Evansdale search

Heather and Drew Collins speak to the media during a press conference before The Life and Love of Elizabeth Collins celebration for their daughter at Heartland Vineyard Church at Thursday, Dec. 13, 2012, in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The celebration was held on the five month anniversary cousins Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey went missing in Evansdale.   (AP Photo/Waterloo Courier, Matthew Putney)

Family of Elizabeth Collins speak about case

Heather and Drew Collins had a press conference prior to tonight’s memorial service

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — In a brief press conference prior to a celebration of life event for their daughter Elizabeth, Heather and Drew Collins answered questions on a number of topics ranging from their faith to the death penalty. Elizabeth Collins, 9, and her cousin Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11, disappeared while riding their bikes July 13 [...]

continue »

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad speaks during the Health and Human Services Committee panel meeting at the National Governors Association's winter meetings in Washington Sunday, Feb. 26, 2012. ( AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Branstad to meet with parents of missing, killed Iowa children

Meeting in Des Moines will also include senator pushing for death penalty reinstatement

Gov. Terry Branstad will meet next week with parents of three missing or killed Iowa children and a state senator pushing to reinstate the death penalty in Iowa. Officials in the governor’s office confirmed Branstad will host a meeting at 11 a.m. Monday with Drew Collins, Addonis Hill, Noreen Gosch and Republican state Sen. Kent [...]

continue »

Crosses in memory of Elizabeth Collins, 9, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11, stand near the road leading into Seven Bridges Wildlife Area where the bodies of the Evansdale cousins were found by hunters. Photographed Tuesday, December 11, 2012. (BRANDON POLLOCK / Courier Staff Photographer)

School counselors offer advice on helping children deal with grief

Tragedy of Evansdale cousins could linger through winter months

The anguish began on a hot Friday in July when two cousins vanished while on a bike ride in Evansdale. For many, the grieving of their recently discovered deaths will continue through the cold months of winter. School counselors in both Waterloo and Cedar Falls said that is normal, especially for young children. The Waterloo [...]

continue »

Authorities search a portion of Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, near Readlyn in Bremer County, on Thursday morning after two bodies were found in the area Wednesday. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Bodies found in Bremer County are missing cousins, autopsy confirms

Lyric Cook, Elizabeth Collins disappeared while riding bikes in Evansdale in July

The Iowa State Medical Examiner’s Office has confirmed that the two bodies found last Wednesday in the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area in Bremer County are those of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins. Hunters found the bodies at Seven Bridges Wildlife Area on Wednesday, concluding the search for the two cousins, who were last seen riding [...]

continue »

Investigators examine the scene where hunters found two bodies in Seven Bridges Recreation Area near Readlyn, in Bremer County, on Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)

Officials leave Bremer County park where bodies were found

Autopsies also complete; bodies believed to be those of cousins who disappeared in Evansdale

Authorities have left the rural Bremer County park where bodies believed to be Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins were found last week. And officials have concluded the autopsies of the remains, although the results aren’t finalized. Hunters found the bodies at Seven Bridges Wildlife Area on Wednesday, concluding the search for the two cousins who [...]

continue »

The first search party goes out looking for Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook, 10, in Deerwood Park Saturday, July 14, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa. (MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor)

Iowa leaders consider changes to missing persons notification system

Petition for 'Cousins Law' surpasses 10,500 signatures

The discovery of two bodies believed to be those of missing cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins on Wednesday has renewed interest in Iowa’s missing persons notification system. As Gov. Terry Branstad expressed sympathy for families of the girls, he said the state will take a look at what can be done differently when children [...]

continue »

TIMELINE: Search for girls reported missing in Evansdale

Information from notes kept by Evansdale police, fire chief

Within minutes of authorities learning of the disappearance of Lyric Cook Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins, three Evansdale squad cars were scouring the area and checking the home. Within half an hour, the search mushroomed with four Black Hawk sheriff’s deputies and Evansdale firefighters joining the effort. Below is a timeline of the search for the [...]

continue »

A christmas tree has been decorated for Elizabeth Collins, 9 and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11, by friends and family, shown Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa. Hunters found two bodies believed to be missing cousins Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey at Seven Bridges County Park near Readlyn, Iowa on Wednesday. (MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor)

Social media stirs worldwide sympathy for abducted cousins

Several Facebook pages were dedicated to Lyric Cook Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins

EVANSDALE — Gary McGowan lives in Bozeman, Mont. He has never visited the Cedar Valley. But he watched a small Facebook discussion group turn into a nonstop army of action to find two young girls missing from Evansdale. He didn’t realize the power of the social networking website until he joined the effort after seeing [...]

continue »

Leah Miller and herson Jayden Ohlendorf, 7,  hang an ornament on a tree during a vigil for cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins last night in Evansdale. Authorities said theyþÄôre confident that two bodies found Wednesday are those of the girls, who had been missing since mid-July. (TIFFANY RUSHING/The Courier)

Police say they’re hoping to find ‘killer’ of missing Iowa cousins

Comments indicate case is transitioning to a homicide investigation

A sheriff investigating the apparent kidnapping and slaying of two Iowa cousins said Friday that the discovery of the young girls’ bodies is a long-awaited break in the case that could help find their killer. Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said investigators would be deliberate in pursuing the case of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth [...]

continue »

Messages of love and encouragement, as well as flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and candles are left at Meyers Lake, Saturday, July 21, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa, in honor of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, of Waterloo, Iowa, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, of Evansdale, who have been missing for over a week. FBI spokeswoman Sandy Breault said during a news conference that the FBI has found evidence which gives the agency reason to believe that the girls are still alive. The announcement comes just one day following the girls' disappearance re-classification from missing to abducted. (AP Photo/The Waterloo Courier, Dawn J. Sagert)

Officials “confident” that remains are those of missing cousins

State medical examiner’s office is still completing its investigation

EVANSDALE, Iowa— Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Capt. Rick Abben Thursday said police are confident the two bodies found in Seven Bridges wildlife area in Bremer County Wednesday are the missing cousins. In a short press conference Thursday afternoon, Abben said they still cannot officially say the bodies are the girls until the state medical examiner’s [...]

continue »