Bodies Discovered by Hunters May be Linked to Missing Evansdale Girls
The Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office says two bodies were discovered that may be connected to the case of Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, who have been missing since July.
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Authorities connected the discovery of two bodies by hunters today to the heartbreaking case of cousins from Evansdale who have been missing since July.
A surprise news conference was held in Evansdale on Wednesday about the cousins, Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey. Capt. Rick Abben of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office stopped short of stating the bodies were those of the missing girls but said their parents have been notified and that the families have requested privacy.
More:
Video: Authorities Announce Bodies Discovered by Hunters, Possible Link to Missing Evansdale Cousins
Storify: Prayers, Anger, Tributes Follow Grim Break in Missing Evansdale Girls Case
He did not disclose the location where the bodies were found other than to describe it as a wooded area.
The bodies were discovered Wednesday at about 12:45 p.m. They were being taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny for positive identification.
Authorities will hold another news conference Thursday at 4 p.m.
Elizabeth Collins, now 9, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, now 11, went missing on July 13 near Meyers Lake in what authorities have described as an abduction.
Their grandmother last saw the girls riding their bikes shortly after noon, and a firefighter found their bikes along a recreational trail nearby the same day.
Hundreds of volunteers have searched an area surrounding the lake where the girls were last seen. The lake was drained and members of both families were questioned.
Since then, both families have reached out to the public, asking that the girls be returned.
Last month, to mark the four-month anniversary of the girls’ disappearance, parents Drew and Heather Collins, and Dan Morrissey and Misty Cook-Morrissey submitted a letter to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier intended for anyone who might have abducted the girls.
"Taking the girls from us has caused much pain, pain for them, pain for us and our families," the parents wrote. "We want you to know that we are praying for you to do the right thing. By releasing the girls, everyone wins. Even you. The person who took them."
Hunters had been asked to keep an eye out in Iowa's fields and woods this fall for signs of the missing girls.
An anonymous donor told authorities last week they would add $100,000 to a reward fund set aside for anyone who provides information leading to discovery of the girls. $50,000 was already in the fund. Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers continues to accept donations toward the reward at 1-855-300TIPS.
Authorities said the reward is still available for anyone who provides information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. Anyone with any information should call the public tip-line at (319) 232-6682 or email OurMissingIowaGirls@dps.state.ia.us. They can also contact these tip lines: Crime Stoppers Hotline at (855) 300-8477, FBI tipline at (402) 493-8688, DCI tipline at (515) 725-6010.
For more information on the search for the missing girls, read previous coverage.
Iowa Patch's coverage of the state's missing children:
30 Years After Johnny Gosch Vanished, Iowa’s Innocence Abducted (Part 1 of a Series)
Innocence Abducted: Noreen Gosch Blinded by Ugly World of Child Sex Trade (Part 2 of a Series)
Johnny Gosch’s Mom ‘a Pioneer’ in Protecting Children (Part 3 of a Series)
Innocence Abducted: A Mother's Fear
Innocence Abducted: An Open Letter to Missing Johnny Gosch, from His Mom
Beth Dalbey
5:19 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
This is incredibly sad. All of us who have been following Iowa's missing kids had hoped for better news.
Alexis Ewoldt
7:05 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
So do u think that they r alive????????
Stephanie Fudge
5:28 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
my prayers go out to both families. I cried when I heard the news.
maxine weimer
9:12 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
You know and I maybe jumping the gun here, but untill the law starts cracking down on all the pedafiles and molesters, this will never end. It is wrong to think because thier names are on some list that they are not going to keep doing it. They are just getting better at hiding it. Everyday when I take my little grandaughters to school, I have to look at a child molesters house. In fact he lives directly across from the school. The girls are 4 and 7 and it scares the hell out of me every single day.
David Leonard
8:52 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
If a convicted child molester lives directly across from a school, he is breaking the law.
mwm
9:12 pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012
I have no idea how terrible this would be for the victims & families.
I hope they find a way to find peace someday.
Alexis Ewoldt
7:04 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
But it's probably sad if they aren't alive it's really HAERTBREAKING to there families and friends nerver say this again if it happened to me with my children. I would be really sad. Alexis
maxine weimer
10:03 am on Thursday, December 6, 2012
David, I belong to a group that notifys you when a perpetrater moves into the area so when I got that notification, I called the Marion police dept. and complained about it.
And all they said was they are watching him and not to worry about it. Of course I wasn't satisfied with that but what can I do? There are at least 100 in this area because the Abbey center that houses alot of them is really close by. The group that sends the notifications gives you thier name and address so you know exactly which house they live in. This paticular person lives across from Linn Gove elementart school in Marion.
David Leonard
8:44 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Maxine, I don't really know what you should do next, but I would try contacting your county attorney to see if you can get him/her to enforce the law. If that fails, try the Iowa attorney general's office.
Beth Dalbey
9:02 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Among the complaints by law enforcement about the Sex Offender Registry is that it isn't enforceable and that while "stranger danger" is a problem, most sexual abuse of children is committed by people they know. I agree with everyone here that protecting children should be a high priority, just not sure of the right way to do it. It's heartbreaking that little girls can no longer take bike rides on a summer day.
maxine weimer
11:59 am on Friday, December 7, 2012
Why would it not be enforceable? If they have to register then they know where they are living. Why is it that we always have to have a tradgedy before someone is willing to do something? That should not be an option. Children are the most precious people on earth and yet they are the least protected. It is wrong.