Rape and sodomy charges filed against uncle in Elizabeth Shelley case
Posted 4:28 pm, June 5, 2019, by David Wells, Updated at 07:50AM, June 6, 2019

LOGAN, Utah — The Cache County Attorney’s Office has filed two additional charges against Alex Whipple, the man accused of kidnapping and murdering his niece, 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley, last month.

Whipple now faces charges of rape and sodomy upon a child, both first-degree felonies.

...more at link
https://fox13now.com/2019/06/05/sex-abu ... lley-case/

It would be nice to put death penalty BACK on the table.
Maybe not. The death penalty can slow down a trial... more involved jury selection, then an exta hearing if and when he is found guilty. I think being found guilty of rape and sodomy of a 5 year old might tend to make his prison time a bit.... fraught

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Uncle pleads guilty to killing 5-year-old Lizzy Shelley, in deal that avoids the death penalty
By Jessica Miller,
Published: August 13, Updated: August 14, 2019



Logan - A Utah man has pleaded guilty to kidnapping, sexually assaulting and killing his 5-year-old niece.

Alex Whipple, 21, admitted to charges Tuesday afternoon in connection to the May death of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Shelley.

He pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, child kidnapping, rape of a child and sodomy of a child. Other charges, including obstructing justice and abuse or desecration of a human body, were dismissed as part of a plea deal.



The pleas also spared Whipple the potential of the death penalty, part of a deal that he struck with prosecutors just days after Lizzy went missing. After he was charged in late May, prosecutors agreed to not seek his execution if he told them where the girl was.

Whipple agreed and disclosed where he had hidden her body, stashed under leaves and debris in a wooded area about a quarter-mile from her home.

...more at link
https://www.sltrib.com/news/2019/08/13/ ... ds-guilty/

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light

Alex Whipple confesses to raping and killing Lizzy Shelley
Written by Will Feelright
August 13, 2019

LOGAN — Months after the body of Elizabeth “Lizzy” Shelley was found buried behind a home in downtown Logan, Alex W. Whipple confessed to killing the 5-year-old girl. The 21-year-old Providence man accepted a plea deal that will still likely send him to prison for the rest of his life.

Whipple appeared in 1st District Court Tuesday afternoon for a preliminary hearing. He waived his right to the hearing and pleaded guilty to aggravated murder, a capital offense; along with felony child kidnapping, rape of a child, and sodomy of a child.

Whipple wore handcuffs and shackles, flanked by deputies behind him, as he stood beside one of his public defenders, Shannon Demler. He spoke only briefly, telling the court he was willingly waiving his right to a fair trial and that he was guilty of the charges.

Cache County Attorney James Swink said Whipple seized Shelley from her bedroom and took her from her home before sexually assaulting her. The defendant’s DNA was later found in her body, proving that she had been raped and sodomized.

Swink described how Whipple stabbed Shelley in the back with a kitchen knife. The knife punctured her lungs, causing them to fill with blood, and killing her. It was later found by police near the victim’s home.

Outside the courtroom, Demler said Whipple has expressed sorrow to him for what happened and is willing to face the punishment. There is still no explanation for what led to the girl’s death.
[....]
Demler said Whipple has undergone mental evaluations which will hopefully help provide some understanding of why Whipple killed Shelley. He expects his client will likely be given the maximum sentence but will hopefully one day be released.
[...]
Whipple remains in the Cache County Jail, being held without bail. He is scheduled to be sentenced September 24.

...more at link
https://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news/a ... XBwA3tS_cs

_________________
Do not go gentle into that good night.
___________ Rage, rage against the dying of the light