Woes Beyond Girls' Disappearance Following Family of Missing Evansdale Cousins

Dan Morrissey, the father of Lyric Cook-Morrisey, appeared in Black Hawk County District Court Friday.

His appearance was unrelated to the disappearance of Lyric, 10, or her cousin, Elizabeth Collins, 8, of Evansdale. They have been missing since July 13.

Morrissey, 36, is being held for trial in four cases, three related to drug charges, including manufacturing and dealing methamphetamines. He is also charged with assault against his estranged wife, Misty Morrissey, Lyric's mother.

A trial date had been set for Tuesday, but District Court Judge Andrea Dryer rescheduled that today, possibly for August 28, the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reported .

She said Morrissey could have more time to prepare for the trial, given the situation of his missing daughter.

Authorities have said neither he nor Misty Morrissey, who also has a criminal record, are suspects in the girls' disappearance, though both were subjected to multiple polygraph tests. Misty Morrissey has said she was yelled at for hours during an interrogation.

Meanwhile, the girls' uncle, Jeremiah Cook, 32, was reportedly in stable condition Friday at Allen Hospital in Waterloo after an apparent Thursday night overdose.

Wylma Cook, the girls' grandmother, told the Associated Press the disappearance of the cousins had, "taken a toll," on her son, whom she said was close to the girls. She did not say what he had overdosed on.

A $50,000 award has been offered for anyone who can provide information leading to the recovery of the cousins.

Anyone with any information should call the tip line at (319) 232-6682.