Man accused of murdering his estranged wife in 1993 pleads not guilty

MORRISVILLE, Vermont (WCAX/Gray News) – A Vermont man has been charged with the murder of his estranged wife in an unsolved case dating back 31 years.

Police arrested Carroll Peters for the murder of his estranged wife Cheryl Peters in 1993.

For three decades there were no charges in the Cheryl Peters case. Now 70-year-old Carroll Peters is charged with first-degree murder for killing his 42-year-old wife in their home on September 2, 1993.

Police had identified Carroll Peters as a suspect in the case from the beginning, but he publicly denied any involvement in the crime. To date, he has never been charged and no suspect has ever been arrested.

“Your Honor, this was an execution in the victim's sleep,” Lamoille County Prosecutor Aliena Gehard said in court about the case.

Gerhard says no new evidence has surfaced that would have prompted her to continue. She points to the work of the Vermont State Police cold case specialists, who took another look at the case and gave her the file.

“We believe we have enough evidence to successfully prosecute this case,” Gerhard said. “I can only speak for myself. My decision to move forward is time for justice for this family and for the community. So that's all I can speak about; I can't speak about the decision of my predecessor.”

Gerhard took the decades-old evidence and presented it to a grand jury. They found enough probable cause to bring charges.

“You have made it clear loud and clear that there is sufficient evidence to charge Carroll Peters with first-degree murder,” Gerhard said.

The murder case rocked the community, and the family struggled for answers for years. Three decades ago, they pushed for a grand jury, but then-prosecutor Joel Page said the state didn't have enough evidence to prove the case.

“In my opinion, there is probably enough evidence to establish a reasonable suspicion against a suspect. There is clearly not enough evidence at this time to secure a conviction,” Page said at the time.

WCAX news reporter Brian Joyce spoke with Carroll Peters during a memorial service for Cheryl in 1994.

“Did you kill Cheryl Peters?” asked Joyce.

“No, I didn’t,” said Carroll Peters.

Now, 31 years later, he is charged in this case and being held without bail.

Because of the grand jury indictment, much of the evidence is not yet public, but more details are expected to be released at Carroll Peters' next court appearance next week.

In a civil trial, a jury found Carroll Peters guilty of raping Cheryl Peters two weeks before her murder and awarded her children $600,000, paid by an insurance company.

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