

[Seattle1]

This is the end of N Grove st in Chippewa Falls, where the road turns into a trail. Police say 10 y/o Iliana “Lily” Peters’ body was found between here and the Leinenkugel brewery. @kare11


https://twitter.com/sharonkare11/status/1518686242967146496?s=21&t=BEh6UTRzBA2jdXGlwJrGWQ

 

[Seattle1]

@Leinenkugels says they’re cooperating with authorities. @kare11 Statement below:


https://twitter.com/sharonkare11/status/1518689820737945606?s=21&t=-Kv7CHobUiV7LoDAp7uRFQ

 

[Seattle1]

Danny Spewak [reporter with KARE11] @DannySpewak via Twitter
Police have set up a Mobile Command unit in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, where law enforcement agencies are investigating the homicide of 10-year-old Lily Peters.