An 18-year-old man has pleaded guilty to killing and raping 10-year-old Lily Peters in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin four years ago. He was then given a life sentence with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.
Carson Peters-Berger's guilty plea to first-degree intentional homicide came during a hearing in Chippewa County court Wednesday. Peters-Berger is Peters cousin. He had not been previously named due to the fact he was a minor.
As part of the deal, charges of first-degree sexual assault and first-degree child sexual assault were dismissed but read into the record, per an agreement made with prosecutors. Judge Steven Gibbs said he factored in that Peters-Berger was just 14 at the time of the killing, when he sentenced him.
Peters was reported missing by her father on April 24, 2022, when she left her aunt's house but failed to return home. Her body was found in the woods near the home the following morning. She had been severely beaten, and strangled.
The criminal complaint alleged that Peters-Berger became scared and fled, went home, showered, and cleaned his clothes, then went back to the scene and dragged Lily's body a few feet and covered it with leaves.
Peters-Berger, who was 14-years-old at the time, was tried as an adult in the case.
He had previously told investigators that he planned to rape and kill Peters "from the get-go," on Sunday night when he began following her down a trail after she left her aunt's home.
Peters-Berger’s attorneys tried to get the case moved to juvenile court, where proceedings are secret. They argued that Peters-Berger would not receive the mental health treatment he needs in the adult criminal justice system.
But the judge refused, saying the offenses were too serious to warrant such a move. A state appeals court also kept the case in adult court.
