Dan Morrissey Arrested for Pre-trial Violations

By Jeff Reinitz, The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier

In a Tuesday, July 17, 2012 file photo, Misty and Dan Morrissey speak to the media near Meyers Lake where their daughter Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, disappeared, in Evansdale, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Feb 12, 2013 at 12:16 PM CDT

Story Updated: Feb 12, 2013 at 12:16 PM CDT

WATERLOO, Iowa — The father of one of the cousins abducted from Evansdale in July 2012 has been arrested for failing to keep appointments with a pre-trial probation officer and allegedly using drugs.

Daniel Morrissey, 36, father of Lyric Cook-Morrissey who disappeared in July and was found dead in December, has been on supervised release pending drug and domestic assault trials from incidents in 2011.

Court records allege he failed to comply with conditions of his release, and on Monday, he was arrested by Waterloo police.

“The defendant has struggled since his release from custody,” a Department of Correctional Services officer wrote in a report submitted to the court Monday. “Much of his days were consumed with the whereabouts and safety of his daughter.

The report indicates Morrissey tested positive for meth and marijuana as recently as Feb. 4. He disputed the results, and the test was sent to a lab for confirmation.

“Based on the fact the defendant continues to involve himself in drug use while pending charges involving manufacturing and delivering drugs, he should be considered a danger to the community and himself,” the report stated.

The report said Morrissey “sporadically” attended drug and mental health treatment, which were part of the release agreement, and sometimes failed to check in with his pre-trial release officer, court records state.

Morrissey was given the option of going to treatment or jail when he tested positive for meth and marijuana in September, and he entered inpatient treatment at Pathways. He finished inpatient on Oct. 24 but allegedly failed to attend follow-up appointments.

Shortly after the remains of his daughter and her cousin, Elizabeth Collins, were found at Seven Bridges Wildlife area on Dec. 5, Morrissey’ entered the Allen Hospital mental health facility to help him deal with the death, records state.