Utah man, 21, accused of murdering his 5-year-old niece is charged with rape and sodomy just a day after the girl was laid to rest by her heartbroken family
- Prosecutors announced new charges of rape and sodomy against Alex Whipple
- Whipple, 21, was already accused of killing five-year-old niece Elizabeth Shelley
- The new charges were announced a day after Lizzy was laid to rest in Utah
- Her mother, Jessica Whipple, was seen in a bright dress at her daughter's service
- The family had urged mourners to bring wildflowers as Lizzy 'loved to pick them'
- Mourners wore t-shirts with the words 'Live like Lizzy' to the funeral on Tuesday
A Utah man who is accused of murdering his five-year-old niece has been charged with sexual assault, prosecutors said.
Additional evidence from the state crime lab led to the counts of child rape and sodomy being filed against 21-year-old Alex Whipple on Wednesday.
Police say he killed Elizabeth 'Lizzy' Shelley on May 25, after his sister let him spend the night at the family home.
She was missing for five days before her body was found in a heavily wooded area.
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Alex Whipple (pictured in court on Monday), 21, of Utah, who is accused of murdering his five-year-old niece, Elizabeth Shelley, has been charged with rape and sodomy just a day after she was laid to rest by her heartbroken family
Police say he killed Lizzy (pictured) on May 25, after his sister let him spend the night at the family home. She was missing for five days before her body was found in a heavily wooded area
Police have said Whipple gave his lawyer a map of where Lizzy's body was hidden in exchange for a promise not to pursue the death penalty
Police have said Whipple gave his lawyer a map of where the body was hidden in exchange for a promise not to pursue the death penalty.
Whipple is also charged with aggravated murder, child kidnapping and other counts.
The new charges were filed just a day after Lizzy was laid to rest by her heartbroken family on Tuesday.
Lizzy's mother, Jessica Whipple, was seen in a bright dress as she was joined by mourners at her daughter's service at Nyman Funeral Home.
The little girl loved rainbows so those in attendance dressed in bright colors.
Lizzy's devastated mom was pictured being comforted by loved ones after the family had urged mourners to bring wildflowers, noting 'Lizzy loved to pick them'.
An order of service showed several members of the little girl's family were her pallbearers. Mourners wearing t-shirts with the words 'Live like Lizzy' were also seen paying their respects.
The new charges were filed just a day after Lizzy was laid to rest by her heartbroken family on Tuesday
Lizzy's family had urged anyone who attends the Tuesday afternoon service to bring wildflowers, noting: 'Lizzy loved to pick flowers.' An order of service showed several members of the little girl's family were her pallbearers
This photo shows some of Lizzy's toys placed in her mother's front yard as well as flowers, balloons, candles and other items left in her honor by mourners
The family had asked that people donate to the Logan Library, 'one of Lizzy's favorite places' in her memory.
Her obituary read: 'Lizzy made the world a more beautiful place. She could often be found picking flowers, cleaning up litter she would find, or protecting worms.
'Lizzy would often blow kisses to ambulances as they drove by, something she learned from her mom, who thought people in the ambulances needed the love.'
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The little girl 'never could pick just one favorite color and decided that her favorite color was rainbow', according to her family who called the little girl 'spunky, curious and polite'.
Defense attorney Shannon Demler has said his client did something inexcusable but wants the family to find closure.
Alex Whipple appeared in court for the first time on Monday in Logan, about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. He is being held without bail.
Jessica Whipple (right) was pictured in a bright dress and was joined by mourners wearing her young daughter's favorite colors at the service at Nyman Funeral Home
The grieving mother was comforted by a loved one as she arrived to the service
Lizzy's small casket was adorned with rainbow butterflies and the words 'Live like Lizzy'
Lizzy's blood was found on Whipple's watch and sweatshirt, authorities said, and his hand print was discovered on a PVC pipe.
Her blood was also found on a broken knife taken from the family's kitchen, charging documents state.
Whipple has a criminal record that includes a 2016 assault, possession of a stolen vehicle and drug-related charges.
The 21-year-old wore an emotionless expression with his prison-issued jumpsuit as he faced a judge in Cache County Court on Monday.
He has been charged with aggravated murder, a capital offense, as well as first-degree felony child kidnapping, third-degree desecration of a human body, and two counts of obstruction of justice.
Mourners wearing t-shirts that read 'Live like Izzy' arrive at the funeral of the murdered girl
A woman offered rainbow ribbons to a gang of bikers in the funeral procession. Lizzy loved rainbows so many of the mourners arrived with rainbow clothing, neckties, and ribbons
Lizzy's obituary read: 'Lizzy made the world a more beautiful place. She could often be found picking flowers, cleaning up litter she would find, or protecting worms'
Lizzy's family did not attend the hearing on the eve of the youngster's funeral.
The little girl was last seen at around 2am on May 25 while Whipple was staying at her home.
Lizzy had been missing for five days before Whipple (pictured) was charged in her disappearance on May 29
She was reported missing the next morning after her family awoke and found that both she and her uncle were gone and the front door was wide open.
Whipple quickly became the number one suspect in her disappearance.
The girl had been missing for five days before Whipple was charged in her disappearance on May 29.
Her corpse was found buried under leaves and debris in a wooded area about a quarter-mile from the home where she was last seen.
Police say they found Whipple walking alone in a rural area near Hyrum a few hours after she was reported missing.
He allegedly had a metal baseball bat tucked into his back pocket under his jacket, and was carrying a pipe, suspected marijuana and an unopened can of beer.
Whipple was arrested and taken to a police station.
When he was left alone in an interrogation room he allegedly began licking his 'filthy' hands covered in cuts.
