Lily Peters Murder Suspect In Court For First Time

WARNING: Graphic details of the crime are discussed in the story below. They may be unsettling to read for some.

(KNSI) – The boy accused of murdering and sexually assaulting Lily Peters in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin this weekend made his first court appearance Wednesday. 10-year-old Peters visited her aunt’s residence Sunday afternoon but never returned home. Her father called the police at 9 PM that night. Peters’ body was found early Monday.

The defendant is only 14 years old and an eighth-grader. His identity remains protected. All court documents refer to him only by his initials.

Chippewa County Prosecutor Wade Newell asked for a $1 million cash bond. He said the defendant acted with premeditation. “Given the statements that the defendant made to law enforcement that his intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get-go when he left the house with the victim going down the trail, the state believes there is a need to protect the community.”

Chippewa Falls Police Department

Opposing counsel asked for the bond to be set at $100,000, citing their client’s inability to raise enough funds to satisfy the prosecution’s request. Judge Benjamin Lane sided with the prosecutor, saying “This is a serious charge, and because of serious charges there are serious consequences, which gives a greater incentive for individuals not to want to return to court when they are facing those charges.”

Newell says the defendant punched Peters in the stomach knocking her to the ground, hit her with a stick, strangled her to death, and then sexually assaulted her.

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