CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — Wisconsin police launched a homicide investigation after They find the body of a 10-year-old girl close to a walking trail on monday.
Police arrested a minor suspect that he knew Iliana Peters, who went by the name Lily, they announced Tuesday night.
During a news conference Tuesday, Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm did not provide the suspect’s age or gender, whether the suspect was related to Lily, or where the arrest occurred. He said that there was no longer any danger to the public.
“While nothing will bring Lily Peters back or change what happened, we are very grateful to be able to bring this news to the family and community,” Kelm said.
Iliana Peters was reported missing on Sunday night. She was in fourth grade at Parkview Elementary School in Chippewa Falls. This is what we know about the situation:
Lily Peters’ father reported her missing after she failed to return home from her aunt’s house.
Lily’s father reported her missing at 9 pm Sunday after the girl failed to return home from a visit to her aunt’s home in Chippewa Falls, Police Chief Matthew Kelm said.
A bicycle believed to belong to Lily was found Sunday night in a forest near a walking trail. That area is less than a mile northwest of where Lily’s aunt lives.
Lily Peters’ body was found near a walking trail
Lily’s body was found around 9:15 a.m. Monday in a wooded area near the walking trail, police said.
Police said Lily lived in the 50 block of East Birch Street, which is a quarter-mile west of where her aunt lives.
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Police arrested a minor suspect on Tuesday.
At a news conference Tuesday, Kelm announced that a minor suspect was arrested that same night. He said that Lily knew the suspect.
But he declined to provide any more information, including the suspect’s age or where they were arrested.
Kelm said he no longer believed there was a danger to the public, indicating he believes the suspect acted alone.
Kelm said officers executed a search warrant at an address on the same block where Lily’s aunt lives. But Kelm didn’t say whether that search turned up anything of value.
Was an Amber Alert issued?
Police did not issue an Amber Alert after learning that Lily was missing. In a press release Before her body was found, police said the situation did not meet the criteria for an alert, but did not elaborate.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, there are three criteria for issuing an Amber Alert: the child must be 17 years old or younger; the child must be in danger of serious bodily harm or death; and the originating agency must have a sufficient amount of descriptive information about the child or suspect.
The initial press release from the police department, before Lily’s body was found, did not indicate that she might be in danger of serious bodily harm.
Where is Chippewa Falls?
Chippewa Falls is located within Chippewa County in northwestern Wisconsin, about 100 miles from Minneapolis. Its population as of the 2020 US Census is 14,700. The city is perhaps best known as the home of the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Co.
Reference-www.usatoday.com