Iliana (Lily) M. Peters homicide investigation

Wisconsin police launch homicide investigation after finding body of missing 10-year-old girl

Police are investigating after the body of a missing 10-year-old girl was found in Wisconsin.

Matthew Kelm, chief of the Chippewa Falls Police Department, said late Monday that the body of Iliana (Lily) M. Peters was found in the wooded area between the end of N. Grove Street and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot in Chippewa Falls at 9:15 a.m. on Monday.

Peters had not been seen since 9 p.m. on Sunday when her father reported that she had not returned home from a visit to her aunt’s house in the 400 block of N. Grove Street in Chippewa Falls.

Numerous agencies and resources, including drones and K-9 units, were called to assist with the search for Peters. The Chippewa County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the body’s identity.

Police have launched a homicide investigation, Kelm said. Police do not have anyone in custody and are continuing to follow up on multiple leads.

“Chippewa Falls Police Department and the numerous assisting agencies will be working diligently on this case,” he said in a statement. “We encourage anyone with information to please contact the Chippewa Falls Police Department and to maintain a state of vigilance as there may be a danger to the public.”

“To maintain the integrity of this very active and ongoing investigation, I am unable to provide further details at this time. We would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Lilly Peters during this tragic time.”

Peters was a fourth grader at Parkview Elementary School. Her bike was found after dark near her aunt’s home near the walking trail, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Chippewa Falls Police Department at 1-800-263-5906.
https://www.mlive.com/news/2022/04/wisconsin-police-launch-homicide-investigation-after-finding-body-of-missing-10-year-old-girl.html

Iliana “Lily” M. Peters' father reported her missing after she did not return home from her aunt's house, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said during a news conference.

Peters' bike was found a few blocks away from her aunt's house, and on Monday morning, her body was discovered in a wooded area. Chippewa Falls Police are investigating her death as a homicide and said there may be a danger to the public.

Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District said it was working with police.

Police in Chippewa Falls have arrested a juvenile suspect in connection to the murder of 10-year-old Liliana “Lily” Peters.

Chief Matthew Kelm announced the arrest in a press conference on Tuesday evening, where he would not disclose the name, gender or age of the suspect but said they were known to the murdered schoolgirl.

Police executed a search warrant at the home in North Grove Street where Lily’s aunt lives and where the 10-year-old was believed to have last been seen alive.

Following the search, the suspect was taken into custody, the police chief said.

Lily was reported missing around 9pm on Sunday night when she failed to return to her home on nearby East Birch Street from her aunt’s house.

The schoolgirl’s bike was found close by hours later.

Then, at around 9.15am on Monday morning, Lily’s body was discovered in a nearby wooded area close to a walking trail by the Leinenkugel Brewing Company.

Lily’s cause of death is yet to be confirmed but investigators are treating it as a homicide.

The police chief said that there is no further danger to the public.