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Chippewa Police announce an arrest in murder of Lily Peters
The juvenile suspect arrested in connection to the murder of 10-year-old Liliana “Lily” Peters will appear in Chippewa County court for a bond hearing at 1pm CT today.
The suspect, whose age, gender and name has not been publicly released, was arrested on Tuesday evening after police executed a search warrant at Lily’s aunt’s home, where the fourth-grade student was last seen alive.
Chief Matthew Kelm said in a press conference that the suspect was known to the murdered schoolgirl but would not confirm if the two were related.
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 on North Grove Street.
Her bike was found nearby 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, with an autopsy currently underway.
It is not clear what charges the juvenile suspect is facing or if they are expected to be charged as an adult.
Police said that there is no further danger to the public.
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Keypoints Suspect to appear in court today Autopsy underway on murdered 10-year-old Juvenile arrested in Lily Peters murder case Search warrant executed at aunt’s home where Lily was last seen alive Neighbours ‘relieved’ about the arrest in Lily Peters case Why was an Amber Alert not issued for Lily Peters?
Show latest update 1651073405 Suspect to appear in court today
The suspect arrested in connection to the murder of 10-year-old Lily Peters is expected to appear in court later today.
A bond hearing has been schedukled for 1pm on Wednesday afternoon, a spokesperson for Chippewa County District Attorney’s office told The Independent.
The DA’s office said that was the only information available at this time.
It is not clear what charges the juvenile suspect, whose age, gender and name has not been publicly released, is facing or if are expected to be charged as an adult.
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 16:30
1651071605 Motive for murder unclear
No motive has been given for the murder of 10-year-old Lily Peters.
However, police said that Lily knew her killer, with the suspect described as “not a stranger” to the young girl.
The suspect, an unnamed juvenile whose age and gender has not been released, was arrested after a search warrant was executed at Lily’s aunt’s house. The family home is where Lily was said to have last been seen alive.
Police also said that there is now no ongoing threat to the public.
On Monday evening, police had urged the public to remain on alert and for parents not to let their children walk to and from school alone while the perpetrator remained at large.
Now that the suspect is in custody, it appears that Lily’s death was targeted.
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 16:00
1651069805 Police appeal to public to continue sending in tips
Chippewa Falls Police continue to ask the public to send in tips about the murder of Lily Peters even after the arrest of the suspect.
Police Chief Matthew Kelm said on Tuesday evening that the investigation is still in the early stages and that law enforcement are continuing to build a case against her alleged killer.
The dedicated tip line set up for the investigation into her death will remain open until noon CT on Wednesday.
Anyone with information can call the tip line at 1-800-263-5906
After that time, anyone with information can call the Chippewa Falls Police Department’s non-emergency line at 715-723-4424, followed by #1
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 15:30
1651068005 Why was an Amber Alert not issued for Lily Peters?
Pointed questions are being asked about the procedures currently in place when a child goes missing after it emerged that no Amber Alert was put out following Lily Peters’ disappearance.
Lily was reported missing by her father at around 9pm on Sunday night, but authorities did not issue an Amber Alert.
On Monday morning before Lily’s body was found, Chippewa Falls Police Department said in a media release that her disappearance did “not meet criteria for an Amber Alert” at that time.
An Amber Alert is an emergency alert system asking the public for help in finding an abducted child.
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 or younger; that the child must be in danger of serious bodily harm or death; and that the initiating agency must have a sufficient amount of descriptive information about the child or the suspect.
At the time, investigators did not have information that Lily was in danger of serious bodily harm or death.
The lack of an Amber Alert has sparked an outcry in the community and a Change.org petition has been launched to create a “Lily Alert”.
“An amber alert was never sent due to the rules. We need something more. Any parent would agree that when a child is missing even for a short amount of time and they need help then help should be sent,” the petition states.
“The community is devastated and rallied to start a search group for the missing child. We can do better as a community and must be more proactive.”
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 15:00
1651066312 What evidence led police to suspect?
Police arrested the juvenile suspect on Tuesday evening after carrying out a search warrant at Lily Peter’s aunt’s home, where the murdered 10-year-old was last seen alive.
Chippewa Police Chief Matthew Kelm said at Tuesday’s press conference that evidence was collected from a property on North Grove Street and interviews were carried out before the suspect was taken into custody.
The police chief did not reveal what evidence had been found inside the home.
A heavy law enforcement presence had been seen at the property late on Tuesday afternoon, with the home and surrounding road blocked off with police tape and vehicles.
It is not clear what initially led investigators to obtain and execute the search warrant at the address.
However, during the early stages of the investigation, police said that Lily was last seen leaving her aunt’s house on North Grove Street on Sunday to head home to her address on East Birch Street.
Records show that the address on North Grove Street where the search was executed is the home of Lily’s aunt.
Police did not confirm if the suspect also lives at the address.
Because the suspect is a minor, the police chief would not disclose their gender or age and if they are related to Lily.
However, he confirmed that Lily knew her killer and that there is no longer a danger to the community.
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 14:31
1651064474 Autopsy could be completed today
An autopsy on the body of murdered Lily Peters could be completed today, providing additional details about the death of the 10-year-old child.
The Chippewa County Coroner’s Office removed Lily’s body from the crime scene on Monday to carry out an autopsy.
Coroner Ron Patten told WQOW that the schoolgirl’s body was then taken to the Ramsey County medical examiner’s office in Minnesota for the autopsy on Tuesday morning.
Mr Patten said that the autopsy may not be completed until Wednesday because they want to be extra thorough.
The autopsy report will reveal the cause and manner of death of the murdered 10-year-old.
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 14:01
1651062636 Schools to wear purple on Friday in memory of Lily
Students and staff across schools in Chippewa Falls will wear purple on Friday in memory of murdered student Lily Peters.
The Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District (CFAUSD) posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday: “In support of Lily and her family, we invite students, staff, and our entire community to wear purple on Friday, April 29th.”
Lily was in the fourth grade at Parkview Elementary School, which is part of CFAUSD, and where a memorial of teddy bears, candles, balloons and cards has grown in her honour.
The district is offering support including counselling and therapy dogs to help students affected by her murder.
Lily Peters
(CFAUSD/Facebook)
Rachel Sharp 27 April 2022 13:30
1651055246 Neighbours ‘relieved’ about the arrest in Lily Peters case
After Chippewa Falls police said they have detained a juvenile suspect in the killing of 10-year-old Lily Peters, those in the neighbourhood expressed their relief about the arrest.
“It’s shocking, I’m glad that it’s not prolonging, I even said today I’m glad that Lily’s body was found right away rather than, you know, making the family wait. I’m glad tonight that they have somebody in custody,” a person living in North Grove Street told Fox 5 DC.
Police made the arrest on Tuesday after carrying out a search warrant at Peters’ aunt’s house on North Grove Street.
The Chippewa County Sheriff set up a mobile command center in the parking lot of the Leinenkugel’s brewery as they process the scene where 10 year-old Iliana ‘Lily' Peters was found dead in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin
(AP)
After the arrest, the authorities moved to reassure the public that any danger was over.
“While nothing will bring Lily Peters back or change what happened, we are very grateful to be able to deliver this news for the family and for the community,” Chippewa Falls police chief Matt Kelm said at a press conference.
Namita Singh 27 April 2022 11:27
1651038604 ICYMI: Police arrest juvenile suspect known to Lily Peters in connection to her homicide case
A juvenile who is believed to have killed 10-year-old Liliana “Lily” Peters has been arrested on suspicion of her murder following a search of her aunt’s home, according to authorities.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm announced in a press conference on Tuesday evening that the suspect was taken into custody earlier that evening and that there is no longer any danger to the public.
The police chief said that the suspect is “not a stranger” but was “known” to the murdered 10-year-old.
The suspect’s name, gender and age was not revealed and Chief Kelm would not confirm if the individual is a relative of Lily’s.
The arrest came after police executed a search warrant at 422 North Grove Street in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and evidence was collected from the property, he said.
The address is the home of Lily’s aunt and is where the 10-year-old was believed to have last been seen alive on Sunday.
My colleague Rachel Sharp has the details.
Juvenile suspect known to 10-year-old Lily Peters is arrested over her murder Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm says there is no longer any danger to the public
Namita Singh 27 April 2022 06:50
1651037632 ICYMI: What happened to Lily Peters?
The remains of Iliana “Lily” Peters, who was reported missing on Sunday, were found the following day not far from her aunt’s house in the city of Chippewa Falls.
Lily reportedly visited her aunt’s house on Sunday and left on her bicycle but did not return home from what normally would’ve been a six-minute walk. Her father became worried and called the police at 9pm.
Police searched for Lily late into Sunday night, and eventually located her bike near a wooded area about four blocks from her aunt’s house ,“near the walking trail between the end of N Grove Street and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot,” they said.
Police continued searching for Lily, and went door-to-door to ask neighbours if they had seen her. The Chippewa Falls Police Department eventually called in K9 units and drones to assist in their efforts.
At about 9.15am on Monday morning, police discovered Lily’s remains in a wooded area near the Chippewa Creek walking path and the brewery. The corner’s office later confirmed the remains were of Lily.
Read the details here:
Everything we know about the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters The girl was reportedly on her way home from her aunt’s when she disappeared
Namita Singh 27 April 2022 06:33
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