Teenager Pleads Guilty to Murdering 10-Year-Old Girl While She Was Biking Home

An 18-year-old teenager named Carson Peters-Berger has pleaded guilty in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, to the first-degree intentional homicide of Iliana “Lily” Peters, a 10-year-old girl who was riding her bike home from her aunt’s house when she disappeared on April 24, 2022. The tragic incident occurred after Peters-Berger convinced Lily to leave the bike trail and explore the woods with him.

According to court documents, Lily was reported missing at around 9 p.m., when she failed to return home as expected. Her body was discovered the following morning on a walking trail in the woods near where she had last been seen alive. An autopsy revealed that Lily died from strangulation and blunt force trauma, confirming it as a homicide.

During the initial bond hearing after Peters-Berger's arrest, prosecutor Wade Newell detailed the gruesome nature of the crime. He stated that Peters-Berger knew his victim and planned to rape and kill her before committing the act. The defendant’s statements following his arrest corroborated this intention.

At Wednesday’s plea hearing, Peters-Berger admitted to the charges as part of an agreement with prosecutors, who dismissed two sexual assault charges against him in exchange for the guilty plea. Family members of Lily Peters addressed the court during the hearing, expressing their profound grief and fear that Peters-Berger might commit future crimes if he is ever released.

Judge Steven Gibbs sentenced Peters-Berger to life imprisonment, with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years. The judge acknowledged the gravity of the crime while considering Peters-Berger's age at the time of the incident, stating his belief in giving individuals a second chance once they have served their sentence.

Under Wisconsin law, anyone over the age of ten accused of first- or second-degree homicide is automatically treated as an adult in court proceedings. This means that despite being 14 years old when he was arrested, Peters-Berger faced adult charges and consequences for his actions.