Bond set at $1M for teen accused of killing Chippewa Falls girl

KSTP

(ABC 6 News) – UPDATE 2:15 p.m. 4/27/2022:

Bond has been set at $1 million for a teenager accused of killing a 10-year-old Chippewa Falls girl earlier this week.

A bond hearing was held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Branch 3 in Chippewa County court for a teen identified by the initials of C.P.B. in the death of Illiana “Lily” Peters.

Police say Peters was found dead near a walking trail around 9:15 a.m. Monday after she was reported missing by her family members Sunday evening. Her father contacted the police at 9 p.m. after he said she had not returned from a visit to her aunt’s house.

Prosecutors charged the 14-year-old eighth-grader with one count of first-degree intentional homicide, one count of first-degree sexual assault, and one count of first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 resulting in great bodily harm.

The severity of the charges was discussed during Wednesday’s hearing. Due to the graphic nature of the crimes involving two juveniles, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS is choosing not to describe the alleged crimes in detail at this time.

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UPDATE 10:30 a.m. 4/27/2022: A bond hearing has been scheduled for the juvenile accused of killing a 10-year-old Chippewa Falls girl earlier this week.

Chippewa County court officials tell 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter Eric Chaloux that a bond hearing has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday in Branch 3.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said Tuesday the “suspect was known to the victim” and a juvenile, adding “he is in custody.”

A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with expenses related to Peters’ funeral.

5 EYEWITNESS NEWS reporter Eric Chaloux is in Chippewa Falls, and will have the latest this afternoon and evening. Check back for updates.

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UPDATE 6:50 p.m. 4/26/2022: An arrest has been made in the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters, according to the Chippewa Falls Police Department.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm spoke at a press conference Tuesday evening about the developments in the case saying, "First, and most important, earlier this evening we arrested a juvenile suspect in this case … The suspect was not a stranger. The suspect was known to the victim. We do not believe there is any danger to the community at this time.

A tremendous amount of work has gone into this investigation by a large team of investigators including those at the federal, state, county and local level. Law enforcement has been working on this case twenty-four hours a day since this call came in less than forty-eight hours ago.

First of all, I want to thank the community for the over two-hundred tips that we have received, these tips were critical to solving this case. Our security team has and will continue to hold the crime scene, which is the wooded area around the foot path between the north end of Grove Street and Leinenkugel brewery parking lot, this is important to the integrity of the investigation and we would ask that you continue to avoid this area."

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Crime Lab processed the crime scene last night, at that time the body of Lily Peters was removed by the Coroner’s Office. A forensic autopsy is being conducted.

Investigators executed a search warrant at 422 north Grove Street, evidence was collected, and additional interviews were conducted. That is all the new information I have at this time, there is still much work to be done."

When asked where the suspect was now Chief Kelm responded with, "I’m not sure where the suspect is right now, but he is in custody."

The body of Illiana “Lily” Peters was found Monday morning near a walking trail.

According to the Chippewa Falls Police Department, the girl was last seen by family members Sunday evening. Her father contacted police at 9 p.m. after he said she had not returned from a visit to her aunt’s house.

Police reported a bicycle believed to belong to the girl was found in the woods a short distance from her aunt’s house, near a walking trail between the end of North Grove Street and the Leinenkugel brewery’s parking lot.

During an update Monday afternoon, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm reported that the girl’s body was found at about 9:15 a.m. near the walking trail.

“I grew up here all my life, never heard of anything like this,” neighbor Jeremy Machnik said. “It’s a scary situation when you know … we’re just inside the house … and it’s Sunday afternoon, we’re cleaning and making dinner and that’s going on a block away from our house and it’s scary.”

Machnik’s kids often played with Peters, and he described seeing her riding her bike up and down the street often.

Kelm said a homicide investigation is underway and he stated no one is currently in custody in connection with the incident. Kelm asked the public to remain vigilant “as there may be a danger to the public.”

Anyone with information is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-263-5906.

A GoFundMe page has been established to help the family with expenses related to Peters’ funeral.

Meanwhile, Chippewa Falls police reported Tuesday there will be an increased law enforcement presence around schools, especially during pick-up and drop-off times.

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Police are continuing the search for a suspect in the death of a 10-year-old girl in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and are increasing a law enforcement presence around nearby schools.

The body of Illiana “Lily” Peters was found Monday morning near a walking trail.

During an update Monday afternoon, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm reported that the girl’s body was found at about 9:15 a.m. near the walking trail.

Machnik’s kids often played with Peters, and he described seeing her riding her bike up and down the street often.

Anyone with information is asked to call the tipline at 1-800-263-5906.

Meanwhile, Chippewa Falls police reported Tuesday there will be an increased law enforcement presence around schools, especially during pick-up and drop-off times.

Stay with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS and KSTP.com for updates on this developing news.