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Three elderly Marathon County residents scammed by crooks pretending to be grandchildren

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Marathon County deputies say a group of scammers stole over 80 thousand dollars from three elderly residents over the last few weeks.

Public information officer Sarah Severson says the scammers pretended to be distressed grandchildren. “That grandchild was being held in jail and needed bond money and these individuals called asking for that money and then later showed up at the victim’s home in person to collect the cash.”

Severson says it’s a reminder to stay in touch with elderly family members and to set up code words in case of real trouble. “So if you do receive a phone call that someone that you don’t know is asking you for money it’s really important that you verify the facts.”

If you have any information or received one of these calls, you’re asked to reach out to the Sheriff’s office as well.

Madison police have no suspects in arson at Wisconsin Family Action, warn against future violence

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Madison Police chief Shon Barnes couldn’t share much information about the arson at Wisconsin Family Action over the weekend. 

“I have no indication that this was an inside job, the person who owns the building wasn’t there at the time. And so I don’t know, there’s always going to be conspiracy theories.”

Barnes did confirm that an incendiary device was used to start a fire Sunday morning.

Barnes says violence over free speech is not the answer, despite the increased tension over abortion rights. 

“I can tell you that there’s no there’s no place in Madison or anywhere else for this because it could have gone differently, I think if someone had been there. And if you’re thinking about doing something like that, I would recommend that you not, it doesn’t look good for your cause. It doesn’t look good for our community. And that’s not what we expect.”

There was some fire damage to the inside of one office and some graffiti on the outside of the building.

If you have a tip, call Madison PD Crimestoppers at 608-266-6014.

One million dollars bond set for juvenile suspect in Lily Peters homicide

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From Chippewa Falls PD

Horrific details emerged as the suspect in the murder of 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters of Chippewa Falls made an initial court appearance.

District Attorney Wade Newell described the assault in Chippewa County Court on Wednesday.

The suspect “punched the victim in the stomach, knocked her to the ground, essentially strangled her with a stick, essentially strangling her to the point of death before he sexually assaulted her.” According to the DA, the juvenile also told police “that his intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get go.”

Judge James Lane approved a one million dollar cash bond for the 14-year-old suspect. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for May 5.

The juvenile is charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide and sexual assault of a child.

Newell said Lily and the suspect are related but did not provide details. He said they left Lily’s aunt’s house together on Sunday. Her father reported her missing that night, and Lily’s body was found Monday.

Juvenile arrested in connection with death of Lily Peters

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Chippewa Falls police say a juvenile male has been taken into custody in connection with the death of Lily Peters. That arrest was made Tuesday evening. Police Chief Matthew Kelm couldn’t elaborate much further. 

“The suspect was not a stranger, the suspect was known to the victim.”

WEAU in Eau Claire reports that police were on the scene of a home not far from where Peters went missing on Sunday, and that matches where Kelm says a search warrant was executed.

No charges have been filed at this time, and police have not released any further details.

Tub full of puppies found abandoned on Neenah sidewalk

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Police officers in Neenah are trying to figure out who left a plastic tub full of puppies on a sidewalk Sunday night.

Community officer Joe Benoit says the dogs were located in a residential area. 

“There was no food or water available to the puppies. So the puppies were taken into custody and placed in the local animal shelter provided with food and water there and they continue to be cared for.”

Benoit says they’re already getting a flurry of calls and tips in the case and are investigating. “If in fact, the investigation concludes that the dogs were intentionally abandoned, the owner could be cited with a municipal violation, they could be charged criminally.”

The dogs will be held by the shelter for observation before any choices are made on adoption. 

Missing Chippewa Falls girl found dead, police seek suspect

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A ten-year-old girl is dead, and police in Chippewa Falls are calling the incident a homicide.

Iliana M. Peters, who goes by the name Lily, had taken her bicycle to visit her Aunt on Sunday. Her family was expecting her to be home early in the evening, but when she hadn’t arrived home by 9 PM her father called the police. Searchers found no sign of her in the area between the homes, but after dark, they discovered an abandoned bike near the Leinie Lodge parking lot.

Crews were back on the search Monday morning and found a body that was confirmed to be Peters shortly after 9 AM near the brewery.

Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm says they are considering this a homicide investigation. 

“We encourage anyone with information to please contact the Chippewa Falls police department and to maintain a state of vigilance as there may be a danger to the public.”

Kelm says numerous agencies are now involved to help find a suspect in the case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Chippewa Falls police department at 1-800-263-5906.

AG Kaul provides update with one-year anniversary of clergy abuse investigation

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It’s been a year since the State Department of Justice started an effort to find victims of clergy and faith leader abuse in Wisconsin.

Attorney General Josh Kaul says the state has started charges against one person, but that a lot of cases are outside the statute of limitations.

“Certainly, if we get information that can lead to a prosecution, we’re going to work with local law enforcement to pursue that. But we also want to provide victim services and support to individuals, many of whom, again, had never come forward.”

Kaul says he’s pleased with the progress that’s been made so far, and that his office has been working hard to get services to victims, 51 of whom had never reported their abuse before.

“First and foremost identify as many people as possible, who committed abuse. And then secondly, so we can move the healing process forward and hope and work to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Kaul says that continuing this process and giving victims a chance to come forward will allow the Justice Department to better do its job of protecting young people.

BREAKING: SCOTUS rejects Wisconsin Supreme Court decision on Governor Evers’s state legislative maps

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A ruling by the US Supreme Court means that Wisconsin’s Supreme Court will have to take another look at state legislative maps.

In a 7 to 2 decision on Wednesday, the US Justices rules that State Justices didn’t properly address the requirements of the Voting Rights Act when picking legislative maps drawn by Governor Tony Evers. UW-Madison Law School professor Robert Yoblon says that’s because maps from Evers created a new majority-black voting district in Milwaukee. 

“In order for that law to kick in, certain preconditions have to be met. And what the US Supreme Court said today is that the Wisconsin Supreme Court hadn’t done enough to confirm that it really was necessary to apply the Voting Rights Act.”

Yoblon says that likely means a new round of hearings. “It’s likely that the court will ask for further guidance from the parties about what they think should happen next. And then the court might issue a plan going forward? There are a few different options that the court has.”

However, the court left in place federal congressional maps drawn by Governor Evers. That will affect the placement of districts for members of the House.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will need to hurry in order to make a decision ahead of the fall elections.

Death toll now at six inside Milwaukee home

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The death toll has risen after police discovered bodies inside a home in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee police are investigating after six people were found dead inside a home. Five of those bodies were discovered on Sunday, while another was found on Monday. The names and ages of the victims have not been released, but police say the dead are five men and a woman.

The case is being treated as a homicide, but police say there’s no immediate threat to the community.

The bodies were found following a welfare call to the house, and police haven’t said how long the victims have been dead. Autopsies are scheduled for Monday.

State Sen. Bernier says she’s not convinced of legal charges in Racine nursing home voting case

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The head of the State Senate elections committee says she doesn’t agree with a claim that the Wisconsin elections commission committed a crime in Racine County.

State Senator Kathleen Bernier tells Capital City Sunday that she does think the elections commission dropped the ball on serving elderly people in nursing homes. 

“They needed to make sure the people who are assisting them, they knew exactly who they are, they had to be trained, they had to take an oath of office and there should have been some protections.”

Bernier says that really doesn’t matter, though. 

“That’s not for me to say. As I keep explaining to everyone there’s the separation of powers and the legislature creates that the law or the policy, the executive branch carries it out, and the judicial branch enforces it.”

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling says the Commission itself should face charges for keeping special voting deputies out of nursing homes in 2020. He claims that allowed nursing home staffers to cast false ballots in the name of patients. No charges have been filed by the DA’s office.