14-year-old Chippewa Falls boy accused of killing Lily Peters will return to court in September
Chris Mueller
CHIPPEWA FALLS - The 14-year-old boy accused of killing Lily Peters will be back in court in September for what is expected to be an hours-long hearing with testimony from witnesses.
The boy, who has not been publicly identified by name, appeared by video Friday with his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a brief hearing, during which Cohen, District Attorney Wade Newell and Judge Benjamin Lane discussed what arrangements might need to be made for witnesses testifying at a preliminary hearing Sept. 1.
In Wisconsin, anyone charged with a felony has the right to a preliminary hearing at which a judge must decide if there is probable cause to believe a felony has been committed by the defendant.
The complaint filed against the boy lists three charges: first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree sexual assault and first-degree sexual assault of a child. If the case remains in adult court, where it is now, and the boy is convicted, he could spend decades in prison.
Cohen also raised concerns Friday about a YouTube video that purportedly includes "specific pieces of evidence" related to the case, including "video footage, phone calls, 911 calls, documents and other things."
Lane responded to Cohen's concerns by directing both parties, as well as law enforcement and other public officials, to refrain from releasing any confidential information about the case.
"It affects the due process rights of the defendant. It affects the ability of the state to prosecute its case," Lane said. "There are a variety of issues that have consequences by releasing information that is still confidential in this matter."
The case began when 10-year-old Lily — whose formal name is Iliana — was reported missing by her father about 9 p.m. April 24 after she "did not return from her aunt's house," the complaint says. At 11 p.m., Lily's father began to search for her and found his daughter's bike in a wooded area near the Jacob Leinenkugel Co. brewery in Chippewa Falls.
Her body was found shortly before 9 a.m. next day, April 25, near a walking trail by the Leinenkugel brewery, prompting an outpouring of support from a stunned community. Lily's body was found "by a person who knew the victim" near where the girl's bike was found the night before, the complaint says.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm announced the boy's arrest late in the day April 26. Few details were released until the next day, when Chippewa County District Attorney Wade Newell described the circumstances of Lily's death to Lane, the judge who set the boy's bail at $1 million.
Contact Chris Mueller at 920-996-7267 or cmueller@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @AtChrisMueller.