A major court hearing could determine what happens next

NewsA major development just emerged in a case that shocked WisconsinCourt officials have scheduled an Aug. 26 resolution hearing in the homicide case involving Lily Peters, a development that could determine whether the prosecution proceeds to trial.Getty ImagesA Wisconsin homicide case that has drawn widespread attention for more than four years may be nearing a turning point, as court officials have scheduled a resolution hearing later this month that could determine whether the teenager accused in the death of 10-year-old Lily Peters ever faces a jury trial. The Chippewa County District Attorney’s Office announced that a resolution hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 26 for Carson Peters-Berger, now 18. Peters-Berger was 14 when prosecutors allege he sexually assaulted and killed his cousin in April 2022. The development comes after a jury trial had previously been planned for November, according to The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.Defense attorney Michael Cohen has said the upcoming proceeding is expected to address matters that will determine whether a trial remains necessary. Prosecutors and defense attorneys have declined to publicly explain the exact purpose of the hearing, and neither side has confirmed whether any potential plea agreement is under consideration, The International Business Times reported.Much of the case is now shielded from public view after a judge ordered records related to the anticipated resolution sealed earlier this year. The sealed filings have fueled speculation about how the case could conclude, though court documents do not publicly reveal what, if any, agreement has been reached. Lily was reported missing on the night of April 24, 2022, after she did not return home following a visit to her aunt’s residence in Chippewa Falls. Search efforts intensified after her bicycle was discovered in a wooded area. Volunteers and law enforcement officers continued searching through the night before her body was located the next morning near a walking trail. According to charging documents previously released in the case, investigators alleged Peters-Berger led Lily into a wooded area before assaulting and killing her. Prosecutors charged him with first-degree intentional homicide, sexual assault causing great bodily harm and child sexual assault. Peters-Berger has pleaded not guilty, and the allegations have not been tested before a jury. The defense has spent years attempting to move the prosecution into juvenile court, arguing Peters-Berger’s age and documented mental health challenges warranted treatment-focused proceedings. Judges at both the circuit and appellate levels rejected those arguments, allowing the case to continue in adult court. Attorneys also successfully sought changes to jury selection procedures because of extensive publicity surrounding the case. If a trial ultimately proceeds, jurors would be selected from outside Chippewa County in an effort to ensure impartiality. For now, attention is focused on the Aug. 26 hearing, which could determine whether one of Wisconsin’s most closely watched criminal cases ends through a negotiated resolution or continues toward a courtroom trial. ALSO TRENDING: What happened on a Hawaii beach is now making national headlinesALSO TRENDING: Scientists think they’ve found a new way to stop cancer before it startsALSO TRENDING: California food truck’s numbers looked too good to be true. Then investigators took noticeChris Pugh covers trending news and national breaking stories, focusing on the moments, conversations, and cultural flashpoints shaping the national news cycle. Chris worked as a digital reporter for...This article was produced with assistance from AI tools and reviewed by Cleveland.com staff.