Logan Police Searching for 5-Year-Old Girl Who Disappeared From Her Home
May 25, 2019, 11:10 PM | Updated: May 29, 2019, 3:17 pm
LOGAN, Utah – Investigators are trying to find a 5-year-old girl who disappeared from her home early Saturday morning.
Logan Police said Elizabeth Shelley’s family discovered she was missing from her home along 400 West when they woke up around 9:30 Saturday morning.
Police said Shelley’s uncle, 21-year-old Alex Whipple, came to the house the night before.
They said Elizabeth’s mother last checked on her when she went to bed around 2:00 a.m. She told police that when she awoke, both Shelley and Whipple were gone.
“It’s the worst thing you can ever think of and you don’t ever want it to happen to you,” said Shelley’s grandmother, Mary Whipple.
Police began searching for Elizabeth around 10:00 a.m. The search party included Logan police, Cache County Sheriff’s Office, and Cache County Search and Rescue.
They checked yards and canals across the neighborhood. Shortly before 4:00 p.m., Logan police announced they had found Whipple and taken him into custody.
They said he was found walking along a road quite a distance from the house and was by himself.
They said he initially refused to identify himself to the officer who found him. Police detained him for an interview, but said he has not been cooperative.
“The unfortunate thing is we have all the adults accounted for, so obviously the conclusion is, she’s in a lot of danger,” said Captain Tyson Budge of the Logan Police Department.
Budge said police are considering Whipple a suspect in Elizabeth’s disappearance. While they continue to question him, searchers are still trying to find Elizabeth.
“Right now, we’re pretty focused on Alex. We’re trying to get the parents the resources and help they need right now. This is a very difficult time. All of us are still hoping that we’re going to find her alive,” Budge said.
Late Saturday evening, Logan police said the FBI is helping in the investigation and asked people who live in the area to check any surveillance cameras they might have.
They are especially interested in any surveillance video in the area from 300 South to 100 North and 300 West to 600 West between the hours of 2:00 a.m. and Noon.
They ask that anyone who sees suspicious activity to contact their non-emergency line at (435) 753-7555.
