Authorities in Logan, Utah, gave a press conference on Tuesday to share the latest on the search for missing Logan 5-year-old Elizabeth Shelley.

Logan Police Chief Gary Jensen told reporters that police have DNA evidence connecting Alex Whipple, Elizabeth’s 21-year-old uncle, to the missing girl, adding that it was possible the two were together for up to 8 hours since Elizabeth was last seen in her Logan home early Saturday morning.

But police are still working to put together a timeline of Whipple’s movements on Saturday, and the police chief said the investigation has been aided by surveillance video of the suspect.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, Whipple was detained by police on Saturday afternoon after he was seen walking alone in Logan. He has reportedly been uncooperative under questioning, though Jensen said at the news conference that “it’s his right to remain silent.”

“We have strong evidence connecting Alex to Lizzie’s disappearance,” the police chief said. “He’s definitely our suspect right now.”

Reiterating earlier statements from law enforcement agents, Jensen said that investigators believe Elizabeth has been harmed.

“From the evidence we have we believe Lizzie is hurt but we don’t know what condition she is in right now,” the police chief said. In response to a reporter’s question, he declined to characterize the search as a recovery mission.

“I don’t ever want to take hope out of the equation,” he said.

Anyone with possible information about Elizabeth Shelley’s disappearance, or any surveillance footage that could help with the investigation, is urged to call the Cache County Sheriff’s Office at 435-753-7555.