Uncle 'uncooperative' as search continues for missing 5-year-old


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LOGAN — Logan officials are continuing their search for a 5-year-old girl who went missing Saturday morning.

Local agencies are scouring the area near the home of 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley and appear to have drained a small canal near her home.

Elizabeth was last seen by her mother at 2 a.m. Saturday when she went to bed, according to the Logan Police Department. The girl's uncle, Alex Whipple, showed up at the home as they were going to bed. Both Elizabeth and Whipple, 21, were missing when the rest of the household woke up around 10 a.m.

Whipple was arrested Saturday afternoon on a warrant for a probation violation and remained uncooperative as of Sunday evening, according to a Facebook post from the Logan Police Department.

Local police agencies and FBI officials "worked through the night finishing search warrants and following up on leads" but have not yet located Elizabeth and ask residents to stay away from search areas. A helicopter from the Utah Department of Public Safety was also dispatched to aid in the search.

"We were able to obtain some new information this morning, some evidentiary items that we've located," said Logan police captain Tyson Budge. "We believe that we'll locate her."

Logan Police also stated they are aware of comments made by concerned citizens but they are not releasing "everything pertinent to this investigation" yet.

Elizabeth is 3-foot-6 and weighs 40 lbs. She has curly brown, shoulder-length hair and brown eyes. Police believe she was wearing a red tank top and blue jeans.

In new Facebook post Sunday afternoon, police are asking residents in the south-west Logan, Nibley, Hyrum and Mount Sterling areas to "please watch for any suspicious items on your property." The public is asked not to touch anything they find and to immediately contact authorities.

Police are also asking residences and businesses in the area to check their surveillance systems for any suspicious footage between 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Logan City Police Department at 435-753-7555.

Contributing: Sean Moody, KSL TV

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