Boy is arrested for murder of Wisconsin girl Lily Peters, 10

A boy was arrested in connection to the murder of a 10-year-old Wisoncisin girl who had been missing since Sunday night and was found dead along a walking trail. 

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matt Kelm said the suspect was a juvenile who was known to the victim, Lily Peters, who was found in woodland near Chippewa Falls, northeast of Eau Claire on Monday morning, close to the home of an aunt she’d been visiting when she vanished. 

‘While nothing will bring Lily Peters back or change what happened, we are very grateful to deliver this news to the family and the community,’ Kelm said of the arrest.   

Peters’ dad reported her missing around 9pm Sunday night when she failed to show up home. Peters’ family lived a short distance from her aunt.  

The youngster was a fourth-grader at Parkview Elementary in the town.

The Chippewa Falls Police department had received more than 200 tips about the case, which Kelm said proved ‘critical’ to the investigation. 

On Monday afternoon, Kelm, confirmed the girl’s disappearance was being investigated as a homicide. 

The little girls’ body and her bike were found close to Leinenkugel’s Brewery. An autopsy is currently underway at the coroner’s office.

Kelm said that police were following up a number of leads with about 20 agencies assisting with the investigation. 

The police department will also be increasing officers’ presence around the local schools during drop-off and pick-up times.  

The youngster was last seen by relatives while she visited an aunt’s home in Chippewa Falls, according to officers.

Her father notified police at about 9pm on Sunday night that his daughter was missing. The girl lives just four blocks from her aunt’s house according to WQOW. 

Chippewa Falls police called in multiple agencies to help with the search, including K9 teams and drone operators. The chief said finding Lily and the circumstances behind her death were difficult for everyone involved.

Kelm, himself, choked up during the news conference as he announced Peters’ death. 

‘As you can imagine, our first responders are tremendously impacted by anything that impacts one of our children,’ Kelm said, ‘so it is very difficult for them, and the investigators.’

Jeff Holmes, superintendent of the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District Superintendent, sent a letter home to families recommending that children normally walk to and from school ‘be picked up and dropped off by trusted family members or friends until further notice. … Our buildings are on high alert; however, law enforcement has not indicated the need to consider lockdown settings at this time.’

Holmes told families ‘we feel that it is important for you to know about what we may share at this time. We do not plan to formally announce what happened, as we are not privy to those details — we believe that law enforcement needs to be the ones to decide what or how much to share in that regard.

‘We also believe that parents should be the ones to share and engage in discussion with their children about this tragic event to the greatest extent possible. 

‘However, we know that some of our students may be affected and some of our students may have conversations amongst themselves and with staff members. … Cardinal Care counseling services can be accessed by any student. … Thank you for your kindness and compassion for the student and the family during this tragic time.’