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Utah uncle who kidnapped, murdered 5-year-old niece charged with her rape a day after her funeral

Elizabeth Shelley, 5, was last seen at her home in Logan the night before Alexander William Whipple 21, came to visit on May 25
PUBLISHED JUN 7, 2019

Alexander William Whipple, who was previously accused of kidnapping and murdering his 5-year-old niece Elizabeth “Lizzy” Shelley, is now facing fresh charges of rape.

The new charges were furnished a day after Shelley's funeral that took place on June 4.

The Utah State Crime Lab obtained new evidence that allowed prosecutors to charge the 21-year-old with two more first-degree felonies, Oxygen reported.

"This information led to the filing of two additional charges against Alex Whipple in the disappearance and murder of 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley. These charges are rape of a child, a first-degree felony and sodomy upon a child, also a first-degree felony," the Cache County Attorney's Office said, per CNN.

This undated photo provided by the Logan City Police Department shows Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shelley, who was reported missing Saturday, May 25, 2019. (Logan City Police Department via AP)

Aside from the above, Whipple has also been charged with multiple misdemeanors including drug possession, failing to disclose his identity to law enforcement, and failing to stop at the command of law enforcement.

Shelley was last seen at her home in Logan the night before Alexander came to visit on May 25. When Shelley's mom Jessica Whipple and her fiance Detrich Black woke up the next morning, they found both Shelley and Alexander were missing.

According to Deseret News, Alexander was located and arrested that afternoon itself. Officers apprehended him while he was walking along the side of a road with a metal bat and was reportedly "uncooperative" with them. When they asked him questions, Whipple allegedly gave them false information and tried to walk away before he was wrestled to the ground.

Searchers look for signs of 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley Tuesday, May 28, 2019, in Logan, Utah. Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen told reporters that investigators have "strong evidence" including DNA linking Alex Whipple to the disappearance of Elizabeth "Lizzy" Shelley. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Police confirmed Shelley was dead later on in the investigation after discovering a broken knife and a teal skirt that Shelley was last seen wearing. They located her body only after Alexander reached a plea agreement to avoid the death penalty and revealed her whereabouts as part of the deal.

Alexander allegedly told authorities alcohol makes him "blackout" and sometimes do "criminal things". However, no motive has been disclosed as yet.

Having said that, the official cause of death is yet to be established by the state examiner.

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