IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #13

[Beyond Belief]

Do homes in this area have basements? Are there any old wells in this area? Any construction going on?

 

[Beyond Belief]

Can you see this trail from I guess thats an interstate road there?

 

[Snufamonbobball]

I think it's very possible that someone they had seen before had seen them riding their bikes on previous occasions, saw them that day and invited them up to see their puppies, kittens, aquarium, ect.. and had them bring their bikes INTO their garage. He/she brings the girls inside their house, closes the door, and then assaults them.

He/she knows they have to get rid of their bikes, closes their garage door, loads them into a vehicle and thinks where can I get rid of these- where's the best place to throw off an investigation? The lake.

We know the stats are unfavorable for children missing more than 3 hours. The girls weren't reported missing for 2 hours (which is the average time) and the search didn't find their bikes until about 3 1/2 hours after they were last seen. We know the biker may have seen the bikes around 12:30 and the girls were last seen on video about 20 minutes earlier. That is such a tight window for the abduction whether the bikes were staged or not.

These girls could have already been abducted, assaulted and removed from the area BEFORE they were even reported missing. No one would notice a pick up with a large tote in the back.

Again, MOO and just one theory.

 

[Snufamonbobball]

Can you see this trail from I guess thats an interstate road there?

You can see PARTS of the trail, but not all of it. There are areas that have a noise barrier. I drove it today and I don't think anyone would notice anything from the highway. I'd be very surprised if anyone would notice something other than a car accident. You're just moving too fast.

 

[hollyblue]

Do homes in this area have basements? Are there any old wells in this area? Any construction going on?

I would guess most.

Probably so, especially older homes or farm house in the rural areas.

Road construction right by the lake and trail.

Can you see this trail from I guess thats an interstate road there?

Not from where the bikes were found, but the rest of the southern trail by the hwy can be seen.

 

[CHERIE.T]

I think it's very possible that someone they had seen before had seen them riding their bikes on previous occasions, saw them that day and invited them up to see their puppies, kittens, aquarium, ect.. and had them bring their bikes INTO their garage. He/she brings the girls inside their house, closes the door, and then assaults them.

He/she knows they have to get rid of their bikes, closes their garage door, loads them into a vehicle and thinks where can I get rid of these- where's the best place to throw off an investigation? The lake.

We know the stats are unfavorable for children missing more than 3 hours. The girls weren't reported missing for 2 hours (which is the average time) and the search didn't find their bikes until about 3 1/2 hours after they were last seen. We know the biker may have seen the bikes around 12:30 and the girls were last seen on video about 20 minutes earlier. That is such a tight window for the abduction whether the bikes were staged or not.

These girls could have already been abducted, assaulted and removed from the area BEFORE they were even reported missing. No one would notice a pick up with a large tote in the back.

Again, MOO and just one theory.

Where do you theorize the perps took the girls after they were assaulted?

 

[nikb]

I don't know. Because they are kids? Because nothing is planned when you are just messing' around?

Hmm this combined with a few other things sparked a thought I hadn't had before. Totally a brainstorming idea and not even speculation.

Many have said it's a creepy part of the trail, it's been reported Lyric's a little daring as kids tend to be at that age, some have said the bikes could be considered to be in kind of an odd spot. Is there any chance they left the bikes when they dared each other to a foot race through the creepy part real quick, then get back to their bikes and head home? Maybe even ditched the bikes quickly attempting to get a head start on each other? And then obviously of course something went really wrong from there.

Far fetched, I know... trying to consider the possibilities.

 

[Bodhi]

I'm in MN (cabin in WI) and I agree, people do often call them paddle boats but that's not correct. I only mentioned it because if it is an important part of the case, it is important that the correct name is used IMO. Just trying to get the correct term out there, that's all.

Paddle boat is correct. Google the term and you will see that online retailers sell them under the name paddle boat. There are lengthy discussions and tons of links about this in previous threads.

Let's agree to call it a paddle boat because that term is commonly used, albeit incorrectly as you said, Ryloga.

Pedal boat is the correct name for that type of boat--the kind you sit in and pedal with your feet. Googling "pedal boats" also brings up lots of manufacturers and retailers of these boats, Jaime. People use "paddle boat" because "pedal" and "paddle" sound so much alike and because this boat is propelled by a paddle under the water. But "paddle boat" is a less precise category of boat. It includes all kinds of boats that are propelled by direct paddling or pedaling, and possibly paddleboards.

Because MSM reported that LE was looking for someone on a "paddle boat" in this case, and the term is often applied to the sit-in boats that are pedalled, let's go with that term.

To quote SapphireSteel upthread: They go around in circles if not steered properly, just like us. I got a chuckle out of that!

 

[SouthernMom]

It's time for me to get some rest. I am going to be hoping and praying for these sweet girls to find their way home. They may be few, but there are some bad stories with good endings. Praying that there is a good ending for Elizabeth and Lyric.

 

[MotherOcean]

I wonder why Klass Kids or some similiar organization hasn't gotten involved. I wonder if we will hear anyone from the family make a plea to the abductor(s). While following Lisa Irwin's case, I read that the FBI really encourages the family to make an emotional appeal to the abductor when they think that is what has happened to the child. I'm not faulting the family and I know there are issues in the family that are causing further strain on them, but it seems like we would hear atleast one passionate plea for the abductor(s) to release the girls. Why hasn't that happened? Did I miss it? I wish an organization for missing kids would work with the families.

 

[Snufamonbobball]

Where do you theorize the perps took the girls after they were assaulted?

I wish I knew. You only have to drive abouut 5 minutes to be in very rural locations, with culverts, ditches, abandoned houses, barns and of course large fields of tall corn.

They still could be inside a basement. The girls could have been out of the state well within the 3 1/2 hour time frame when their bikes were found.

I do work with missing and unidentified people, and it's a very big world when you're looking for missing people.

 

[Snufamonbobball]

It's time for me to get some rest. I am going to be hoping and praying for these sweet girls to find their way home. They may be few, but there are some bad stories with good endings. Praying that there is a good ending for Elizabeth and Lyric.

I never give up hope, and I hope and pray that no one else does either!

 

[Confusion]

Let's agree to call it a paddle boat because that term is commonly used, albeit incorrectly as you said, Ryloga.

Pedal boat is the correct name for that type of boat--the kind you sit in and pedal with your feet. Googling "pedal boats" also brings up lots of manufacturers and retailers of these boats, Jaime. People use "paddle boat" because "pedal" and "paddle" sound so much alike and because this boat is propelled by a paddle under the water. But "paddle boat" is a less precise category of boat. It includes all kinds of boats that are propelled by direct paddling or pedaling, and possibly paddleboards.

Because MSM reported that LE was looking for someone on a "paddle boat" in this case, and the term is often applied to the sit-in boats that are pedalled, let's go with that term.

To quote SapphireSteel upthread: They go around in circles if not steered properly, just like us. I got a chuckle out of that!

A pedal boat is one that has pedals which are used to power the boat; paddle boats have paddle wheels that power them. Some, but not all, pedal boats are paddle boats, and some, but not all, paddle boats are pedal boats. I believe the one they are talking about here is both since there are at least a couple of them on the lake.

 

[Bodhi]

Do homes in this area have basements? Are there any old wells in this area? Any construction going on?

I've been wondering about basements too, BeyondBelief. And if they do, are they concrete floors or dirt floors?

Are homes right by the lake on a public or community sewer system? Are there septic tanks/leaching fields in that area, either in current use or abandoned?

While disturbed ground would have been stood out, what about new or moved sheds, dog houses, play equipment, pools, new firewood stacks--anything that might disguise disturbed ground. Remember Maria Lauterbach? She was the pregnant Marine killed by her baby's father in his garage and buried in the backyard. He then had a fire right on that area.

 

[TGIRecovered]

One in particuliar from Des Moines, two hours away. Last checked in June 2012 now gone.
http://www.iowasexoffender.com/mostwanted/

Any reason to focus on that one in particular? The link has several pages, and most of the guys pictured do not have confirmed addy's.

I tried to guess who best fits the most probable profile. I think that we are probably looking for a man in his 30's, probably white. DesMoines fits that.:moo:

What happened to the camper creeper? Are we still allowed to discuss him? Is the craigslist info off limits even if it is directly connected to an RSO?

I am soooo glad that someone is discussing something other than the fence and the gate and the bikes. I feel like I've read the same post over and over for the last three threads!

:deadhorse: :escape: :truce:

 

[Beyond Belief]

Any reason to focus on that one in particular? The link has several pages, and most of the guys pictured do not have confirmed addy's.

I tried to guess who best fits the most probable profile. I think that we are probably looking for a man in his 30's, probably white. DesMoines fits that.:moo:

What happened to the camper creeper? Are we still allowed to discuss him? Is the craigslist info off limits even if it is directly connected to an RSO?

I am soooo glad that someone is discussing something other than the fence and the gate and the bikes. I feel like I've read the same post over and over for the last three threads!

:truce:

A recent disappearance. Most of the others have been long gone.

 

[Snufamonbobball]

I've been wondering about basements too, BeyondBelief. And if they do, are they concrete floors or dirt floors?

Are homes right by the lake on a public or community sewer system? Are there septic tanks/leaching fields in that area, either in current use or abandoned?

While disturbed ground would have been stood out, what about new or moved sheds, dog houses, play equipment, pools, new firewood stacks--anything that might disguise disturbed ground. Remember Maria Lauterbach? She was the pregnant Marine killed by her baby's father in his garage and buried in the backyard. He then had a fire right on that area.

Many homes have basements and cellars. Some of the farmhouses have detatched cellars. I would say most homes have concrete floors in their basements, but the detached cellars could have either.

 

[TGIRecovered]

Many homes have basements and cellars. Some of the farmhouses have detatched cellars. I would say most homes have concrete floors in their basements, but the detached cellars could have either.

Septic tanks scare me. No one wants to have to look inside a septic tank when kids are missing. No one thinks it's weird if septic tanks stink. MOO

 

[Snufamonbobball]

Septic tanks scare me. No one wants to have to look inside a septic tank when kids are missing. No one thinks it's weird if septic tanks stink. MOO

Iowa also has cattle and hog farms which in the summer are pretty ripe.

 

[LittleMissContrary]

Regarding the location of the bikes, and the possible method of abduction:

It seems to me that while the perp is obviously taking a risk by attempting an abduction, certain risks would be minimized so that there was a better chance of success.

When I try to imagine a perp herding two girls in front of him or beside him along the trail, it seems like a very bad strategy. They could yell and scream, attempt to run, etc.

For this reason, I think the perp must have either snatched them off the street with the help of an accomplice, or they were pacified/lured in some way to keep them quiet until they were placed in the vehicle.
I keep thinking about the possibility of the "authority figure' scenario. Someone with a fake badge or uniform comes along and tells the girls some story that perhaps rings true with them, and so they go along.
The fact is that if a person came to them and said, your parents are in jail, or some other b.s. story, like your mom is injured, both of those scenarios would be logical to them and not necessarily suspicious.

I firmly believe that if they were not literally grabbed off the street, then they must have been kept quiet and calm to not attract attention as they were escorted to the vehicle.