Logan Prepares to Say Goodbye to Lizzy with Ribbons and First Public Viewing
Jun 3, 2019, 11:06 PM | Updated: 11:17 pm
LOGAN, Utah – There’s no easy way to say goodbye to a five-year-old girl. Many in Logan City only know Lizzy Shelley by name and by the sweet smile that for the last week and a half has captured the hearts of her community.
“Little five year old who won’t be around anymore,” Shari Hall said while holding a box of homemade colorful ribbons. “But she’s definitely made an impact in the community.”
Hall is one of countless neighbors and strangers who has volunteered her time for the heartbroken family of Lizzy.
Lizzy went missing from her home the morning of Saturday May 25th.
“When you hear she’s missing, everyone jumped to action,” Hall said. For the next several days search crews scoured the neighborhood.
“Helicopters are all around. You can see it all blocked off and your heart just sank. Logan is such a banded community,” Hall said. “For everyone to heal and mourn together and support each other is a big part of it.”
Logan police found Lizzy’s body on Wednesday May 29th.
“Her favorite color was rainbow,” Miranda Peart said, holding up a sticker with a rainbow-colored butterfly.
Thanks to willing hands like Peart’s, rainbow ribbons now dot Logan city. Peart went from business to business on Main Street, asking for permission to tie the ribbons outside. Others walked through neighborhoods, decorating trees, posts and fences.
“I just put myself as a mother in Jessica’s shoes. I would want people to at least show that they care,” Peart said of Lizzy’s mother. “I can’t imagine how she’s feeling and what she’s going through.”
The ribbons line the funeral procession route and ultimately lead to Lizzy and the funeral home where police officers and neighbors alike paid their respects to her on Monday.
“Such a sad ending for them. It’s been really hard for everybody,” said Shellee, after leaving the funeral home. “Because, I’m a mom too – I’m a mom too. This breaks my heart for Lizzy’s mom. It does.”
Just blocks away, Lizzy’s uncle, 21-year-old Alex Whipple, was in court on Monday. He’s charged with her kidnapping and murder.
But in Logan, the focus remains on Lizzy and her family. How she lived. And how the Logan community is preparing to say goodbye.
“These ribbons,” Hall said. “Just showing a sign of love that they’re not just forgotten and this is her… that she’s here.”
