Friendship, Community Spirit Overwhelm Tragedy on 1-Year Anniversary of Evansdale Abduction

When Evansdale cousins Lyric Cook-Morrissey, 10, and Elizabeth Collins, 8, were abducted one year ago, the community rallied. Hundreds of volunteers searched for them in the hours and days following their disappearance. As days turned to weeks, neighbors, friends and strangers alike plastered posters and pink ribbons across the state to raise awareness and keep the search alive.

On Dec. 5, devastating news came. Almost five months since Lyric and Elizabeth disappeared while riding their bikes near Meyers Lake in Evansdale on July 13, 2012, their bodies were discovered by hunters in the Seven Bridges Wilderness Area of Bremer County.

Even with the end of the hunt for the girls, community support has not waned.

Hundreds of motorcycles and cars drove a 125-mile route on a "Memorial Ride and Drive for the Girls," Saturday before meeting at Lofty's Lounge in Evansdale for food, music and fellowship.

The day's events raised money that will be split between Cedar Valley Crime Stoppers and a fund to build a memorial on an island, renamed Angels Park, in the middle of Meyers Lake.

Angels Park organizers said they want the spirit of support to reach beyond honoring Lyric and Elizabeth. The memorial will also also honor Iowa murder victims Lindsay Nichols, Evelyn Miller and Donnisha Hill.

But most at Saturday's event said raising money was a secondary concern.

Tom Nichols, Lindsay Nichols' father, said he remembers the difficulty of the one-year anniversary of his daughter's death. He hoped Saturday's memorial celebration helped Heather and Drew Collins, the parents of Elizabeth and aunt and uncle of Lyric, as well as the rest of the girls' families, deal with the day.

"Today means more than just the community coming together - it means seeing Heather and Drew smile," said Megan Hall, who helped organize the event. "On a day that could be painful and sad - just to see what they have around them - it means a lot."

Heather thanked everyone for coming.

"We can't really say it enough," she said. "As hard as it was, just to have everybody around us - basically, everybody is our friend."