Case of murdered Evansdale cousins still unsolved 12 years after girls' bodies were found
Dec. 5, 2024, marks 12 years since hunters found the bodies of Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook, and investigators are still searching for who abducted and killed the Iowa cousins.
Eight-year-old Elizabeth and 10-year-old Lyric were riding bikes in Evansdale near a popular recreational area in the middle of town when they disappeared July 13, 2012. Investigators found their bikes and a pink purse near the lake hours later, but the two cousins were nowhere to be seen.
Hunters discovered Elizabeth and Lyric’s bodies in a remote wildlife area in Bremer County five months after they went missing. The area where their bodies were found was about 25 miles from where the girls were last seen.
"It's still devastating every day not to have her," Heather Collins, Elizabeth's mother and Lyric's aunt, said in a 2022 interview ahead of the 10th anniversary of their abduction.
Drew Collins also spoke to vlog on Dec. 5, 2024 — the 12th anniversary of when their bodies were found.
"Whoever did this is a monster," he said. "They shouldn't be out. They don't deserve to breathe free air. I don't want them to do this to another family, another child.
"Every day I wake up with this. It doesn't go away. I will never stop until I foind out who did this. They deserve justice. No matter what (the girls) didn't deserve this. Whoever did this needs to pay."
Authorities never revealed the cause of death to the public because they believe it is information only the killer would know.
Federal authorities and Evansdale police believe the killer is likely familiar with Evansdale and saw a window of opportunity to kidnap and kill the girls. Investigators said the culprit may also have attempted to abduct children in the past and may have tried to change their appearance after the girls’ deaths.
Lyric's parents, Dan and Misty Morrissey, have both received prison sentences for unrelated drug charges. At the time, their involvement with drugs fueled speculation. Authorities now say they do not believe Lyric’s parents were involved in the incident.
“I think people are confident in saying they didn't have an active role,” Mitch Mortvedt, head of field operations for the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said to vlog in a 2017 interview. “However, that doesn't rule out anything coming in in the future.”
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation said it has followed up on 2,000 leads in the case. They said they also monitor sex offenders in the Waterloo area and other surrounding areas.
Around 2017, investigators looked into Jeff Altmayer, who was charged with trying to entice children in Jasper, Monona and Grundy County by offering them 100 dollars to get in his van. Court records show he was working as a traveling automobile damage field inspector.
Two other people have confessed to the crime, but authorities eliminated them after finding out they did not know any intimate details about the case.
Investigators have also drawn comparisons to another crime that happened in Delphi, Indiana in 2017. The Indiana State Police compares notes with Iowa investigators but said despite similarities, there is no reason to believe the two cases are connected.
In the 11 years since this tragedy occurred, no arrests have been made.
Lyric and Elizabeth's families continue to get updates from state investigators. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation says the investigation is still active.
Meyers Lake is now called "Angels Park" and memorials for the girls are everywhere. To mark the 10-year anniversary, the city hosted a 10-mile ride and drive to raise money for .
A cold case foundation has also been established in honor of the Evansdale girls. The nonprofit organization dedicated to helping families of missing people started in 2022. The Elizabeth Collins Foundation partners with Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers to bring awareness to cold cases in hopes of garnering new tips and leads.
The reward to find the person who murdered Lyric and Elizabeth is now more than $100,000. If you have a tip, email the Division of Criminal Investigation at dciinfo@dps.state.ia.us or call the Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at (855) 300-8477.