Missing 10-Year-Old Wisconsin Girl Found Dead In Woods

A 10-year-old Wisconsin girl who went missing while visiting family Sunday night was found dead near a walking trail Monday morning, police said.

The lifeless body of Iliana "Lily" M. Peters was found in a wooded area near the Duncan Creek Trail in downtown Chippewa Falls, not far from her aunt’s home, a day after she was reported missing by her father, Police Chief Matthew Kelm said during a news conference.

"The Chippewa County Coroner’s Office has now confirmed that this is the body of Iliana Peters," Kelm said.

Peters was a fourth-grader at Parkview Elementary School. Her death is being investigated as a homicide, police said.

"At this point, we are considering this a homicide investigation," Chief Kelm told residents urging them to "maintain a state of vigilance as there may be a danger to the public."

"Chippewa Falls is a safe community. This is a very rare occurrence, however, we have to be cognizant to the fact that it will require some additional vigilance today," he added.

Shortly after Peters was reported missing, her bike was located near the walking trail a few blocks away from her aunt's house.

"Our first responders are tremendously impacted by anything that impacts our children," Chief Kelm said.

No suspect is currently in custody. A manhunt has been initiated for the girl’s killer and the Chippewa Falls Area Unified School District was working with police.

"Our thoughts with the family during this difficult time," a statement from the district said.

This is an active investigation and no further details were released at the time of this writing.

"We're only a day into the investigation. This is a major incident. We want to make sure we do it correctly, properly," Kelm said.

"It is almost impossible to believe that something this horrific could happen in our city, And an event like this threatens our sense of security. However, I believe we will come together as a community to overcome this fear. A number of resources are being utilized in the search for answers in this tragic case," he added.

Anyone with information contact the Chippewa County Dispatch Center at 715-726-7701 Option 1.