Lily Peters
CHIPPEWA FALLS, WI (WSAU) — The teen accused of killing his cousin in the spring of 2022 has pleaded guilty to homicide.
Carson Peters-Berger entered the plea Wednesday morning and was immediately sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 25 years. The now 18-year-old was 14 when he killed Peters while escorting her home after a play date at her aunt’s house.
He reportedly told investigators he beat her numerous times, then left her body in a wooded area and returned home. When he learned that authorities were searching for her, he said he returned to the scene to “hide her body better.”
He’s also accused of sexually assaulting Peters, who was 10 at the time of her death.
Peters-Berger’s defense tried to have the case moved to the juvenile system early in the proceedings, preventing his name from being immediately released. Those requests were denied. He pleaded not guilty in late 2024, and a jury trial had been scheduled for later this year. That is now wiped from the calendar.
Multiple reports from the Chippewa Falls courtroom indicated that Judge Steven Gibbs only allowed limited media access to Wednesday’s proceedings. Names of those who testified were not to be made public, and no audio from the proceedings was to be played back. Judge Gibbs has also sealed the court record for the case, meaning it is not viewable on the Wisconsin Court Access system.
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