MISSING GIRLS: Lake Reopens To Public

The Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office made the announcement Friday afternoon that they believe the two missing girls in Evansdale were abducted. 

During a news conference Friday, the Chief Deputy told reporters that some evidence has been recovered, but wouldn’t confirm where that evidence came from. 

He did tell reporters, “It is being called an abduction because the girls are not in the lake.  If they were lost in the woods they would have found their way back by now.”

Officials have reopened an eastern Iowa lake after a FBI dive team’s search failed to find two missing cousins.

The team began searching Meyers Lake Friday, in an effort to find 10-year-old Lyric Cook and 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins. They were last seen early last Friday afternoon. Their bikes were found near the lake, along with one of the girls’ purses.

Officials began draining the lake Monday in order to determine if the girls were in it. Earlier, the lake had been dragged but the Black Hawk County Sheriff’s Office said the only way to be sure the girls weren’t there was to drain the lake.

Officials removed the yellow police tape that had surrounded the lake Friday afternoon.

Authorities are keeping a closer watch on the father of Lyric Cook.

Dan Morissey is scheduled to go to trial in September.  He’s accused of manufacturing methamphetamine.

Friday, a judge granted the prosecution’s request to place Morissey under pre-trial supervision.  

That means he’ll be under the supervision of parole officers, and must receive approval from the court before traveling out of state.

There is now a $50,000 reward for information that leads to finding Lyric and Elizabeth.