The disappearance of two girls in the northeast Iowa town of Evansdale reached a heartbreaking conclusion one year ago this week, when hunters found the bodies of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins about 20 miles to the west in a wooded area of Bremer County.
On Thursday, to mark one year since their bodies were found, Chris Webb organized a gathering of about 30 family members and friends outside the Evansdale police station to light two Christmas trees. “One is for Elizabeth and one is for Lyric,” Webb said. “It just brings the community together and seeing all the kids put on ornaments…it’s a great time.”
Heather Collins, Elizabeth’s mother, was on hand for the presentation of nearly $10,000 that will be split between the Cedar Valley Crimestoppers and the Angels Park project at Meyers Lake in Evansdale. Much of that money was raised following a motorcycle ride in Evansdale this summer to mark one year since the girls’ disappearance. Lyric and Elizabeth, who were 10 and 8 at the time, were last seen in Evansdale on July 13, 2012.
When they were reported missing, their bicycles were found on the southern edge of Meyers Lake. Heather said she is thankful for all of the support from the community. “It’s overwhelming…it’s been a year and a half and I still get messages every day from people who say they are not going to be forgotten,” Collins said. Investigators have not announced any arrests in the girls’ deaths, but say the case remains open.
Thursday’s tribute to the girls came as Misty Morrissey, the mother of Lyric Cook, was arrested last week in Fayette County on felony drug charges after an extended investigation into an illegal drug distribution operation. Cook’s father, Dan Morrissey, is in prison on drug charges.
(Reporting by Chris Earl, KCRG-TV, Cedar Rapids)