'I don't think he would harm his niece': Father of missing Utah girl, 5, defends the child's 21-year-old uncle who was arrested after he was found 'with her clothing' as police maintain he knows where she is and is lying to them
- Elizabeth Shelley was discovered missing from her home around 10am Saturday
- Logan City Police said they have arrested the girl's uncle, Alexander Whipple, 21
- The girl's parents told police that Whipple had been at their home Friday night
- Whipple had some of the girl's clothing in his possession when he was arrested
- He was jailed on a probation violation and police say he's being uncooperative in their investigation of the girl's whereabouts
- Logan police Capt Tyson Budge: 'At this point, we believe she’s been harmed'
- Elizabeth's father, Wes Shelley, said he doesn't believe Whipple would hurt her
- Shelley said he used to be 'good friends' with Whipple before he met his sister
- 'I don't think he could or would do it to his niece,' Shelley said in a Facebook post
The father of a missing Utah girl said he doesn't believe that her uncle would have harmed the five-year-old.
Elizabeth Shelley was reported missing from her home around 10am on Saturday.
Later that day, authorities arrested the child's uncle, Alexander Whipple, 21, who police reportedly found walking around with some of the girl's clothing in his hands.
On Sunday, Elizabeth's father, Wes Shelley, made a comment on the Facebook page of his daughter's mother, Jessica Whipple.
'I knew Alex and was good friends with him for a while before I met Jess. I don't think he could or would do it to his niece,' Shelley said in response to a Facebook user.
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Wes Shelley, the father of missing Utah girl, Elizabeth Shelley (pictured), said he doesn't believe that her uncle, Alexander Whipple, 21, would have harmed the five-year-old
On Sunday, Elizabeth's father, Wes Shelley (right), made a comment on the Facebook page of his daughter's mother, Jessica Whipple (left)
'I knew Alex and was good friends with him for a while before I met Jess. I don't think he could or would do it to his niece,' Shelley said in response to a Facebook user
Shelley, who claims that Jessica has refused to let him see his daughter, said: 'I seen how he was with her but, like I said Jess has ignored me for 4 years and I lost touch with Alex. A lot can happen in time.
'I just pray that my daughter is safe and gets home safe,' Shelley added.
Shelley also voiced his concern on Jessica's page, saying he 'would appreciate a call' and that he's 'worried' about how she's doing.
He also wrote that he knows 'how it feels to have her go missing in the middle of the night'.
Shelley didn't elaborate on that statement nor did he return a DailyMail.com request for comment on Monday afternoon.
He made the comments on Facebook just hours before officers from the Logan City Police Department shared an update on the social media site as they continue their search for Elizabeth.
'Officers located several items of interest a short distance from the home. This item has been tested and there is forensic evidence of 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley,' the update reads.
Police did not elaborate on what that particular item is, but they did say that the piece of evidence connects Whipple to the child and her residence.
'Some items were then located another short distance away which also shows a forensic connection to our missing 5-year-old,' the statement continued.
Authorities also said that they have 'over 200 law enforcement officers from a dozen agencies including local, State and Federal officers' searching for Elizabeth.
Shelley also voiced his concern on Jessica's page, saying he 'would appreciate a call' and that he's 'worried' about how she's doing
Shelley (pictured with Elizabeth when she was a baby) also wrote that he knows 'how it feels to have her go missing in the middle of the night'. Shelley didn't elaborate on that statement nor did he return a DailyMail.com request for comment on Monday afternoon
Logan City Police said they arrested Elizabeth's 21-year-old uncle, Alexander Whipple (right), who had stayed at the family's home Friday night. Whipple had some of the girl's clothing in his possession when he was arrested. He is reportedly not cooperating with authorities
In the update on Monday, police laid out a timeline of Elizabeth's disappearance.
The family told police that Whipple, Jessica's brother, showed up Friday evening and they were all in the home at 2am, when Elizabeth was last seen sleeping.
'When they awoke the next morning a little after 9am they couldn’t find Elizabeth and Alex was no longer in the home. They searched for a while and then contacted police,' the statement read.
Police were called to the family's home around 10am on Saturday.
Cache County Deputies located Whipple at 3pm at the south end of Cache Valley where he 'failed to identify himself'.
Police said Whipple had a warrant out for his arrest for not checking in with his probation officer.
'He was also in possession of drug paraphernalia,' authorities said, adding that Whipple was arrested on a probation violation and charged with possession of drugs.
Whipple was then taken to the Logan City police station where he was interviewed by detectives.
During the interviews police said he 'made several inconsistent statements at the very beginning and lied about his whereabouts which were already known'.
'He was uncooperative throughout the interrogation.'
Authorities said 'several search warrants were obtained and executed throughout the night on several crime scenes and for evidence from Whipple’s person'.
'The evidence obtained from Whipple was tested and there are confirmed forensic evidence from Elizabeth Shelley located from off his person,' police said.
Elizabeth's family also released a statement on Monday afternoon through a spokeswoman.
'As a family we are overwhelmed, scared and sad at the recent tragic events that have touched our lives.
'Our family asks for privacy and respect during this difficult time and continue to hope for the safe return of our sweet girl Lizzy,' the statement concluded.
The family also said that they are 'grateful for all those who continue to search and help'.
According to Cache Valley Daily, Whipple had some of the girl's clothing in his possession when he was arrested.
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Police said dozens of law enforcement officers (pictured) and other volunteers have spent the weekend searching for Elizabeth
Officers have been going door-to-door and getting permission to search homes and yards of residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the child's home
'We’re very concerned,' Logan police Capt Tyson Budge told the Salt Lake Tribune on Saturday.
'At this point, we believe she’s been harmed,' he added.
Whipple was convicted of theft, failing to stop at the command of law enforcement and driving under the influence in January 2018.
Authorities have asked residents to check home video surveillance footage from 2am to noon on Saturday.
Police said law enforcement officers and other volunteers have spent the weekend searching for Elizabeth.
Officers have been going door-to-door and getting permission to search homes and yards of residents in the neighborhoods surrounding the child's home.
Elizabeth is described as being 3’6″ and about 40lbs. She has shoulder-length curly brown hair with bangs, and brown eyes.
The Logan Police Department is asking the public to contact the if they saw Whipple or Elizabeth on Saturday, if they live in the Southwest part of Logan or along the area of 1200 West between Nibley and Hyrum.
For that same area, individuals should check their yards, buildings, containers and garbage cans for anything they don’t recognize. Call 435-753-7555 with any information.
