“LET US GO EXPLORE THE SURROUNDING WOODS”!!! BELIEVE IT OR NOT, AUTHORITIES SAY 14-YEAR-OLD CARSON PETERS-BERGER LURED HIS 10-YEAR-OLD COUSIN ILLIANA “LILY” PETERS OFF A TRAIL TO ASSAULT AND STRANGLE HER, AND HE HAS NOW RECEIVED A LIFE SENTENCE AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO FIRST-DEGREE INTENTIONAL HOMICIDE.
On April 24, 2022, at around 9 p.m., authorities in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, began searching for a missing 10-year-old girl.
The search began after the girl’s father reported that she had not returned home from visiting her aunt.
Authorities identified the missing child as 10-year-old Illiana “Lily” Peters.
Investigators said Lily left her aunt’s home that evening and began riding her bicycle home.
Authorities later located a bicycle believed to belong to Lily near a walking trail.
The following morning, on April 25, 2022, volunteers searching the area found Lily’s body in a wooded area near the trail.
Her death was ruled a homicide.
An autopsy later determined that Lily had been beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted.
On April 26, 2022, police arrested Lily’s cousin in connection with her death.
The arrested suspect was identified as then-14-year-old Carson Peters-Berger.
According to a criminal complaint, Peters-Berger told investigators that he had been riding a hoverboard alongside Lily on the trail.
Authorities said Peters-Berger admitted that he intended to sexually assault and kill Lily.
Peters-Berger persuaded her to leave the trail with him by suggesting they explore the surrounding woods, authorities said.
According to prosecutors, Peters-Berger then punched Lily in the stomach.
He knocked her to the ground.
Prosecutors said Peters-Berger struck Lily with a stick and strangled her.
Authorities said he then sexually assaulted Lily.
Investigators said Peters-Berger initially became scared and left the area.
But he later returned to Lily’s body.
Investigators said he attempted to conceal her body beneath leaves.
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On April 27, 2022, Peters-Berger was charged as an adult in the case.
Prosecutors charged him with first-degree intentional homicide.
He was also charged with first-degree sexual assault causing great bodily harm.
Prosecutors additionally charged him with first-degree sexual assault of a child.
His bond was set at $1 million.
Peters-Berger’s attorneys later asked that the case be transferred to juvenile court.
Defense attorneys argued that he would not receive the mental health treatment he needed in the adult criminal justice system.
A judge denied the defense request.
The judge found that moving the case to juvenile court would diminish the seriousness of the offenses.
On September 10, 2024, a Wisconsin appeals court upheld that decision.
The appellate ruling allowed the case to remain in adult court.
In December 2024, Peters-Berger pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A jury trial was later scheduled for November 2026.
And that trial will no longer take place.
On August 26, 2026, the now 18-year-old Peters-Berger appeared in court.
He pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide in Lily’s death.
During the hearing, the judge asked Peters-Berger whether he understood that by pleading guilty he was admitting that he killed Lily and had planned to do so.
Peters-Berger said he understood.
The two sexual assault charges were dismissed but read in as part of the case.
Peters-Berger declined to speak during the sentencing hearing.
He was sentenced to life in prison.
The sentence includes the possibility of extended supervision after serving 25 years.
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