Family Urges Crowd at Vigil to “Live like Lizzy”

LOGAN, Utah – In her first public comments since her daughter was killed last weekend, Jessica Whipple told the crowd gathered for a candlelight vigil how much she appreciated them and why her daughter, Lizzy Shelley, was so special.

“You are the best sister, always so helpful and so kind. You’ve taken so much time teaching your sister kind things. Watching you reminds me to always be kind too,” Whipple said, reading from a letter she wrote to her 5-year-old daughter.

Whipple said she appreciated the community stepping up to support her family in the days after her daughter disappeared.

After Lizzy was found dead on Wednesday, people from across Cache County came to the family home to leave flowers, stuffed animals, and cards.

Her death affected people across the community. Many of the people who came for Saturday evening’s vigil said they wanted to feel unity with one another.

“That just really hit everyone hard, I think,” said Mike Sauer.

“It broke our hearts, everyone in the community,” said Nicole Izatt. “You can just feel it in the air, it’s been really heavy,”

Several people who spoke at the vigil, including family members and the chief of the Logan City Police Department, reminded the people who were there to live like Lizzy, with kindness for others.

They said that was the best way to honor and remember her.

“One heart illuminates another heart and can illuminate thousands of other hearts,” Whipple said. “I light this candle for you because you have illuminated my heart. I love you and daddy loves you and Maddy loves you.”

Lizzy’s funeral will be Tuesday.