Authorities Investigate Possible Links Between Missing Girls, Attempted Abduction

KCRG/Gazette/Courier Staff Reports

Buttons or offered at Creative Impact to help search efforts for Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, Tuesday, July 17, 2012, in Evansdale, Iowa. (MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor)

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By Ellen Kurt

Story Created: Aug 1, 2012 at 1:09 PM CDT

Story Updated: Dec 11, 2012 at 12:30 PM CDT

EVANSDALE, Iowa - Authorities investigating the disappearance of two cousins in Evansdale last month said there are currently no indications that the case is connected to an attempted abduction in Cedar Rapids on Tuesday.

Kent Smock, chief of the Evansdale Police Department, said he is aware of Tuesday’s attempted snatching of a 5-year-old boy who was riding his bike.

He said his department also looks into other kidnapping and missing children reports from across the nation for possible parallels with the disappearance of Elizabeth Collins, 9, and Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10.

Both girls were last seen riding their bikes in Evansdale on July 13. The bikes and a purse were later found near the Meyers Lake bike path.

Authorities have called their disappearance an abduction.

On Tuesday, Cedar Rapids police were called to an attempted abduction at about 5:30 p.m. in the 7500 block of Kirkwood Boulevard S.W.

A boy was riding his bike on a sidewalk when a white 1990s Chevrolet Astro van pulled up next to him. A man jumped out of the van and grabbed the boy, and a woman attempted to take his bike, according to Cedar Rapids police.

The boy’s father, who was following on a motorcycle, saw the commotion and began yelling, and the assailants dropped the boy and the bike and fled.

Police said they were informed about the incident three hours later.

The man was described as a white male was in his 30s with short brown hair, about 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. The other suspect is described as a white female was in her 20s, thin build, shoulder length brown hair and a tattoo on the thumb web of her left hand.

A third person, who was driving the van, was described as a white male with glasses and a larger build.

Waterloo police are also aware of the Cedar Rapids incident. There have been no similar reports in the Waterloo area.