Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10 missing 7/13/12 Evansdale, IA

[grace-land]

http://www.radioiowa.com/2012/12/21/additional-reward-being-offered-for-info-on-northeast-iowa-cousins/

Additional reward being offered for info on northeast Iowa cousins
December 21, 2012

 ::snipping2::
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 .

[KittyMom]

These are sad economic times.  Let's hope someone decides it is worth it to talk.

[MuffyBee]

Thanks for these updates grace-land.
 

You're welcome, Sister.  I get the feeling that it was a planned kidnapping--a "message" to someone?  To whom?  Why?

   I agree with you grace-land.  Perhaps we'll have answers to the questions soon. 

[grace-land]

http://www.kwwl.com/story/20435297/2012/12/27/cousins-make-bracelets-and-donate-proceeds-to-crime-stoppers

Cousins make bracelets and donate proceeds to Crime Stoppers
Posted: Dec 27, 2012 3:21 PM CST

WATERLOO (KWWL) -
Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers continues to get tips in the investigation into the disappearance and deaths of Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins.  The Crime Stoppers reward fund has now surpassed $20,000.  Two young Waterloo girls are among reward fund donors hoping to make a difference.

Taylor Stefancik and Breann Minikus are becoming pros at braiding and twisting friendship bracelets.  Over the past several weeks, the cousins have made more than a hundred of them. All this bracelet making started because these two young girls, ages 10 and 11, wanted to do something for missing Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins.
 ::snipping2::
 

[grace-land]

http://www.kwwl.com/story/20434610/2012/12/27/no-media-allowed-at-service-says-family-of-lyric-cook

No media allowed at service, says family of Lyric Cook
Posted: Dec 27, 2012 1:36 PM CST

CEDAR FALLS (KWWL) -
The family of Lyric Cook has now asked media to stay off the premises of Heartland Vineyard Church during a service for the slain girl.
 
Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls emailed KWWL and several area media outlets Thursday afternoon on behalf of the family of Lyric Cook to request that media not be on the church property during Lyric's service Saturday.
 
Here is the statement emailed to media outlets:

"The family of Lyric Cook-Morrissey has requested that no media be on the premises of Heartland Vineyard Church for the Celebration of Lyric's Life being held Saturday, December 29th from 2 - 5:30 p.m. Thank you for honoring their request."

KWWL had originally planned to cover Lyric's service in the same manner as the service of Lyric's cousin, Elizabeth Collins, which included a live remote and an online live stream of the public event on December 13.
 
Heartland Vineyard Church says the service is open to the public.
 ::snipping2::

[grace-land]

 

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20121229/NEWS/312290063/?odyssey=nav%7Chead

UPDATE: Mourners honor Lyric Cook-Morrissey's short life
A celebration of life service is held for the 10-year-old
7:39 PM, Dec 29, 2012

CEDAR FALLS, IA. — In Lyric Cook-Morrissey’s family, goodbyes always end with a hug, a kiss and an “I love you,” relatives say.

On Saturday afternoon, loved ones, friends and neighbors said goodbye for the final time to a girl who loved singing with her cousins, swimming with her mom and having sleepovers with her friends from school.

Dozens of people streamed in and out of the Heartland Vineyard Church in Cedar Falls, past trees bearing pink ribbons that have become commonplace following the July 13 disappearance of Lyric and her cousin Elizabeth Collins from the nearby Black Hawk County town of Evansdale. Family members requested that reporters not attend the service.
 ::snipping2::
Authorities have said they’re close to classifying the case as a homicide but will not do so until the State Medical Examiner’s Office identifies the cause of death.

Investigators said they hoped the discovery of the girls’ bodies would provide evidence that furthered the case.

Smock, in an interview Friday, said he had no updates on the progress of the investigation. But he agreed that finding the perpetrators is critical for the town’s healing.
 ::snipping2::
Lyric lived with her grandmother Wylma Cook for much of her short life. Reminders of the girl are everywhere in Cook’s modest two-story home on Waterloo’s east side, from her art projects on the fridge to stuffed animals in the bedroom the two shared.

For Cook, night time is the hardest. That’s when she and Lyric would sit in bed, hold hands and talk. Lyric’s stuffed dog, Max, still rests on her side of the bed.

Cook said Lyric’s custom-made urn will bear a phrase the two used to share each night before falling asleep: “I love you, good night.”

[KittyMom]

I just pray that there is dna or other clues that lead investigators to the perp.

[MuffyBee]

I just pray that there is dna or other clues that lead investigators to the perp.

Me too, KittyMom. 

[grace-land]

http://www.indystar.com/article/D2/20130102/NEWS/301020070/Cause-Evansdale-cousins-deaths-will-kept-confidential

Cause of Evansdale cousins' deaths will be kept confidential
Iowa law will allow doing so if there's a risk of jeopardizing the investigation
8:36 PM, Jan 2, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Details of when and how the cousins were killed will remain confidential as the investigation into their deaths continues, Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock said Wednesday.

“Part of that is, the only people that are going to know this information are the people who are responsible,” Smock said. “At least until somebody is arrested and we’re comfortable with that, that’s information we’ll keep confidential.”

Smock and other officials are still waiting for information from the Iowa state medical examiner’s office, and the case has not legally been ruled homicide, though Smock said investigators are treating it as one.

Family members have said they were told by law enforcement officials that the girls most likely were killed within a few days of their disappearance, but authorities have declined to say whether that is the case.

The girls’ bodies have not yet been released to their families, officials said.

Dennis Klein, a deputy state medical examiner, said most of the work on the bodies has been completed but there are still some tests being conducted.
 ::snipping2::
Smock said Wednesday that authorities were continuing to follow leads in the case as they wait for autopsy results.

“It’s not hampering us at all, but it is additional information that we’re looking forward to getting and putting with the case,” he said.

Authorities have declined to comment on suspects in the case or evidence found at the crime scene.
 ::snipping2::

[Sister]

How tragic, tragic, tragic!

[grace-land]

How tragic, tragic, tragic!

 

[grace-land]

http://wcfcourier.com/news/evansdale_search/daniel-morrissey-trial-set-for-march-in-davenport/article_060aefd2-61a1-11e2-af05-0019bb2963f4.html

Daniel Morrissey trial set for March in Davenport
9 hours ago  (January 18, 2013)

WATERLOO, Iowa --- The trial for the father of one of two abducted Evansdale cousins has been slated for March.

Court officials scheduled Daniel Morrissey’s methamphetamine possession trial for 9 a.m. March 4 at the Scott County Court House in Davenport. A pre-trial conference will be in mid-February.

Morrissey, father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, was granted a change of venue out of Black Hawk County because of pre-trial publicity surrounding the disappearance and death of his daughter and his niece, Elizabeth Collins.

The charges aren't connected with the disappearance. Morrissey had been awaiting trial for drug and domestic abuse charges before the disappearance.
 ::snipping2::
No arrests have been made in their deaths.

[grace-land]

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/hearing-in-jessica-ridgeways-death-to-remain-closed-t-public-media

Hearing in Jessica Ridgeway's death to remain closed t public, media
Posted: 01/19/2013
Last Updated: 6 days ago

GOLDEN, Colo. - A judge is denying the media's requests for access to a key hearing for a teen accused of killing 10-year-old Jessica Ridgeway and attacking a jogger.

Judge Stephen Munsinger ruled Friday that the preliminary hearing for Austin Sigg will remain closed to the public to ensure Sigg has a fair trial and to protect the privacy of the alleged victims and their families.

Munsinger had ruled earlier the hearing would be closed so that reports of the hearing wouldn't influence potential jurors. On Friday, he denied requests from prosecutors and media organizations including The Associated Press to reconsider.
 ::snipping2::

[grace-land]

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Officials-to-Rename-Evansdale-Park-Trail-for-Cousins-189900441.html

Officials to Rename Park, Trail for Cousins Abducted from Evansdale
Story Created: Feb 5, 2013 at 3:54 PM CST
(Story Updated: Feb 5, 2013 at 10:43 PM CST )

EVANSDALE, Iowa - The City of Evansdale is honoring the memory of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins by renaming areas of Meyers Lake. The two girls were abducted last July and their bodies were found in December. To date, no one has been arrested for their deaths. Now, the trail that runs around the lake is now known as the "Trail of Angels". The park that sits next to the lake will be known as "Angels' Park".
 ::snipping2::
The city has also declared July 13th as Lyric and Elizabeth day. You can make a donation at First Security State Bank, in Evansdale or Cedar Falls, or at any Veridian Credit Union to the “Angels Memorial Fund”.

[Sister]

[grace-land]

Documents at link

http://www.kwwl.com/story/21136773/2013/02/12/dan-morrissey-tests-positive-for-drugs-multiple-times-back-in-jail

Dan Morrissey arrested after multiple failed drug tests, parole violations
Posted: Feb 12, 2013 12:10 PM CST

WATERLOO (KWWL) -
A series of failed drug tests and missed appointments at a drug rehabilitation center and mental health center has sent the father of one of two murdered Evansdale girls to jail.
 
Dan Morrissey, 36, of Waterloo, and the father of the late Lyric Cook, was arrested Monday and is currently being held in the Black Hawk County Jail after his bond was revoked because of multiple parole violations.
 
Those violations include testing positive for methamphetamine and marijuana on July 23 and Sept. 19, and testing positive for meth, marijuana and amphetamines on Feb. 4.
 
"Based on the fact the defendant continues to involve himself in drug use while pending charges involving manufacturing and delivering drugs, he should be considered a danger to the community and himself," probation officers Sandra Brockney and Michael Schreck wrote in a Department of Corrections report Monday.
 
The officers recommended that Morrissey's pre-trial release be terminated and a warrant be issued for his arrest -- which police carried out Monday.
::snipping2::

 

[grace-land]

http://cedarfalls.patch.com/articles/sheriff-5-full-time-investigators-working-on-lyric-and-elizabeth-murder-investigation

Sheriff: 5 Full-Time Investigators Working on Lyric and Elizabeth Murder Case
February 13, 2013

Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said there are five full-time investigators still working on the investigation into the deaths of Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey, and Elizabeth Collins, KWWL reported.

The conversation took place at a Sheriff's Town Hall meeting in Evansdale Tuesday.

Lyric, 10, and Elizabeth, 8, were kidnapped in July. The girls disappeared while riding their bikes near Meyers Lake in Evansdale July 13. Their bodies were found by hunters in Seven Bridges Wilderness Area in rural Bremer County Dec. 5.

No suspects have been named, and since the investigation is ongoing, the authorities have not released how or when the girls died.
 ::snipping2::

[Sister]

I sure hope they find something soon.

[grace-land]

I sure hope they find something soon.

I hope so, too, Sister.  It's good that he is arrested...wouldn't want anything to happen to him before the trial.  jmo
 

[Amys Sister]

http://cedarfalls.patch.com/articles/sheriff-5-full-time-investigators-working-on-lyric-and-elizabeth-murder-investigation

Sheriff: 5 Full-Time Investigators Working on Lyric and Elizabeth Murder Case
February 13, 2013

Black Hawk County Sheriff Tony Thompson said there are five full-time investigators still working on the investigation into the deaths of Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey, and Elizabeth Collins, KWWL reported.

The conversation took place at a Sheriff's Town Hall meeting in Evansdale Tuesday.

Lyric, 10, and Elizabeth, 8, were kidnapped in July. The girls disappeared while riding their bikes near Meyers Lake in Evansdale July 13. Their bodies were found by hunters in Seven Bridges Wilderness Area in rural Bremer County Dec. 5.

No suspects have been named, and since the investigation is ongoing, the authorities have not released how or when the girls died.
 ::snipping2::

That's a lot of man power.  Makes me think LE has good evidence they are working off of.  The timing of taking the father into custody is also interesting.