EVANSDALE, IOWA – A Press conference was held Tuesday in Evansdale regarding progress in the investigation into the murders of two cousins – Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins – who vanished in July of 2012, prompting a massive search that ended in December of that year.
From Evansdale Chief of Police Kent Smock:
As previously reported, we traveled to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children last week to discuss this investigation. We met with a group of experts from the National Center, the FBI, NCIS, and United States Marshals Service and engaged in lengthy discussions about this crime. In the end, the experts were very impressed with our investigative efforts to date and are committed to assisting us in this investigation until justice is served for Lyric and Elizabeth.
Despite tens of thousands of hours of investigative work by the Evansdale Police Department, Iowa DCI, FBI, Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office, Waterloo Police Department, Cedar Falls Police Department, Black Hawk County Attorney’s Office, Bremer County Sheriff’s Office and Bremer County Attorney’s Office and countless other local and state law enforcement agencies, this case remains unsolved.
However, this case is an open and very active investigation with a team of investigators from all of these agencies following up on every lead received. That said, the answer is still out there and we are confident that a member of our community can help us. We are here today asking for your help.
Every single person in the room at the National Center remarked on the importance of Seven Bridges Wildlife Area in this investigation. As many of you know, Elizabeth and Lyric’s remains were found in the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area on December 5, 2012.
I am a lifelong resident of this community. I was born and raised right here in Evansdale, Iowa. I think you will all agree with me that Seven Bridges is extremely remote and you must know it is there to get there. We have no doubt that the person or persons responsible for this crime are very familiar with Seven Bridges.
We are asking that everyone think about anyone they know who is familiar with Seven Bridges. At some point in their life, they may have hunted there. They may have fished there. At some point in their life, they may have camped there. They may have gone there to “party” when they were younger. They may have gone mushroom hunting there. We want to know about anyone who is familiar with Seven Bridges.
I know I am asking a lot from you all to call us about a person you know. We will leave no stone unturned in eliminating those who are not responsible. Remember why we are doing this. The families of these girls from our community deserve closure. And, more importantly, Elizabeth and Lyric deserve to rest in peace.
