LILY PETERS CASE: TEEN COUSIN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON FOUR YEARS AFTER HER DEATH

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — More than four years after 10-year-old Lily Peters disappeared while riding home from her aunt’s house, the case has reached its sentencing chapter.

Her cousin, Carson T. Peters-Berger, now 18, pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide on Aug. 26 and was sentenced to life in prison with eligibility for extended supervision after 25 years. He was 14 when Lily was killed in April 2022.

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 a wooded area near a walking trail. An autopsy determined that she died from blunt-force trauma and strangulation.

Peters-Berger was arrested shortly afterward and eventually prosecuted as an adult.

A CASE THAT LASTED FOUR YEARS

According to the criminal complaint, Peters-Berger told investigators that he had lured Lily away from the trail with the intention of sexually assaulting her.

The case originally included first-degree intentional homicide as well as two sexual-assault charges. Under the plea agreement, the two sexual-assault counts were dismissed but read in, meaning the judge could consider those allegations when determining the sentence.

Peters-Berger’s defense had previously argued that the case should be handled in juvenile court, citing his age and need for mental-health treatment. That request was rejected, and the case remained in adult court.

WHY THERE WAS NO TRIAL

Peters-Berger had previously pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial had been scheduled for later this year.

Instead, prosecutors and the defense reached a plea agreement.

Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell said trials always carry uncertainty and can also be extremely difficult for victims’ families. The guilty plea brought the criminal proceedings to an end without requiring Lily’s loved ones to endure a full trial.

LILY’S FAMILY SPEAKS IN COURT

Family members and people who knew Lily addressed the court during the sentencing hearing.

They described the lasting impact of losing the fourth-grader and remembered her for the joy she brought to those around her.

One friend described Lily as someone who could make people want to keep moving forward during difficult moments.

Those close to Lily also expressed concerns about the possibility of Peters-Berger eventually being eligible for release.

Peters-Berger did not make a statement during the hearing.

LIFE SENTENCE WITH POSSIBILITY OF EXTENDED SUPERVISION

Judge Steven Gibbs accepted the guilty plea and sentenced Peters-Berger to life imprisonment.

Under the sentence, he will become eligible for extended supervision after 25 years. He must also pay more than $30,000 in restitution.

Because he had been in custody since his arrest in 2022, he also receives credit for the time already served.

A FAMILY READY TO REMEMBER LILY

For Lily’s loved ones, the guilty plea does not erase what happened.

But the end of the criminal case gives the family an opportunity to move away from years of court proceedings and focus on Lily’s memory.

She was remembered as a fourth-grader who loved riding her bike, playing in the snow and spending time with friends. A poem she wrote included wishes for kindness and peace.

Four years after Lily Peters disappeared on her way home, her cousin has been sentenced to life in prison. The courtroom chapter is over — but for Lily’s family, remembering the 10-year-old girl she was remains the most important part of her story.