LILY PETERS CASE: COUSIN PLEADS GUILTY AND RECEIVES LIFE SENTENCE

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — More than four years after 10-year-old Lily Peters was found dead in a wooded area near her Wisconsin home, her cousin has pleaded guilty to her killing and been sentenced to life in prison.

Carson T. Peters-Berger, now 18, pleaded guilty Wednesday to first-degree intentional homicide in connection with Lily’s 2022 death. A Chippewa County judge sentenced him to life in prison with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years.

LILY DISAPPEARED ON HER WAY HOME

Lily was reported missing on the evening of April 24, 2022, after leaving her aunt’s home in Chippewa Falls.

Her body was discovered the following morning in nearby woods.

Peters-Berger was 14 years old at the time. According to the criminal complaint, he told investigators that he persuaded Lily to leave the trail and go into the woods with him.

An autopsy determined that Lily died from blunt-force trauma and strangulation.

A PLEA DEAL ENDS THE CASE

Peters-Berger originally faced three charges in the case.

Under the plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide. Two sexual-assault charges were dismissed but read into the record as part of the agreement and could be considered during sentencing.

He was also ordered to pay more than $33,000 in restitution.

The guilty plea means the case will not proceed to the jury trial that had been scheduled for later this year.

HE WAS CHARGED AS AN ADULT

Because Peters-Berger was only 14 when Lily was killed, his attorneys had previously fought to have the case transferred to juvenile court.

His defense argued that he needed mental-health treatment that would be more accessible through the juvenile system.

The judge rejected the request, and a state appeals court allowed the case to remain in adult court, citing the seriousness of the offenses.

LILY’S FAMILY SPEAKS IN COURT

Members of Lily’s family addressed the court during the sentencing hearing and described the lasting impact her death has had on their family and community.

Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell also cautioned that a criminal sentence cannot provide complete closure for the family.

The legal proceedings may now be over, but the loss of Lily continues to affect those who knew and loved her.

REMEMBERING LILY

Lily was remembered as a joyful fourth-grader who loved biking, snow and spending time outdoors.

Her death in 2022 drew widespread attention across Wisconsin, while her family and community continued to remember her life throughout the years of court proceedings.

A CASE THAT FINALLY REACHED ITS LEGAL END

Peters-Berger will remain imprisoned under his life sentence, with eligibility for extended supervision after 25 years.

For Lily’s family, however, Wednesday’s hearing was not simply about a sentence. It marked the end of more than four years of uncertainty and legal proceedings following the loss of a 10-year-old girl.

The courtroom chapter is now closed, but Lily Peters’ family will carry her memory long after the case is over.