Crime & Safety
Authorities Release Update on Evansdale Investigation
Authorities are still searching for any connection between Michael Klunder and the disappearance of Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey.
Authorities continue to look into the possibility of a connection between the kidnapping of two girls in Dayton and the abduction and murder of Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8.
Michael Klunder, the man authorities believe kidnapped Kathlynn Shepard, 15, and another girl in Webster County in May, committed suicide shortly after Shepard went missing. She has still not been found.
"With regards to any connection between Michael Klunder and the Evansdale case, investigators are still tracking his actions and whereabouts around the date of the disappearance and are still sifting through information to try and determine whether there is or is not any connection," said Capt. Rick Abben of the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office in a prepared statement.
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"Our focus remains on all aspects of the investigation, and he is not the sole focus of our attention," he said. "Other leads continue to be uncovered, and investigators continue to follow-up on any and all information that comes in."
A $150,000 award is available for information leading to the capture of those responsible for the deaths of Lyric and Elizabeth. Anyone with information is asked to call the Evansdale Police Department at 319-232-6682 or the Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers at 855-300-TIPS (8477).
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