A Wisconsin teenager will spend decades behind bars after he sexually assaulted and killed his 10-year-old cousin.
On Aug. 27, Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs sentenced 18-year-old Carson Peters-Berger to life in prison with the possibility of parole for the killing of Lily Peters. Peters-Berger pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide after prosecutors dropped two other charges — first-degree sexual assault causing great bodily harm and first-degree child sexual assault involving a child under 13.
On April 24, Peters’ father had reported her missing. The victim had left her aunt’s house but never returned home. The next day, her body was found in the woods near her aunt’s residence. According to CBS News, Peters-Berger, then 14 years old, told investigators he intended to rape and kill his cousin on that fateful day.
After Peters left her aunt’s house, the defendant persuaded her to explore the woods off the trail. Then, Peters-Berger beat, assaulted, and strangled his cousin before he fled the scene. The defendant went home, showered, washed his clothes, and returned to the crime scene to move Peters’ body further into the woods and cover her with leaves.
Peters-Berger’s defense team had argued that the defendant should be tried in a juvenile court because the defendant would not be eligible for mental health treatment in an adult justice system, reported ABC News.
The judge disagreed, and the state appeals court moved to keep the case in adult court.
Peters-Berger was ordered to pay $30,197.20 in restitution and will be eligible for parole after 25 years in prison.
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