Search at Seven Bridges Park Ends as Investigation into Missing Cousins Continues

Authorities have concluded their search for evidence at the Seven Bridges Wilderness Area in Bremer County as the investigation into the case of two missing cousins from Evansdale continues.

Hunters found two bodies Dec. 5 at the wooded park in rural Bremer County. Authorities said last week they are "confident" the bodies are Elizabeth Collins, 9, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11. The girls disappeared while riding their bikes near Meyers Lake July 13.

An autopsy of the bodies has been completed, but any information gained from that examination has not yet been released. Many questions remain, including how and when the girls died and how long their bodies had been at the park, about 25 miles northeast of where they were last seen.

Authorities last week said they are leaning toward considering the case a homicide investigation.

Officials with the FBI, Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Evansdale police and the Black Hawk and Bremer County sheriff's departments combed the wilderness area for clues for three days before opening the park back up to the public.

Tips are still being sought from the public, with a $150,000 reward available for information that leads to an arrest and conviction in the case.

Anyone with any information should call the public tip-line at (319) 232-6682 or email OurMissingIowaGirls@dps.state.ia.us. They can also contact these tip lines: Crime Stoppers Hotline at (855) 300-8477, FBI tipline at (402) 493-8688, DCI tipline at (515) 725-6010.