UPDATE: A juvenile suspect has been arrested in connection with the killing of Chippewa Falls 10-year-old Lily Peters, Police Chief Matthew Kelm announced at a Tuesday news conference.
The suspect was known to Peters, however Kelm revealed no other information about the suspect or the killing.
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CHIPPEWA FALLS — After an overnight search, the body of a missing Chippewa Falls girl has been found and police say they are investigating her death as a homicide.
The Chippewa Falls Police Department said they were contacted about 9 p.m. Sunday by the father of Iliana (Lily) M. Peters, 10, who told them that Lily had not returned home from a visit to her aunt’s house in the 400 block of N. Grove St.
Police say they learned that Lily was last seen by family members in the evening. She was supposed to be heading home to the 50 block of E. Birch St., about four blocks away.
Officers and family checked the area and contacted family and friends, but the Parkview Elementary fourth grader was not found, according to a police news release.
After dark, officers learned that a bicycle believed to belong to Lily was located in the woods a short distance from her aunt’s residence near the walking trail between the end of N. Grove St and the Leinenkugel’s brewery parking lot.
K9 teams from the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department and the Lake Hallie Police Department were called in to search the area last night.
Also, the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department’s drone was used to search the wooded area.
Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS search teams searched this area and conducted door to door canvasing overnight. CFPD Investigators have and continue to follow-up with friends and family of Lily. The Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation was contacted.
The search took a tragic turn the next morning.
About 9:15 a.m. Monday, a body was located in a wooded area near the walking trail, Police Chief Matthew Kelm said during a Monday news conference.
Kelm said the coronor has confirmed the body is that of Peters.
“At ths point we are considering this a homicde investigation,” Kelm said. “We do not have anyone in custody a this time and we continue to followup on numerous leads.”
There may be a danger to the public, Kelm said.
Police expect to do another media briefing Monday about 5 p.m.
The ask anyone with information to contact police.
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