A new $20,500 reward is now being offered in hopes of finding the killer of two Waterloo-area cousins. The reward is being offered by Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers in hopes of solving the murders of Elizabeth Collins of Evansdale and her cousin, Lyric Cook-Morrissey of Waterloo.
Police say the eight and 10-year-old girls were abducted on July 13th while riding their bicycles in Evansdale. Their bodies were found by hunters in a Bremer County wildlife area on December 5th — 145 days after they disappeared. In a statement released by Evansdale police on Friday, Black Hawk County’s Chief Deputy Sheriff Rick Abben says investigators believe someone has helpful information that would solve crime.
Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers just concluded a month-long effort to generate the reward money. The more than $20,000s raised came through donations received from across Iowa. According to the Evansdale police statement, the reward is available immediately, upon arrest, to whoever provides “important and relevant” information in the case.
A separate $150,000 reward is also being offered through law enforcement officials and a private donor for information leading to an arrest and conviction.
Anyone with information can call Evansdale police at 319-232-6682 or Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477). Tips can also be emailed to OURMISSINGIOWAGIRLS@dps.state.ia.us .
By Elwin Huffman, KOEL, Waterloo