Lily Peters news - latest: Preliminary autopsy shows victim suffered blunt force trauma and strangulation
Follow live updates here
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
A preliminary autopsy has found that 10-year-old Liliana “Lily” Peters suffered blunt force trauma and strangulation with her death being ruled a homicide.
Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten confirmed the details to The Independent on Thursday, saying that the full autopsy report is not expected for several more weeks.
The preliminary findings support the version of events presented in court on Wednesday, where a 14-year-old boy was held on $1m bond on charges of first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault, and first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age 13 resulting in great bodily harm.
Prosecutors said the teenager, who knew his victim, led Lily along a walking trail near her aunt’s house where he allegedly punched her in the stomach, knocked her to the ground, hit her with a stick and strangled her before sexually assaulting her.
The teenager, referred to by his initials C P-B, allegedly confessed to police that “his intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get-go” when they left Lily’s aunt’s house together on Sunday.
Lily was reported missing by her father that night and her body was discovered on Monday morning close to the trail.
Chippewa Falls police chief says tips from the public led to arrest of 14-year-old suspect
Chippewa Falls Police chief Matthew Kelm said that their tip line received over 200 messages from the public which proved helpful in the arrest of the teenager quickly in the case.
“I know that our tip line and other tips that came in, we had over 200, I believe, and tips from the public were of great help in solving this case as quickly as we did,” he said.
He said it was “devastating” to find her body as they were hoping to find her at her school the next day.
” We were ready to continue looking for the missing girl hoping that she was gonna show up to school the next day, that we could call off the search, and then when we learned that that wasn’t going to happen, it hit us all very hard,” he said.
He said the murder shook the whole town and it was overwhelming to see the support for the girl’s family.
“The town was devastated. The murder of a 10-year-old girl, as you may have imagined, shook this town to its core,” he said.
“And very much to their credit, when that happened, they rallied. And the support for local the law enforcement doing an investigation, the support that we are seeing for the family and the purple that is all around town, just has been overwhelming, and I’m so thankful for it.”
Everything we know about the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters
The death of 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters and the arrest of a 14-year-old boy for her murder has shocked the small, tight-knit community of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin.
Lily was found dead at around 9.15am on Monday morning in a wooded area close to a walking trail by the Leinenkugel’s brewery.
The fourth-grade student had been reported missing by her father at around 9pm on Sunday after she failed to return from her aunt’s house on North Grove Street to her own home on East Birch Street.
Read Rachel Sharp’s report
Everything we know about the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters
Teenage killer allegedly strangled and sexually assaulted Lily Peters, leaving her body in a wooded area
Wisconsin town wears purple to honor memory of 10-year-old Lily Peters
Businesses and residences in Marshfield displayed purple balloons and ribbons to honour Lily Peters and her family, after the neighbourhood was shaken by the murder of the girl.
What started from Chippewa Falls on Friday has spread to neighbouring communities to show support to the family.
“It’s really important to lean on your neighbours during times like this, and to really show that support.” said Janileez Volena, director of human resources at Marshfield Insurance, reported WAOW TV.
Greg Hoffman, the mayor of Chippewa Falls, told TODAY Parents that the outpouring of love for Lily has been overwhelming and he has several received support emails and calls.
“I’m getting emails and phone calls from people in different states asking, ‘What can we do?’ and sending their prayers,” Mr Hoffman said.
Lily Peters murder: Local lawmaker vows to review Amber Alert policy as petition grows
A Wisconsin lawmaker has vowed to review the current Amber Alert process for missing children as a Change.org petition calling for the launch of a “Lily Alert” grows following the shocking murder of 10-year-old Lily Peters.
Wisconsin State Rep Jesse James said he plans to meet with local police chiefs “about what is in place and look at possibilities for improvement” when children are reported missing in the state, in a memo shared on the Change.org petition page.
Read full report
Local lawmaker vows to review Amber Alert policy after Lily Peters murder
Calls grow for changes to emergency child abduction system after Lily Peters was found sexually assaulted and strangled in Chippewa Falls
Court ordered to protect identity of suspect
Chippewa County District Court judge Benjamin Lane ordered the identity of Lily Peters’ suspected killer be protected as he is a juvenile.
During the suspect’s first court appearance on Wednesday, the judge said he would only be referred to by his initials C P-B and that neither he nor any members of the public gallery – which could include members of the suspect’s family and members of the victim’s family – can be photographed or filmed.
Officials said that the suspected killer is a 14-year-old boy who knew his victim but they have refused to confirm if they are related.
They have also refused to comment on whether or not the boy lived in Lily’s aunt’s house. Lily left the house with her killer and headed along a walking trail where she was killed.
The restrictions on revealing the suspect’s identity could change as the case progresses.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.