(Update) Officials: No Connection Between Abduction in Evansdale and Attempts in Cedar Rapids and Marion

Update

for abducted cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey and Elizabeth Collins from Evansdale. No evidence connecting that case with the Cedar Rapids-area incidents or another, has been made public by authorities. The Dubuque incident was investigated by police who said they questioned a man but did not press charges.

However, the Cedar Rapids Gazette reported today that the FBI confirmed an alert in Evansdale on Wednesday was sparked by a reported kidnapping attempt in Cedar Rapids.

Authorities released surveillance photos last night from Casey's gas station in Evansdale, showing a man and a white van there on the day the girls disappeared. The shortly after the photos were circulated. Authorities said he is not a suspect and cooperated fully, and no connection was found to the attempt in Cedar Rapids or the Evansdale case.

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

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

Previous coverage

Marion Police said there appears to be no connection to a recent Cedar Rapids kidnapping attempt and a strange incident that occurred in Marion last week.

Last week a white van reportedly approached a boy in Marion and asked him if he wanted candy. The man made no contact with the boy, who immediately rode away on his bike.

Lt. Scott Elam said that with the evidence they have, there is little to connect the two incidents, aside from a white van being involved in both cases.

The Cedar Rapids incident occurred last Tuesday, late in the afternoon, when a father of a Cedar Rapids boy said he stopped a van with three riders from abducting the boy while he was on his bike.

Despite being no clear connection, Elam said the police department received numerous calls from residents who claimed to see a white van in their neighborhood.

If you have any information concerning either case, be sure to call Cedar Rapids Crimestoppers at (319) 286-5439.