UPDATE: $1 million bail set for 14-year-old suspect in 10-year-old girl’s slaying in Chippewa Falls
The boy knew Lily Peters and allegedly told police he intended to rape and kill her
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — A judge set a cash bail of $1 million Wednesday for a 14-year-old suspect in the slaying of 10-year-old Lily Peters in Chippewa Falls.
Chippewa County Circuit Court Judge Benjamin Lane stipulated that the defendant be identified only as C. P.-B. and ordered sealing of the criminal complaint at this time.
District Attorney Wade Newell requested the high bail because, he said, the suspect told police that he “intended to rape and kill the victim.” That indicates a need to protect the community, and the suspect is a flight risk, Newell said.
The suspect, who faces three charges, allegedly hit Lily in the stomach, knocked her to the ground and hit her with a stick before strangling her to death and sexually assaulting her, Newell said.
The attorney for the eighth-grade suspect, who lives with his mother, had requested a $100,000 cash bond. As a stipulation of the bond, the suspect is not allowed any contact with children, cannot possess of dangerous weapons and can have supervised contact with siblings.
The youth, who is being tried in adult court, is charged with first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault of a child under age 13 resulting in great bodily harm. Held in a juvenile detention facility, C.P.-B. faces a maximum penalty of life in prison on two of the charges.
His next court appearance was set for 3:30 p.m. May 5.
Earlier story Tuesday:
CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WKBT) — Chippewa Falls police arrested a juvenile suspect Tuesday in connection with the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters.
Lily Peters
The suspect knew Peters, Police Chief Matthew Kelm announced at a news conference Tuesday evening.
Kelm declined to disclose other details about the suspect, including his age and whether he is a relative to the girl, who had been missing since Monday night until her body was found Monday morning.
“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,” Kelm said at the news conference.
Police fielded more than 200 tips that Kelm said were critical to the investigation. Nearly 20 federal, state and local agencies worked on the case, the chief said.
After Lily’s body was found, Kelm urged residents to be vigilant because danger still existed, but the arrest removed the peril, he said. Police had increased patrols around schools in the city Tuesday.
During the investigation, police executed a search warrant at a house in the 400 block Grove Street, near where Lily’s body was found, Kelm said.
Law enforcement is maintaining the crime scene, which includes the Duncan Creek Trail, the Leinenkugel’s Brewery parking lot and wooded areas nearby. Police asked people to avoid the area.
The fourth-grader’s father reported her missing about 9 p.m. Sunday after she didn’t return home from her aunt’s house nearby. Officers later located Lily’s bicycle in some woods at the end of the street where her aunt lives.
About 9:15 a.m. Monday, searchers found Lily’s body in a wooded area nearby. Neighbors say the path where police found Lily’s body is a popular route for children on bikes and people exercising.
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