The parents of Elizabeth Collins will speak at a Des Moines event that wraps child abductions with underground *advertiser censored* networks and drug cartels.
Drew and Heather Collins of Evansdale are scheduled to appear at the 10th Preventing Abuse Conference at the Embassy Suites on Friday, said Tony Nassif, president of Cedars Cultural and Educational Foundation of Toluca Lake, Calif., who is organizing the conference.
Tickets are $59 in advance; lunch is included.
"It's going to be an interview situation where we will just talk about the background and what's been happening now, and get some insights from them on what people can do, if anything, to help protect other kids," Nassif said.
Elizabeth and her cousin Lyric Cook-Morrissey were last seen riding their bikes in Evansdale the afternoon of July 13. Their bikes and a purse were later found behind Meyers Lake.
Other speakers include officials with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, an alleged former CIA operative involved in rescues and Noreen Gosch, mother of 1982 West Des Moines kidnapping victim Johnny Gosch. Topics will include the role of the faith-based community.
Fliers for the event highlight experts on human trafficking and drug smuggling cartels, but Nassif said he isn't claiming that the disappearance of Elizabeth and Lyric are related to those activities