Teenager Charged With Murder Of 10-Year-Old Lily Peters
Topics: US News, no-article-matching
Poppy Bilderbeck
Featured Image Credit: Chippewa Falls Police Department
Topics: US News, no-article-matching
A teenage boy has been charged with the murder of 10-year-old Lily Peters.
The young girl was reported missing by her father on the evening of Sunday (24 April).
Her body was discovered the next morning near a walking trail in Chippewa Falls in Wisconsin, US.
Police announced an arrest had been made on Tuesday, 26 April and the suspect has since been charged.
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Court documents have revealed the 14-year-old teenage boy was riding his hoverboard along the hiking trail before he allegedly lured Peters away from the path and into the woods.
According to a criminal complaint released Friday, 6 May, the suspect told police his intentions were to sexually assault and kill the fourth-grader.
After assaulting her, the 14-year-old fled the scene due to becoming 'scared'.
However, later on he returned, using leaves to try and cover the girl's body.
Peters had been returning home from her aunt's house when she went missing.
A preliminary autopsy revealed Peters died as a result of strangulation and blunt force trauma.
Toxicology testing is yet to be completed, however, it is anticipated it will take between four to six weeks for a final report to be released.
Authorities received over 200 tips which they noted as being 'critical' within the investigation.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matt Kelm offered the department's 'thoughts' to Peters' family.
The 14-year-old male suspect has been charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree sexual assault of a child under the age of 13 and first-degree intentional homicide.
He is being remanded in custody and his bond has been set at $1 million (£810,550).
While the judge may receive a request from his attorneys requesting the case be moved to juvenile court, the suspect is currently set to be tried as an adult.
He is next set to appear in court on 24 June.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence regarding the welfare of a child, contact the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000, 8am–10pm Monday to Friday, 9am–6pm weekends. If you are a child seeking advice and support, call Childline for free on 0800 1111
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence contact Cruse Bereavement Care via their national helpline on 0808 808 1677