Juvenile suspect arrested in connection to death of 10-year-old Wisconsin girl found in woods
Authorities announced the arrest Tuesday, one day after the Chippewa Falls Police Department began a homicide investigation into the death of Iliana"Lily" Peters. Police did not publicly release the name or age of the suspect, and officers didn’t specify whether criminal charges had been filed."The suspect was not a stranger. The suspect was known to the victim," Police Chief Matthew Kelm told reporters Tuesday.
Police did not reveal the cause of death or what evidence was collected from the scene that was linked to the suspect. However, Kelm said officers received more than 200 tips that were “critical to solving the case.” In their investigation, authorities executed a search warrant to collect evidence and conduct interviews with those who live there, according to police.
"There is still much work to be done," Kelm said."Our thoughts continue to be with the family during this terrible time."The police department issued a “high alert” warning to parents in the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District, although authorities noted there was no need for a lockdown. The investigation is still ongoing as police work to determine a motive, Kelm said. Multiple agencies are taking part in the investigation, including the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation and the Wisconsin State Crime Laboratories.