The arrest of a juvenile suspect in the horrifying death of a missing 10-year-old girl discovered slain near her aunt’s house was reported by Wisconsin police on Tuesday evening.
Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm stated that the culprit was not a stranger and that community tips led to the arrest. Liliana “Lily” Peters, 10, went missing after failing to return from her aunt’s residence on North Grove Street at 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Kelm. According to the chief, police served a search warrant at 422 North Grove Street on Tuesday. According to public records, the address has been tied to her relatives.
His declaration came after local media reported a large police presence on North Grove Street near the famed Leinenkugel’s brewery, where cops had earlier discovered the girl’s bicycle and, finally, her body. The girl’s corpse was discovered at 9:15 a.m. Monday, and her death has promptly ruled a murder. Surrounding police agencies, sheriff’s offices, state investigators, and the FBI jumped in to help Chippewa police with personnel and other resources.
Earlier Tuesday, law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital that investigators had received more than 150 reports and were verifying them against a large number of people of interest.
According to Teri Ouimette, executive director of Chippewa Falls Main Street, a charity focused on enhancing the region’s quality of life, the community of around 13,000 inhabitants has joined together, hanging purple ribbons across town along with words of support for Lily’s family. Lily’s favorite color was purple.
Local companies have also started selling badges and stickers to help raise funds, and her family is taking donations through GoFundMe. “We acquired the ribbons, put out a Facebook post for volunteers, and said, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do with it to everybody, come on down,'” Ouimette explained. “Well, they did, and the ribbons were up in, you know, 15 minutes.”
Ouimette told Fox News Digital that she has an adult daughter but young relatives and nephews and that youngsters are frequently seen playing outside on streets across the neighborhood.
“It impacts everyone,” she explained.
Chippewa Falls, although being a tiny and tranquil hamlet, has seen tragedy before. In 2005, a school bus disaster killed five people and wounded 30, including a band director and his 11-year-old granddaughter. Recently, three girl scouts and a young mother were killed when a drunken driver slammed into them while they were cleaning up litter along the road.
Police have cautioned that there may still be an ongoing risk to the public following Lily’s killing. They announced heightened patrols near school drop-offs and pickups Tuesday morning and encouraged the community to “be vigilant” while they sought a murderer.
