Police: Suspect arrested in Chippewa Falls homicide investigation

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - The Chippewa Falls Police Department has arrested a juvenile suspect in their homicide investigation into the death of 10-year-old Iliana Peters.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said the arrest was made in the City of Chippewa Falls Tuesday evening.

Kelm said that the suspect was not a stranger to Peters, and was known to her. Kelm said with the suspect in custody, the public is no longer in danger. No other details were given about the suspect, including whether the suspect was related to Peters.

“While nothing will bring Lily Peters back or change what happened, we are very grateful to be able to deliver this news for the family and for the community,” Kelm said.

Kelm said over 200 tips were provided to the Police Department, which Kelm said were critical to the investigation. Police executed a search warrant at 422 N. Grove Street, near where Peters’ body was found, Kelm said.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Department of Criminal Investigation finished processing the crime scene Monday night, and the Chippewa County Coroner’s Office removed Peters’ body to conduct a forensic autopsy.

The crime scene will be held by law enforcement for the time being, which includes the Duncan Creek Trail, the Leinenkugel’s Brewery parking lot and the wooded areas nearby. The public is asked to avoid the area. Kelm said anyone with information that can help the case call the Police Department’s tip line at 1-800-263-5906 through tomorrow. After that, tips can be provided to the Chippewa Falls Police Department’s non-emergency line.

Nearly 20 federal, state and local agencies worked on the case in the past two days, according to Kelm, who said law enforcement has been working 24 hours a day. The Chippewa County District Attorney’s Office has been working with police during the investigation. The family was notified of the arrest before the press conference Tuesday afternoon.

CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (WEAU) - The Chippewa Falls Police Department is providing an update on the homicide investigation of the death of 10-year-old Iliana Peters, who was found dead Monday near the Duncan Creek Trail.

According to a Facebook post from the Police Department, a press conference will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said Monday that anyone with information can call the Police Department’s tip line at 1-800-263-5906.

In a press conference Monday, Kelm said no one was arrested in connection to the homicide case. Chief Kelm says because no one is in custody, Chippewa Falls residents should remain vigilant and call the tip line with any information or suspicious activity, as the public may be in danger.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, the Wisconsin State Crime Lab and several Chippewa Falls-area law enforcement agencies are all working on the investigation.

Kelm said during a press conference Monday afternoon that a body was found in the wooded area near the Duncan Creek Trail at about 9:15 a.m. Monday. The Chippewa County Coroner confirmed the deceased body was of Iliana Peters, who went by Lily. Kelm said police consider this a homicide investigation, but no one is in custody.

Chippewa Falls residents are remembering Peters with makeshift memorials in the city, while churches held vigils Monday night. Several businesses are contributing purple ribbons, lights, stickers and signs as community members wait for answers from the investigation. Police presence was increased in Chippewa Falls schools and neighborhoods in Chippewa Falls Tuesday, while Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District administrators are recommending that parents pick up and drop off their students at their schools while the homicide investigation continues. Peters attended Parkview Elementary School in the CFAUSD.

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