Cousin of 10-year-old Wisconsin girl pleads guilty to her killing and gets life in prison

Madison, Wis. (AP) — A 14-year-old cousin of a 10-year-old girl killed in Wisconsin in 2022 pleaded guilty to first-degree intentional homicide on Wednesday and will serve a life sentence. The girl, Lily Peters, was riding her bike home from her aunt's house in Chippewa Falls when Carson Peters-Berger persuaded her to leave the trail and explore the woods nearby.

His body was discovered the next day, with signs of being beaten, strangled, and sexually assaulted. Peters-Berger, now 18, was arrested the day after the discovery. Chippewa County Judge Steven Gibbs accepted his guilty plea and sentenced him to life in prison, dismissing two other charges. His attorneys argued for the case to be moved to juvenile court, citing the need for mental health treatment, but the judge denied the request, emphasizing the gravity of the crimes.