LOGAN, Utah, May 31, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Logan City Police officials posted an emotional video Friday on Facebook, thanking those who helped in the desperate five-day search for 5-year-old Elizabeth “Lizzy” Shelley, the child abducted and murdered a week ago Saturday, allegedly by a 21-year-old uncle.
“The purpose of this video is to create a thank you, a thank you to not only our community for the outpouring of generosity, but also to our fellow law enforcement agencies, from federal, state, county, local and even some private entities that came forward to help us in our moment of need,” Chief Gary Jensen said.
“This case was so heavily involved that without the assistance and help of our generous community and our generous partners in law enforcement, we certainly couldn’t have done what we did, bringing this case to a close.”
Shelley Peterson, 911 director, spoke next.
“This is the call that we prepared for for years and years and years, and the call we never wanted and we hoped would never happen here,” she said.
“It was overwhelming and quickly comforting to see the outpouring of individuals in this Valley and the individuals in this department.
“So many came from everywhere, and we just want to say thank you. This is a call that we couldn’t, as a department, do by ourselves, and we are very grateful for the outpouring. We want you to know that we appreciated the support and we appreciated the tips, the thoughts and the prayers.”
In the end, it was charging suspect Alex Whipple, Lizzy’s uncle who was discovered missing at the same time as his niece, that triggered the discovery of her remains.
Whipple was found Saturday afternoon, walking about 10 miles away on a rural road just outside Hyrum. He was booked on an outstanding warrant for probation and parole violations, as well as for resisting arrest, among other charges.
By Wednesday morning, police believed they had enough DNA evidence to charge Whipple with murder and kidnapping.
Hours later, Whipple’s attorney reportedly talked his client into revealing the location of the remains in exchange for a deal to take the death penalty off the table.
Whipple drew a map that led searchers to a backyard that police had visited previously, and they found the little girl’s body well-hidden in high brush and under a stack of debris. The location was across a street, about five doors from the west side residence of Lizzy and her mother.
A DNA test has since confirmed the remains are those of Lizzy.
To view the whole video and hear comments from additional officials, click on the player below.
https://www.facebook.com/LoganPoliceDept/videos/2388233978076314/
I dont like police but I must say Logan pd did a very good job on this one. They are very professional and respectful of the family. They actually care about that little girl and you can tell they are as devastated as the rest of us. And shannon has also done a good job helping to make sure she was returned to her mom. I know how important that is it means everything at that point. Being a mother who also lost a daughter everyone involved has performed beautilufy.
She’s a angel in the sky now just look up you always can see her