Utah uncle who raped, murdered 5-year-old niece sentenced to life in prison
A Utah man has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for murdering and sexually assaulting his 5-year-old niece. 22-year-old Alex Whipple pled guilty to the charges laid on him for the crimes against the victim, Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shelley.
The incident occurred in May when Lizzy disappeared and the community in her hometown Logan searched for her to no end. According to the police, the child was killed by Whipple on May 25 and later they had found the child's blood on his clothes and a knife near where the body was hidden. Whipple's sister had allowed him to stay the night at their home following which the child had gone missing and had been that way for five days.
The authorities found her after he told them where she was hidden, in the woods not further than a block away from the family home. He had given out this information in exchange for the prosecutors not pressing on the death penalty.
Jessica Black, Lizzy's mother wasn't able to attend the hearing because of emotional reasons but later told the Associated Press in tears, "I would give anything to be reunited with her, to hug her and hold her one more time. Our lives will never be the same. We will never forget our sweet girl and the happiness and sunshine she brought us."
His attorney Shannon Demler said that her client had been ready to accept punishment and said that he had been being raised in an "imperfect" family and mental health and substance abuse issues as well.
Judge Kevin K. Allen said while sentencing him, "You will never see the light of day. You will never breathe fresh air again," Allen said. "What you did was so abhorrent and vile that you must spend the rest of your life in prison."