Wisconsin Teen Who Lured 10-Year-Old Cousin Into Woods Sentenced to Life in Her Murder
A Wisconsin teenager will serve life in prison for the 2022 murder of his 10-year-old cousin, a case that rattled a small community and left a family grieving a girl whose own words called for peace.
Carson T. Peters-Berger, now 18, was sentenced after pleading guilty to first-degree intentional homicide in the death of Lily Peters. Authorities said Lily disappeared the evening of April 24, 2022, while walking home from her aunt's residence in Chippewa Falls, Wisc. Her remains were found the next day in woods near the home.
Peters-Berger, who was 14 at the time, was arrested quickly. According to the criminal complaint, he told investigators he lured Lily off a trail with the intent to sexually assault her. He said he punched her, struck her head multiple times, and strangled her until he believed she was dead, then sexually assaulted her before running from the scene. He later returned, dragged her body, and covered it with leaves, the complaint said.
The sexual assault charges were ultimately dismissed but were read in for sentencing, meaning a judge could consider the allegations when determining his punishment. Prosecutors did not pursue separate convictions on those charges.
Lily's family remembered her as a fourth grader who loved playing in the snow, riding her bike, and spending time with friends. In an "I wish" poem shared after her death, she wrote: "I wish people were kind to each other. I wish that people would stop littering. I wish there was peace in this world."
The case drew widespread attention, both for the brutality of the crime and for the close family connection between the victim and her killer. Peters-Berger will be eligible for extended supervision after 25 years, though the life sentence means he could remain in prison much longer. The sentencing brought a formal end to a case that had weighed heavily on the Chippewa Falls area since Lily's death.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.