Drug Trial Delayed for Father of Missing Evansdale Girl

Misty and Dan Morrissey speak to the media near Meyers Lake where their daughter Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, disappeared last Friday, Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa. The girls' bikes were found Friday afternoon near a bike trail at the edge of the lake. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Tools

By Liz Blood

Story Created: Nov 9, 2012 at 7:18 PM CDT

Story Updated: Nov 9, 2012 at 7:18 PM CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa (AP) — The drug trial of the father of one of two missing Iowa cousins has been delayed until next month.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier says Black Hawk County court officials say Daniel Morrissey's trial, which had been set for Tuesday, was delayed on Friday until Dec. 11.

The delay came as the defense renewed its efforts to have the trial moved, citing publicity about the girls' disappearance.

Morrissey is the father of Lyric Cook, who disappeared with her cousin, Elizabeth Collins, while riding bikes in Evansdale on July 13. Lyric has turned 11 and Elizabeth has turned 9 since they went missing. The FBI believes the girls were abducted.

Morrissey was set to reach a plea bargain to meth charges the day before the girls' disappearance, but changed his mind.