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

[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.

I thought so too, Amys Sister.

[grace-land]

http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/father-of-slain-girl-does-not-get-supervised-release/article_87d4f03e-7fc0-11e2-add9-001a4bcf887a.html

Father of slain girl does not get supervised release
2 hours ago
 
WATERLOO, Iowa — A judge did not reinstate supervised release for Daniel Morrissey, but the bond amount has been lowered.

Morrissey, 36, the father of one of the abducted cousins from Evansdale, is scheduled to stand trial for drug charges starting Monday in Scott County District Court in Davenport.

He was arrested earlier this month for failing to keep appointments with a pretrial probation officer and allegedly using drugs.
 ::snipping2::
Morrissey, 36, is the father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, who disappeared while riding bikes with her younger cousin, Elizabeth Collins, in Evansdale in July. Their bodies were found in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles away in December. Police continue to investigate their apparent kidnapping and slaying, and no one has been charged or named as a suspect.

[Kermit]

http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/father-of-slain-girl-does-not-get-supervised-release/article_87d4f03e-7fc0-11e2-add9-001a4bcf887a.html

Father of slain girl does not get supervised release
2 hours ago
 
WATERLOO, Iowa — A judge did not reinstate supervised release for Daniel Morrissey, but the bond amount has been lowered.

Morrissey, 36, the father of one of the abducted cousins from Evansdale, is scheduled to stand trial for drug charges starting Monday in Scott County District Court in Davenport.

He was arrested earlier this month for failing to keep appointments with a pretrial probation officer and allegedly using drugs.
 ::snipping2::
Morrissey, 36, is the father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, who disappeared while riding bikes with her younger cousin, Elizabeth Collins, in Evansdale in July. Their bodies were found in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles away in December. Police continue to investigate their apparent kidnapping and slaying, and no one has been charged or named as a suspect.

Scary that the sicko is still out there

[grace-land]

http://qctimes.com/news/state-and-regional/iowa/father-of-slain-girl-does-not-get-supervised-release/article_87d4f03e-7fc0-11e2-add9-001a4bcf887a.html

Father of slain girl does not get supervised release
2 hours ago
 
WATERLOO, Iowa — A judge did not reinstate supervised release for Daniel Morrissey, but the bond amount has been lowered.

Morrissey, 36, the father of one of the abducted cousins from Evansdale, is scheduled to stand trial for drug charges starting Monday in Scott County District Court in Davenport.

He was arrested earlier this month for failing to keep appointments with a pretrial probation officer and allegedly using drugs.
 ::snipping2::
Morrissey, 36, is the father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, who disappeared while riding bikes with her younger cousin, Elizabeth Collins, in Evansdale in July. Their bodies were found in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles away in December. Police continue to investigate their apparent kidnapping and slaying, and no one has been charged or named as a suspect.

Scary that the sicko is still out there

 

[grace-land]

http://wcfcourier.com/news/evansdale_search/new-details-dan-morrissey-pleads-guilty-to-drug-charges/article_5fabca9e-82b1-11e2-969a-001a4bcf887a.html

NEW DETAILS: Dan Morrissey pleads guilty to drug charges
19 hours ago 

WATERLOO, Iowa --- The father of one of the missing cousins pleaded guilty Friday to drug charges that could land him in prison for more than two centuries.

Daniel Morrissey's plea canceled a trial that had been scheduled to begin in Davenport on Monday.

But legal troubles appear to be far from over for Morrissey, who is the father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey, who disappeared in July and was found dead in December with her cousin Elizabeth Collins.

Assistant County Attorney Brad Walz said Friday's plea didn't include any charges that could come from a pending narcotics investigation. Walz declined to elaborate in the ongoing probe.

The plea also didn't include misdemeanor domestic violence charges, which are still set for trial, although a date hasn't been set.

Morrissey, 36, of Waterloo, opted to enter guilty pleas to seven meth and marijuana felonies.

“I’m tired of fighting ... I just want to take responsibility for what I’ve done,” Morrissey said.

Morrissey’s drug charges stemmed from three cases and included possession of meth and marijuana with intent to deliver, conspiracy to manufacture meth, possession of meth and marijuana and possession of lithium and pseudophedrine with intent to make meth.

The incidents occurred in October 2011, December 2011 and July 2011 before the girls disappeared. Morrissey had been slated to plead to the charges in July 2012, a day before the disappearance, but changed his mind. The court later granted a change of venue to Davenport because of pre-trial publicity surrounding the missing cousins.

Sentencing will be at a later date.
 ::snipping2::

[grace-land]

http://whotv.com/2013/03/05/date-set-dan-morrissey-sentencing/

DATE SET: Dan Morrissey Sentencing
Posted on: 3:38 pm, March 5, 2013

 ::snipping2::
Court records now show he’ll be sentenced on May 13th.
 
Morrissey is the father of Lyric Cook. Cook and her cousin, Elizabeth Collins, disappeared last July while riding their bikes in Evansdale. Hunters found their bodies in a Bremer County park in December.
 
No one has been charged in the disappearance or murder of the girls.

[grace-land]

http://cedarfalls.patch.com/articles/daniel-morrissey-father-of-abducted-evansdale-girl-faces-additional-drug-charges

Daniel Morrissey, Father of Abducted Evansdale Girl, Faces Additional Drug Charges
10:05 am

Daniel Morrissey, the father of murdered Evansdale girl Lyric Cook-Morrissey, was back in court Friday, facing additional drug charges, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported.

In March, he pleaded guilty to seven drug felonies involving methamphetamine and marijuana. On Friday he was additionally charged with:
• Conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of a simulated methamphetamine, Class C felonies
•Ongoing criminal conduct, a Class B felony
•Possession of ephedrine, third-offense possession of methamphetamine and third-offense possession of marijuana, Call D felonies.
 ::snipping2::

[grace-land]

http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/slain-iowa-girl-s-dad-faces-new-drug-charges/article_bf2b43fe-9ac2-11e2-8fe7-0019bb2963f4.html

Slain Iowa girl's dad faces new drug charges
4 hours ago

 ::snipping2::
Police continue to investigate their apparent kidnapping and slaying of the girls, and no one has been charged or named as a suspect. Morrissey has denied any involvement.

Morrissey pleaded guilty to seven meth and marijuana felonies earlier this month, so he's already facing significant prison time. Morrissey said he was tired of fighting those charges and wanted to take responsibility.

Morrissey made an initial appearance on the new charges Friday. He could receive an enhanced sentence on the new charges because of his record.

Morrissey remains jailed while awaiting his May 13 sentencing on the charges he pleaded guilty to and is awaiting additional hearings on the new charges.

[Sister]

http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/slain-iowa-girl-s-dad-faces-new-drug-charges/article_bf2b43fe-9ac2-11e2-8fe7-0019bb2963f4.html

Slain Iowa girl's dad faces new drug charges
4 hours ago

 ::snipping2::
Police continue to investigate their apparent kidnapping and slaying of the girls, and no one has been charged or named as a suspect. Morrissey has denied any involvement.

Morrissey pleaded guilty to seven meth and marijuana felonies earlier this month, so he's already facing significant prison time. Morrissey said he was tired of fighting those charges and wanted to take responsibility.

Morrissey made an initial appearance on the new charges Friday. He could receive an enhanced sentence on the new charges because of his record.

Morrissey remains jailed while awaiting his May 13 sentencing on the charges he pleaded guilty to and is awaiting additional hearings on the new charges.

BBM
that's a good thing -- taking responsibility.

[Kermit]

....I'm wondering if the father did it.

[Sister]

....I'm wondering if the father did it.

Kermit, I'm not getting that feeling . . . but I have been mistaken before.
 ::justice2NJ::

[grace-land]

  

Video at the link

http://whotv.com/2013/05/04/murdered-girl-elizabeth-collins-buried/

ELIZABETH BURIED: Mourners Attend Funeral
Posted on: 6:20 am, May 4, 2013, by Sam Hoyle, updated on: 06:32pm, May 4, 2013

The second of two eastern Iowa cousins abducted and killed last year was finally laid to rest Saturday morning.

It’s been ten months since Elizabeth Collins and her cousin Lyric Cook went missing while riding their bikes near Meyers Lake in Evansdale.

Five months later, two hunters found the girls bodies in a wooded area of Bremer County.

Investigators have not announced any suspects or released the cause of deaths.

Elizabeth’s parents, Drew and Heather, held a public burial service at Waterloo Memorial Park Cemetery.

More than one hundred people offered their support to the Collins family.

“It’s excruciating. It’s hard. I mean anytime you bury a child especially it’s hard, but when you bury a child under these circumstances it’s even harder,” said mom, Heather. “I think the healing process will really happen when this person’s found. I think that’ll become more of a closure.”

The family held a private burial for Elizabeth’s cousin, Lyric Cook, last month.
 

[MuffyBee]

     Rest in peace, Elizabeth and Lyric.

I hope there will be justice for the two little angels.   

[grace-land]

   Rest in peace, Elizabeth and Lyric.

I hope there will be justice for the two little angels.   

  

[grace-land]

http://wcfcourier.com/news/evansdale_search/new-trial-date-set-for-dan-morrissey/article_454143a0-bd67-11e2-bea0-001a4bcf887a.html

New trial date set for Dan Morrissey
8 hours ago

WATERLOO, Iowa--- Trials have been set for July for the father of one of two cousins abducted from Evansdale last year.

Daniel Eugene Morrissey, 36, of Waterloo, is currently awaiting trial for domestic assault and drug charges unrelated to the disappearance of his daughter, Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10.

Trial for the charges has been set for July 8 in Davenport, and it wasn’t immediately clear which case will proceed first. Morrissey remains in custody at the Black Hawk County Jail.

Authorities allege Morrissey assaulted his wife, Misty Cook, in August 2011. The drugs charges stem for incidents between December 2012 and February 2013. He pleaded not guilty to the drug charges last month.

Morrissey is also awaiting sentencing on other drug charges, which were filed in 2011. He pleaded guilty to those charges in March 2013.
 

[MuffyBee]

http://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Iowa-kidnapping-suspect-probed-in-cousins-deaths-4542951.php
Iowa kidnapping suspect probed in cousins' deaths
May 23, 2013

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The man suspected of kidnapping a still-missing 15-year-old Iowa girl and her friend as they walked home from school is being scrutinized in last year's unsolved kidnapping of two young cousins whose bodies were found 100 miles away.

One reason investigators are interested: It's extremely rare to abduct multiple children at once, and police say Michael J. Klunder has done that at least twice.

Investigators were scouring an area in central Iowa Thursday in their search for Kathlynn Shepard, who along with a 12-year-old friend disappeared Monday. The younger girl was able to escape and told investigators she and Kathlynn had accepted a ride from a stranger.

Authorities say that stranger was Klunder, who spent two decades in prison after kidnapping two 3-year-old girls and a 21-year-old woman in 1991. He committed suicide Monday night.

Police Chief Kent Smock of Evansdale — where cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins vanished while riding their bikes last July — said stranger abductions involving more than one child being taken at the same time are "very, very rare." He said the similarities between the two Iowa cases have captured the attention of local, state and federal agents looking for the cousins' killer.

"They're looking into it and keeping us updated," Tammy Brousseau, the cousins' aunt, said Thursday. "I really hope that it's him. My fear all along was that this person was out there and could harm another child. Now we have another missing little girl, and I really do hope that it's him."

Meanwhile, the 12-year-old who survived Monday's abduction relayed her story to the local newspaper, the Dayton Leader, and Iowa Public Radio. She said she wanted her friend to be found alive.

She said Klunder asked them if they wanted to make money mowing lawns and promised to give them a ride home so they could ask their parents. She said she knew something was wrong when they ended up at a hog confinement.

She said she escaped Klunder's pickup truck when he took Kathlynn to another part of the property, explaining that she ran through the woods and past a cemetery until she found farmers and called for help.

Lyric and Elizabeth, who were 10 and 8 when they disappeared, were found dead in a wooded wildlife area in Bremer County in December, about 25 miles from where they were last seen. Smock acknowledged investigators were aware of Klunder's ties to the county, where Klunder once lived in a home for troubled youth.

"We're looking under every log, every rock, everything that could lead to a connection or disconnection," he said.
More...

[grace-land]

I'm not sure if there is a connection; but if there is evidence from the scene/autopsies that establishes a connection between the two cases to Klunder, it is a welcomed resolution for the families of Elizabeth and Lyric.  Still waiting and hoping for positive developments.
 

[grace-land]

http://www.press-citizen.com/viewart/20130529/NEWS01/130529005/Police-examine-Klunder-in-Iowa-cousins-slayings?Local%20News

Police examine Klunder in Iowa cousins' slayings
May 29, 2013 10:27 AM

An Iowa police chief says he hopes to know next week whether sex offender Michael Klunder is linked to the abduction and slaying of two cousins who vanished last year while riding bikes.

Evansdale Chief Kent Smock said Wednesday investigators are trying to retrace Klunder's steps from July, when 10-year-old Lyric Cook and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins were abducted. Their bodies were found in December.
 
Smock said investigators were getting subpoenas for Klunder's phone records and seeking other information. He says he hopes to announce next week whether Klunder is believed to be responsible or uninvolved.

[grace-land]

http://www.kcrg.com/news/crime/Investigators-Still-Probing-Possible-Klunder-Evansdale-murder-connection-210625381.html

Investigators Still Probing Possible Klunder, Evansdale Murder Connection
Story Created: Jun 7, 2013 at 3:34 PM CDT 
(Story Updated: Jun 7, 2013 at 3:55 PM CDT  )

BLACK HAWK COUNTY, Iowa -- Investigators are still probing whether Michael Klunder, a registered sex offender who authorities say kidnapped two central Iowa girls last month before hanging himself, was involved in the murders of two eastern Iowa cousins last year.

“Investigators are still tracking his actions and whereabouts around the date of the disappearance and are sifting through information to try and determine whether there is or is not any connection,” Rick Abben, Black Hawk County Sheriff's chief deputy, said in a statement Friday.

Klunder, 42, of Stratford, abducted two Dayton girls May 20 as they got off the school bus. One girl escaped, but 15-year-old Kathlynn Shepard is still missing. Klunder hanged himself the evening of May 20. Investigators found Kathlynn's blood on his body, truck and at the hog confinement facility where he took the girls.

The case bears similarities to the July abduction of Elizabeth Collins, 8, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, from Evansdale. The cousins’ bodies were found in December in a wildlife area in Bremer County.

Investigators started last month looking through old evidence, reports and information about Klunder, including his cellphone records, to see whether he could be linked to the Evansdale murders. Officials have declined to say whether DNA evidence was found with Elizabeth’s and Lyric’s bodies.

"We don't want to reveal information that jeopardizes our investigation," Evansdale Police Chief Kent Smock said last month.
 

[grace-land]

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/2013/06/24/evansdale-authorities-release-new-eye-witness-information-ask-for-publics-help/article

Evansdale investigators release new eye witness information, ask for public’s help
12:59 PM, Jun 24, 2013

Authorities today released new information about eye-witness reports from the day two eastern Iowa cousins disappeared last summer.

Witnesses have reported seeing a white older-model full-size SUV-type vehicle parked at or near Meyers Lake in Evansdale on July 13, the day Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, went missing from the town. Their bikes were found that afternoon on a bike trail along the lake and their bodies were found about five months later, on Dec. 5, in a Bremer County wildlife area about 20 miles north of where the girls disappeared.

Officials said in a press release today they would like to talk with the person or people in the vehicle, which was reportedly seen along Arbutus Street. They would also like to speak with “anyone who knows who may have been (at) or frequented Meyers Lake in a vehicle similar to that described.”

The vehicle could be a Chevy Suburban, Ford Bronco or something similar, officials said.

The person is not considered a suspect or person of interest but may have information important to the investigation, the press release stated.

Authorities have released little information surrounding the cousins’ abductions and murders as they continue to search for the person or people responsible.