Teen Cousin Sentenced for Murder of Lily Peters, 10

A Wisconsin teen who admitted killing his 10-year-old cousin in the woods near her home will spend much of his life behind bars, People reports. Carson T. Peters-Berger, now 18, was sentenced Wednesday to life in prison with the possibility of extended supervision after 25 years for the 2022 murder of Lily Peters in Chippewa Falls. Lily disappeared after leaving her aunt's house for a five-minute walk home; Peters-Berger told authorities he planned the attack "from the get-go" that night and started following her when she left the house, CBS News reports.

Peters-Berger, then 14, told investigators he coaxed Lily off a trail intending to sexually assault her, then beat and strangled her until he thought she was dead, according to a criminal complaint. He later returned, moved her body, and tried to hide it under leaves. He pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide; two sexual assault charges were dismissed but were still allowed to be factored into his sentencing.

Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell tells WQOW they struck a plea agreement in order to guarantee a conviction, as well as protect Lily's family from the trauma of hearing graphic evidence presented to a jury.