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

[Seattle1]

Initial police media release.

https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=299280875718901&set=a.165467042433619

 

[Seattle1]

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matt Kelm says based off evidence found at the scene, investigators determined 10-year-old Lily Peters was murdered. He would not release a cause of death.

No arrests have been made.

@FOX9


https://twitter.com/mcguirereports/status/1518712937233457157?s=21&t=t1WmFu_awIvhvtar-vptxg

 

[Seattle1]

“Fly High Lily”

A memorial for 10-year-old Lily Peters has been created near where her body was found this morning in Chippewa Falls, WI.

Police believe Lily was the victim of a homicide. No one’s in custody.

Tip line for info: 1-800-263-5906


https://twitter.com/david_schuman/status/1518759996611346432?s=21&t=cVAOGsMFNp1RupJdvpBKWg

 

[Seattle1]

Reporter answering a person's question on Twitter:

Question: Do you know the location where her bike was found in relation to the aunts home, her home, and the brewery?

Answer: According to police, officers found her bike in the woods near a walking trail between the end of N Grove Street and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot.

Her aunt lives on N Grove Street, so a short distance from her aunt’s home.

https://twitter.com/mcguirereports/status/1518776999032111105?s=21&t=SqeIrm4XK4577iuLh0yy6A

 

[Seattle1]

Lily Peters, Missing Wis. Girl, Found Dead; Police Investigating As Homicide – WCCO | CBS Minnesota

4/25/22

Ten-year-old Iliana Peters, who went by Lily, was found dead by police at about 9:15 a.m. Monday in a wooded area near the Leinenkugel Brewery in Chippewa Falls, which is 90 miles east of the Twin Cities.

She was last seen by family members at her aunt’s house on the 400 block of North Grove Street. She was supposed to be heading to her home on the 50 block of East Birch Street. Police, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Office’s K9 unit and a drone pilot all assisted in searching the area Sunday night and Monday morning to find her. Officers say evidence at the scene indicated it was a murder.

(credit: CBS)

Neighbors say the path through the woods where she was found is used all the time by kids on bikes and people exercising or taking a walk. Before the tragic discovery, police had only located her bicycle near the walking trail.

 

[Seattle1]

Police give update after Lily Peters’ body found in Wisconsin woods - live


Local parent remembers Lily as ‘always happy'
A father whose children knew Lily Peters says she frequently played with other kids near the trail where her body was found.

“I see her and her cousins all the time, either biking, rollerblading on a hoverboard, going up and down the street,” Jeremy Machnik told WCCO. “They sled in the back hill of our yard, and she’s always happy, always happy, even if it’s 15 degrees and snowing out.”

 

[Seattle1]

Lily Peters, Missing Wis. Girl, Found Dead; Police Investigating As Homicide

4/25/22

Jeremy Machnik’s kids went to school with Peters, and he says they would play outside on the street near the trail.

“I see her and her cousins all the time, either biking, rollerblading on a hoverboard, going up and down the street. They sled in the back hill of our yard, and she’s always happy, always happy, even if it’s 15 degrees and snowing out, I see them bundled up with their sleds coming down the street when it’s snowing out. They were always outside, always playing, always happy,” Machnik said. “It’s very traumatic, and it’s very sad. It’s very sad that it happened here. This is a great neighborhood.

Peters was a fourth grader at Parkview Elementary School. Officials there said school went on as normal Monday. They were letting families decide how to share with their kids, but the staff will have a meeting about how to handle things Tuesday.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 1-800-263-5906.

 

[Seattle1]

Missing 10-year-old girl, Lily Peters, found dead near walking trail in downtown Chippewa Falls

"A 10-year-old girl who went missing after going to visit an aunt was found dead near a walking trail in downtown Chippewa Falls Monday, according to police.

Iliana Peters’ death is being investigated as a homicide, Chief Matthew Kelm said. As of Monday evening, no one was in custody.

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 in the 400 block of North Grove Street."

"Police said a bicycle believed to be hers was found late Sunday night in the woods near the walking trail between the end of North Grove Street and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot"

"Peters’ body was found at about 9:15 a.m. Monday in a wooded area near the walking trail, according to police.

People should "remain vigilant as there could be a danger to the public" and keep an eye out for things that appear suspicious"

 

[Seattle1]

Chippewa Falls police increase patrols around schools in wake of 10-year-old girl's slaying

“You may notice an increased law enforcement presence around our schools. We will be increasing our patrol especially during drop-off and pick-up times,” the police department announced on its Facebook page Tuesday.

Police Chief Matthew Kelm, who said police consider Lily Peters’ death a homicide, urged residents to remain vigilant. Investigators don’t know the circumstances of Lily’s death, he said, adding that

there may be a danger to the public.

The fourth-grader’s father reported her missing about 9 p.m. Sunday after she didn’t return home from her aunt’s house nearby. Officers later located Lily’s bicycle in some woods at the end of the street where her aunt livees.

About 9:15 a.m. Monday, searchers found Lily’s body in a wooded area nearby. Investigators say they are following up on several leads.

Neighbors say the path where police found Lily’s body is a popular route for children on bikes and people exercising.

 

[Seattle1]

Chippewa Falls PD have stepped up patrols outside schools after a 10 year-old girl’s body was found—a homicide investigation continues.


https://twitter.com/ericchalouxkstp/status/1519041606170685442?s=21&t=a4e0Qvg6YG4AbeE2ZEPDbg

 

[Seattle1]

Jennifer Hoff [reporter with KARE 11] @JennHoffReports via Twitter
Police tape is still on either side the water a day after 10 year old #LilyPeters body was found near the walking trail.

Chippewa Falls Police will hold an updated news conference at 6:30p.

@kare11 will stream it live.

 

[Seattle1]

Coroner: Autopsy underway for Lily Peters; Chief to hold press conference

4/26/22

CHIPPEWA FALLS (WQOW) - Who killed Lily Peters?

That is the question being asked by our community, and concerned citizens across the nation. While local law enforcement has not released any new information as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, it is clear they have been busy investigating.

News 18 spoke with Ron Patten, the Chippewa County coroner on Tuesday, who said Lily's body was taken to the Ramsey County medical examiners office for an autopsy in Minnesota. He said the autopsy started Tuesday morning and may not be finished until Wednesday.


When asked why it would take that long, he said it was because they are trying to be extra thorough.

 

[Seattle1]

Significant police presence on Grove Street in Chippewa Falls.

Investigation is focused on one home at the corner.

This is the same street where Lily Peters was last seen.

@FOX9
https://twitter.com/mcguirereports/status/1519089714678181891?s=21&t=z7rvznFWsiBjvgNT4lKNuA

https://twitter.com/mcguirereports/status/1519089714678181891?s=21&t=z7rvznFWsiBjvgNT4lKNuA

 

[Seattle1]

The block of Grove Street in Chippewa Falls, where Lily Peter’s aunts house is, now blocked by squads with an investigative van out front. The street has been busy with police all day, but it was not blocked earlier.


https://twitter.com/robolsonfox9/status/1519092947626696704?s=21&t=1uiMnaax7RkyQazpX2H0Zg

 

[Seattle1]

It is unclear of police have gone inside. But this is where Lilly Peters was last seen alive, we were told that she attempted to bike home to her dad‘s house but did not make it.


Police walked out of the house with boxes. Appeared to be executing a search warrant.

Now crime scene tape is going up around the house that is owned by Lillys aunt


https://twitter.com/louraguse/status/1519093578714210304?s=21&t=JgCC-8rI_aq7mhvSxMjFlA

 

[Seattle1]

4/26/22 -- Suspect Arrested In Lily Peters Homicide Case

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[Seattle1]

Updates from Fox 9 reporter, Rob Olson, via his Twitter account (@RobOlsonFox9). There are pictures and video with his posts.

1) https://twitter.com/RobOlsonFOX9/status/1519092947626696704?t=yigllTF4IN1EFQWB5su4Sg&s=19

The block of Grove Street in Chippewa Falls, where Lily Peter’s aunts house is, now blocked by squads with an investigative van out front. The street has been busy with police all day, but it was not blocked earlier. https://t.co/Vj85KUY5W5

2) https://twitter.com/RobOlsonFOX9/status/1519093655419736065?t=Q46N2nni3Ci-oVFbMJuhmw&s=19

Confirmed that is the Eau Claire Police Department crime lab. Several boxes were just carried out of the home and into the van, which then pulled away.

3) https://twitter.com/RobOlsonFOX9/status/1519094449313357824?t=57bis5ujzywJsOdioJkS0Q&s=19

And they just put crime scene tape around the home. https://t.co/4X6HwGuqqv

 

[Seattle1]

Earlier in the day, police executed a search warrant at 422 N. Grove St., the home of Lily's aunt and the last place the girl was seen before she disappeared Sunday. Kelm said the search warrant was for "information tied to the killing."

Suspect arrested in Wisconsin girl's killing

 

[Seattle1]

Police Arrest Juvenile Suspect the Day After They Found Missing 10-Year-Old Wisconsin Girl Dead Near Walking Trail

4/27/22

Update – 3:39 p.m.: Prosecutors reportedly requested a $1 million bond on Wednesday for the 14-year-old boy charged with murdering Iliana “Lily” M. Peters, 10. They said he intended to rape and kill her.

[..]

In a cryptic press conference, a police chief announced that officers arrested a juvenile suspect the day after they found Iliana “Lily” M. Peters, 10, dead near a walking trail.

Matthew Kelm, the top cop of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, said Tuesday that officers took the youth into custody earlier Tuesday evening.

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

Charges are pending.

Beyond this, the police chief declined to give anymore information on the suspect, described only as a juvenile. Kelm did not answer questions from reporters over whether the youth was related to Peters. Kelm also declined to provide information about the suspect’s gender or age, though he soon appeared to use a male pronoun (just after 5:30 in the video above). He declined to give information on the cause of death. The autopsy is pending.

 

[Seattle1]

Lily Peters found dead, 14-year-old on $1 million bail: What we know

4/27/22

Editor's note: This report contains information about a violent assault that could cause trauma for some readers. Discretion is advised.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Law enforcement in Wisconsin launched a homicide investigation into a 14-year-old boy after discovering the body of a 10-year-old girl near a walking trail Monday.

Police arrested a juvenile suspect who knew Iliana Peters, who went by the name Lily, they announced Tuesday evening.

The teen arrested in connection with the death of Lily appeared by video in court Wednesday where a judge ordered him held on $1 million bail. The boy was not publicly identified by name and has been identified only by the initials CPB.

Prosecutors alleged on Wednesday the teen followed Peters out of her aunt's home Sunday night in Chippewa Falls, then strangled and sexually assaulted her on a walking trail where her body was found the next morning.