Lily Peters news - latest: Preliminary autopsy shows victim suffered blunt force trauma and strangulation
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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.
Neighbours recall seeing Lily Peters playing outside aunt’s house on day she died
Neighbours recalled seeing Lily Peters playing with one of her cousins outside her aunt’s home just hours before she was killed.
Jeremy Machnik lives on the same street as Lily’s aunt – North Grove Street in Chippewa Falls.
Mr Machnik told Fox9 earlier this week – prior to the suspect’s arrest – that he saw the 10-year-old girl rollerblading along the street between 1pm and 3pm on Sunday afternoon.
She was with one of her cousins who was playing on a hoverboard and they appeared to be having fun, he said.
“Between about 1 and 3[pm], one of her cousins was on a hoverboard, he had his hands behind his back and she was on rollerblades holding on,” he said.
“And they were scooting down the street just laughing.”
Sometime later that day, Lily left her aunt’s house with her 14-year-old alleged killer and they went along a nearby walking trail, according to prosecutors.
There, the suspect allegedly attacked, punching and strangling the 10-year-old before sexually assaulting her.
At 9pm that night, Lily’s father reported her missing when she failed to return home from her aunt’s house.
Her body was discovered the next morning close to the trail.
Prosecutors said the suspect intended to rape and murder his victim when they left the house.
What is Lily Peters’ alleged killer charged with?
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with three counts in the death of Lily Peters. These charges are:
- First-degree intentional homicide
- First-degree sexual assault
- First-degree sexual assault of a child under age 13 resulting in great bodily harm
At the moment, the juevnile is being charged as an adult because, under Wisconsin law, first-degree homicide charges must first be brought in adult court if the suspect is aged 10 or older.
The case can be transferred to juvenile court at a later date or prosecutors could continue to try the suspect as an adult.
Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that it would be “premature” to speculate whether prosecutors plan to continue to try the suspect in adult court however he added that it is a “very serious case”.
If the suspect is tried in adult court, he faces up to life in prison on the homicide charge, up to 60 years on the sexual assault charge, and up to life in prison on the sexual assault of a minor charge.
Local lawmaker vows to review Amber Alert policy as Change.org 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.
“We are not sure yet what can and will be able to be changed,” it reads.
“Creating legislation is a slow process but be assured that this issue is very much on Rep. James’ radar.”
The message came in response to a Change.org petition launched by local Chippewa Falls resident Eric Henry after Lily’s body was found in a wooded area close to a walking trail on Monday morning.
The Independent’s Rachel Sharp has the full story:
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
Preliminary autopsy finds Lily Peters suffered blunt force trauma and strangulation
Preliminary autopsy results have revealed that 10-year-old Lily Peters suffered blunt force trauma and strangulation and her death has been ruled a homicide.
The Independent first reported the findings of the preliminary autopsy on Thursday after speaking with Chippewa County Coroner Ron Patten.
Mr Patten said that the results are preliminary and he expects the full autopsy report to be completed in around six weeks’ time.
He said that the full autopsy will include additional testing as officials want to be “very thorough” with the investigation into the girl’s murder.
The preliminary findings support the version of events presented in court on Wednesday, where a 14-year-old boy was accused of punching Lily, hitting her with a stick and strangling her, before sexually assaulting her.
Why was no Amber Alert issued for Lily Peters
When 10-year-old Lily Peters was reported missing by her father on Sunday night, no Amber Alert was issued.
In an initial media release prior to her body being found, Chippewa Falls Police Department said that her disappearance did not meet the criteria for issuing an alert.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, there are three criteria that must be met for an Amber Alert to be issued in the state.
These are: that the child must be 17 years of age or younger; that the initiating agency must have enough descriptive information about the child, the suspect and/or the suspect vehicle to believe an immediate broadcast alert will help locate the child; and that the child must be in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
It appears that there was not enough information at the time of Lily’s disappearance to satisfy the last criteria.
Now, a Change.org petition is calling for the launch of a “Lily Alert” to change the system around the disappearance of missing children.
An Amber Alert is an emergency child abduction alert sent out to the public as soon as possible after a child goes missing.
It provides information about the child and the abduction such as the child’s description so that members of the public with any information can submit tips.
The alert system was first launched following the abduction and murder of nine-year-old Amber Rene Hagerman in Texas in 1996.
Police chief thanks community for support
Chippewa Police Chief Matthew Kelm has thanked the community for the support it has shown law enforcement following the murder of Lily Peters.
Mr Kelm told WEAU that this support had helped his officers cope with the emotional and mental strain the tragedy has taken on them.
“I think a big part of what helps our officers is the outpouring of support we’ve gotten from the community. It’s been unbelievable,” he said.
“One officer told me this morning he was stopped three times by cars just walking across the street, just stopping to say thank you. So that stuff really does help us and helps our officers mental and emotional well-being.”
The police chief said that resources have been available for the officers as well, including a counselor at the command post at the scene of the murder.
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, this week.
Lily was found dead 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.
Here’s a recap of the case:
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
The charges against the accused killer
A 14-year-old boy has been charged with three counts in the death of Lily Peters. These charges are:
- First-degree intentional homicide
- First-degree sexual assault
- First-degree sexual assault of a child under age 13 resulting in great bodily harm
At the moment, the juevnile is being charged as an adult because, under Wisconsin law, first-degree homicide charges must first be brought in adult court if the suspect is aged 10 or older.
The case can be transferred to juvenile court at a later date or prosecutors could continue to try the suspect as an adult.
Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said in a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that it would be “premature” to speculate whether prosecutors plan to continue to try the suspect in adult court however he added that it is a “very serious case”.
If the suspect is tried in adult court, he faces up to life in prison on the homicide charge, up to 60 years on the sexual assault charge, and up to life in prison on the sexual assault of a minor charge.
Suspect will appear in court next week
The teenager accused of strangling and sexually assaulting Lily Peters is scheduled to next appear in court at 3.30pm CT on Thursday 5 May.
The hearing is to make decisions around the defence counsel assigned to the defendant going forwards.
The 14-year-old is expected to appear remotely for the hearing.
Accused teenager is son of ‘convicted pedophile’ - report
The 14-year-old who has been charged with three counts in the death of Lily Peters is the son of a convicted pedophile father who was found with a stash of child pornography, reported Daily Mail.
His father, Adam Berger, 37, spent three years term in jail after he was arrested for keeping pornographic pictures of prepubescent girls on his phone.
According to court papers, the pictures were focused on the children’s genitalia. He also had drug paraphernalia including four crack pipes in his home.
He remains on supervised probation following his release from jail and remains on the sex offender registry.
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