Missing Evansdale Girls: Authorities 'Confident' Bodies Are Lyric and Elizabeth

Update:

Authorities said Thursday they are confident that two bodies discovered by hunters yesterday are the missing Evansdale cousins, Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 11, and Elizabeth Collins, 9.

The girls have been missing since July 13.

"At this time, law enforcement is confident based on evidence at the scene and preliminary investigation that the bodies found yesterday are those of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins," Capt. Rick Abben said, reading from a news release during a news conference at the Evansdale Police Station. "However, the results of the autopsy have not yet been made available to law enforcement, and the positive forensic identification of the bodies has not been made."

Here is a video of the full press conference.

A vigil will be held for the girls tonight from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. across from the Evansdale Police Station. People are encouraged to bring a pink ornament to help decorate a Christmas tree in their honor.

The case is being treated as an abduction, and authorities are leaning towards a homicide, but they will wait for information from the state medical examiner to make that determination.

Abben said the bodies were discovered at Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, a secluded park along the Wapsipinicon River in Bremer County about 25 miles from where the girls were last seen.

The park will remain closed until at least Monday.

Multiple agencies will conduct an investigation of that area. Abben said he is not sure if that area had been searched previously.

Leads are continuing to come in, and authorities are requesting any tips.

A $150,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the capture and conviction of those responsible.

Many questions remain unanswered, including how long the girls were at the location and when and how they died.

Previous coverage:

A second press conference will be held today about two bodies that hunters found and authorities have connected to the case of missing Evansdale girls.

went missing on July 13 near Meyers Lake in what authorities have described as an abduction.

Yesterday, Black Hawk County Sheriff's authorities announced hunters had found two bodies around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday in a wooded area. Capt. Rick Abben stopped short of confirming the bodies' identities as those of the missing girls. However, Heather Collins, the mother of Elizabeth Collins, said on Facebook the girls had died.

Authorities released few details on Wednesday, but immediately announced a second press conference, which will be at the Evansdale Police Station at 4 p.m. today.

On Wednesday, Abben said the bodies were being taken to the Office of the State Medical Examiner in Ankeny for positive identification. Abben did not release any information on the state of the bodies, the area where they were found or if there were any suspects.

On Thursday, Bremer County Sheriff Dewey Hildebrandt said the bodies were found in Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, a secluded park along the Wapsipinicon River about 25 miles from where the girls were last seen.

Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers continues to accept donations toward a reward fund for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the case. The current reward fund sits at more than $150,000. Donations can be made by calling 1-855-300TIPS.

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.

More coverage:

Bodies Discovered by Hunters May be Linked to Missing Evansdale Girls

Mother Confirms Missing Evansdale Girls Have Died

Sheriff: Bodies Linked to Evansdale Search Were Found in Bremer County Park