A Wisconsin teenager was sentenced to life in prison on Wednesday after pleading guilty to the 2022 murder of his 10-year-old cousin, Iliana 'Lily' Peters. Carson Peters-Berger, now 18, admitted to first-degree intentional homicide in Chippewa County Court, bringing a conclusion to a case that shocked the community of Chippewa Falls.
Judge Steven Gibbs imposed the life sentence following the guilty plea, which was accepted after Peters-Berger waived his right to a trial. The sentencing followed a plea agreement in which two additional felony charges—first-degree sexual assault causing great bodily harm and first-degree child sexual assault involving a child under 13—were dismissed.
Peters-Berger, who was 14 at the time of the killing, was arrested the day after Peters' body was discovered on April 25, 2022. According to the criminal complaint, he had persuaded his cousin to leave a walking trail near their homes and explore the surrounding woods while she was riding her bicycle home from her aunt’s house. The two homes were approximately a six-minute walk apart.
An autopsy determined that Peters had been beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted. Her body was found the day after she was reported missing on April 24, 2022. Peters-Berger’s attorneys, Michael Cohen and Alicia Linzmeier, did not respond to requests for comment regarding the sentencing or the case.
Legal Proceedings and Defense Arguments
During pre-trial motions, Peters-Berger’s defense team sought to have the case transferred to juvenile court, arguing that the now-18-year-old would not receive adequate mental health treatment in the adult criminal justice system. The motion was denied by Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs, who stated that the severity of the offenses warranted prosecution in adult court. A state appeals court later upheld the decision, keeping the case in the adult system.
Prosecutors had previously stated that Peters-Berger, then an eighth grader, admitted in law enforcement interviews that his intention was to rape and kill his cousin from the outset. The plea agreement did not require Peters-Berger to publicly detail his actions or motivations beyond the guilty plea to first-degree intentional homicide.
Community and Family Response
The case drew significant attention in Chippewa Falls, where Peters’ family and community members held vigils and memorials following her death. Relatives were present in court during the sentencing, though specific statements from family members were not included in the available reports.
The sentencing concludes a legal process that began with Peters-Berger’s arrest and spanned more than two years, including multiple court hearings and appeals. The case has prompted discussions within the community about child safety, juvenile justice, and the treatment of minors accused of violent crimes in Wisconsin.