ADP

Carson Peters-Berger

Carson Peters-Berger murdered his 10-year-old cousin, Iliana "Lily" Peters, in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, when he was 14. According to his account in the criminal complaint, he beat and strangled her, then raped her after he believed she was dead. On August 26, 2026, he pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and received life imprisonment with eligibility to seek extended supervision after 25 years. The sexual-assault charges were dismissed but considered at sentencing, not recorded as separate convictions.

At a glance

What happened
One child was killed: ten-year-old Lily Peters, Peters-Berger's cousin. The criminal complaint describes him persuading her to leave a trail, punching her, striking her with a heavy stick and strangling her. He told investigators that he then sexually assaulted her after believing she had died. An autopsy attributed her death to blunt-force trauma and strangulation. According to the complaint, he later returned, moved her body and covered it with leaves. Her body was discovered the next morning. His homicide conviction and the complaint's account of sexual violence are distinguished here because the separate sexual-assault counts were dismissed under the plea agreement.
When
April 24, 2022: Lily Peters was killed and reported missing. April 25, 2022: Her body was discovered. April 26, 2022: Peters-Berger was arrested. December 10, 2024: He entered a not-guilty plea. August 26, 2026: He pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to life imprisonment. Sources checked October 13, 2026.
Where
Chippewa Falls, Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States. The killing occurred in woods beside a trail near Lily's aunt's home. The criminal proceedings were in Chippewa County.
Why / motive
Prosecutors said Peters-Berger told investigators that he intended to rape and kill Lily before the attack. That account supports a planned sexual attack rather than an accidental killing. It is an attributed statement about his intent, not a clinical explanation of his behavior.
Outcome
On August 26, 2026, Peters-Berger pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide and was sentenced to life imprisonment, with eligibility to seek release to extended supervision after 25 years. Eligibility does not guarantee release. Two sexual-assault charges were dismissed but read in for sentencing, meaning the court could consider them when imposing the sentence; they were not separate convictions. The case remained in adult court after unsuccessful efforts to transfer it to juvenile court. The guilty plea resolved the homicide charge without a trial. This is the latest verified disposition located as of October 13, 2026.

Who is involved

  • Carson Peters-Berger — subject

Sources

  1. Spectrum News: Carson Peters-Berger pleads guilty in Lily Peters' death, sentenced to life in prison“Carson Peters-Berger”
  2. The Independent: Victim's identity, relationship and crime location“Iliana “Lily” Peters”
  3. Spectrum News: Child victim, attack and defendant's age“who was 14 at the time”
  4. People: Complaint's account of assault after strangulation“until he believed the victim was deceased”
  5. Spectrum News: Criminal complaint and autopsy findings“blunt force trauma and strangulation”
  6. People: Complaint's account of returning to conceal the body“covered her with leaves”
  7. Spectrum News: Crime, discovery, arrest and initial plea dates“April 24, 2022”
  8. Spectrum News: Initial not-guilty plea“Dec. 10, 2024”
  9. Spectrum News: Guilty plea and sentencing date“Aug. 26, 2026”
  10. The Independent: Crime location“Chippewa Falls”
  11. The Independent: Prosecutors' description of his statement of intent“his intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get-go”
  12. Spectrum News: Life sentence and review eligibility“eligibility for extended supervision after 25 years”
  13. People: Sexual-assault counts dismissed but considered at sentencing“dismissed but read-in”
  14. Associated Press via WTMJ: Guilty plea and adult-court proceedings“A state appeals court also kept the case in adult court.”
  15. CBS Minnesota: Homicide conviction and dismissal of sexual-assault counts“dismissed but read into the record”

Sources last checked: Not recorded · Dossier last changed: · Editorially reviewed: Not yet reviewed.