IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #14

[FrayedKnot]

I completely agree with everything you said above. However, imo, there is a big difference between losing a loved one, to a tragic death, and having urgently, endangered MISSING children. JMO

When my good friend lost her 7 yr old to cancer, we reminisced and smiled at stories and memories as well. But she had the solace of knowing where her child was buried and what had happened at the end, and that she had done everything to make her as comfortable as she could.

Not the same thing as her girl being missing under mysterious circumstances. Sorry, but I cannot get past the big huge grins and happy smiles at all of the vigils and Mexican restaurants. I just don't get it.

I do see your point here. Very different situations.

 

[FrayedKnot]

Great post! I concur! I lost my son a little over a year ago.... you can be smiling on the outside, but crying on the inside. This family is in what the expert or experts termed "limbo grief". I cannot imagine not knowing if your family member is still alive or have they passed.... it must be excruciating at times thinking they could be dead and other times you must feel as if there is a good chance your loved could still be alive. I do not pretend to have walked in their shoes for the emotions they must be experiencing.

I am so sorry about your son. I cannot imagine how hard that was. .

 

[Bootsctr]

Looks like he was out and on probabtion till 2010.

http://www.doc.state.ia.us/OffenderInfo.asp#top

Thank you! Looked at the other one too. He's already off probation. If I am reading it correctly. Great resource. Thank you.

 

[katydid23]

I think the media and the public have made up their minds that certain members of the family are "trashy" or "low rent", so they must have something to do with the girls' disappearance and everything they say and do is fodder for mean comments.

The media probably didn't publish pics of those other families smiling at vigils and such because they had a feel for public opinion and knew that people found them sympathetic.

JMO. I am quite often wrong! . I admit that Ed Smart gave me the creeps and I was so sure he had something to do with Elizabeth's disappearance.

Maybe MCM and DM really are not only addicts with criminal records, but bad parents and also guilty of killing their own daughter and niece. I just don't see it.

In my family, we laugh harder at funerals and wakes than almost any other time. We will swap stories about our the deceased and the rest of the clan and will end up laughing until we are crying.

But to my knowledge nobody in my family has ever offed another.

But the girls are not dead, as far as the family knows. This was not a wake or a funeral. It is a vigil, which is supposed to be about praying for the strength and knowledge to help untangle the tragic mystery. I just don't get where all of the huge happy smiles are coming from.

A funeral is a relief, a sense of closure. But these little girls are missing. They could be locked in a local basement, chained to the metal cots, or being held in a Mexican brothel. Who knows where these baby girls are? They were likely raped and slaughtered. So it does bother me that her family can laugh and grin and smile so wide in so many of the vigil pix.

 

[Bootsctr]

I am so sorry about your son. I cannot imagine how hard that was. .

Thank you. We don't know for a fact, but we think it involved bath salts. So new, LE in our area said they had not even heard of it. Sold over-the-counter at local convenience store. It has been very hard... still is.

 

[Just Pat 22]

I will say this I am soo haoppy to hear of the posters of the girls at the fair and the passing out of the flyers . It breathes more positive life in to the search . It is never right to give up hope only a dope gives up hope . We trust in God and his will be done not ours . Thanks to all of you for the great post's , pictures and updates .And renewed intrest for the girls plight . As everyone I pray the girls are returned to their family safe and Ok but, a lot wiser . God Help those Girls come home safe. Soon Amen .

 

[Beyond Belief]

I just noticed a sign posted at the lake behind a reporter from last nights vigil that read "DON''T FEED THE DUCKS AND GEESE'.
I wonder if the girls chose that remote spot because thats what they were actually doing there.
The kids around here feed them cereal and bread.

 

[Bootsctr]

I think the media and the public have made up their minds that certain members of the family are "trashy" or "low rent", so they must have something to do with the girls' disappearance and everything they say and do is fodder for mean comments.

The media probably didn't publish pics of those other families smiling at vigils and such because they had a feel for public opinion and knew that people found them sympathetic.

JMO. I am quite often wrong! . I admit that Ed Smart gave me the creeps and I was so sure he had something to do with Elizabeth's disappearance.

Maybe MCM and DM really are not only addicts with criminal records, but bad parents and also guilty of killing their own daughter and niece. I just don't see it.

In my family, we laugh harder at funerals and wakes than almost any other time. We will swap stories about our the deceased and the rest of the clan and will end up laughing until we are crying.

But to my knowledge nobody in my family has ever offed another.

Great points! I think if the media wants to snap a picture that would lead the public to think one way or the other, it is very possible to do that and likely what might be going on with this family. I think of Darlie Routier on death row. I do not know if she is guilty or innocent. She is sitting on death row. I do know that the infamous footage of her at graveside celebrating one of the boy's birthdays with silly string and her laughing was filmed by media that was hiding in the bushes and that this footage was after a long period of Darlie crying. It was misleading in my opinion. A lot of evidence did not make it into the trial, but somehow this footage did. I happen to believe media has a lot of power in being able to sway public opinion especially in these kinds of cases.

 

[Bootsctr]

I completely agree with everything you said above. However, imo, there is a big difference between losing a loved one, to a tragic death, and having urgently, endangered MISSING children. JMO

When my good friend lost her 7 yr old to cancer, we reminisced and smiled at stories and memories as well. But she had the solace of knowing where her child was buried and what had happened at the end, and that she had done everything to make her as comfortable as she could.

Not the same thing as her girl being missing under mysterious circumstances. Sorry, but I cannot get past the big huge grins and happy smiles at all of the vigils and Mexican restaurants. I just don't get it.

I am so sorry to hear that your friend lost her 7 yr old. So young.... heartbreaking. I hope your friend is doing well.

In the case of missing Baby Lisa Irwin, I remember an expert saying that sometimes how a person acts or what they can depend on what the person thinks happened to their family member. I remember Debbie Irwin stating she thinks whomever "took" Baby Lisa wanted a baby and she hoped they loved her as much as she did. ? ! I do get what you are saying about this family and their actions, they just don't seem to have a sense of urgency. I don't get it either.

 

[Ollipop]

But the girls are not dead, as far as the family knows. This was not a wake or a funeral. It is a vigil, which is supposed to be about praying for the strength and knowledge to help untangle the tragic mystery. I just don't get where all of the huge happy smiles are coming from.

A funeral is a relief, a sense of closure. But these little girls are missing. They could be locked in a local basement, chained to the metal cots, or being held in a Mexican brothel. Who knows where these baby girls are? They were likely raped and slaughtered. So it does bother me that her family can laugh and grin and smile so wide in so many of the vigil pix.

I only see them smiling in one pic at the vigil. I wasn't there. I've seen them smile other times, too. I've also seen them all crying. Unfortunately, people seem to want to see them smiling for some reason.

Someone was at the vigil, says, "wow," and we all want to hear the juicy gossip about how they were laughing and joking. But then we wonder why they aren't making more public appearances and appeals to some unknown perp.

Those are some of the other pics posted by the courier of the vigil. There is also the one where the sisters are all together, and smiling.

I guess some people will never get past it. The family is supposed to be on their knees, wailing and sobbing, 24/7, with a camera in front of them so they can plead for their girls release? They are not to find a shred of joy or any reason to smile?

Everyone deals with grief and stress differently. I don't like seeing it, either, but I don't judge a victim for it.

 

[brighidin]

I've worn nicotine patches in the past and they looked nothing like the patch in the photo. They were much smaller and skin-colored. I really think it looks much more like one of those drug testing patches...

ps - been smoke free 10 years this month!

I was just guessing. i've never seen a nic patch. Congrats on 10 years smoke free!

 

[Snufamonbobball]

Don't forget that Somer Thompson's mom was BASHED by the public for her choice of clothing, and she also smiled when on camera. Jessica Lunsford's family was BASHED and accused outright. And of course, let's not forget the Susan Smith, who cried and begged and pleaded.

Does Misty's demeanor seem odd to me? I don't know, from everything I've heard that's just the way she is. We need to keep in mind that Lyric was never really with her, the impression I've gotten is Misty was more like a close aunt than her bio mom.

Do I think the family directly did anything to either of these girls? Nope.
Do I think someone who knew either family could have done something to the girls? Possibly.
Do I think the family knows where the girls are? Nope.
Do I think they have some idea of who could have done this? Maybe.
Do I think LE has a idea of what happened? I sure hope so.

In this one picture of Heather, yes she has a smile on her face. This is of course MOO, but I don't think she looks very happy behind that smile.

MOO. MOO, so please nobody get snarky about MOO.

 

[Considering]

I think the media and the public have made up their minds that certain members of the family are "trashy" or "low rent", so they must have something to do with the girls' disappearance and everything they say and do is fodder for mean comments.

The media probably didn't publish pics of those other families smiling at vigils and such because they had a feel for public opinion and knew that people found them sympathetic.

JMO. I am quite often wrong! . I admit that Ed Smart gave me the creeps and I was so sure he had something to do with Elizabeth's disappearance.

Maybe MCM and DM really are not only addicts with criminal records, but bad parents and also guilty of killing their own daughter and niece. I just don't see it.

In my family, we laugh harder at funerals and wakes than almost any other time. We will swap stories about our the deceased and the rest of the clan and will end up laughing until we are crying.

But to my knowledge nobody in my family has ever offed another.

I agree.

I want to add that their are several pictures of last night's vigil posted on the WCF site ( http://wcfcourier.com/news/evansdal...cle_55aa40a6-e35c-11e1-84f6-001a4bcf887a.html ) besides that particular one. Here's one:



In this photograph, I see Tammy, Misty, Heather, Wylma Cook and other members of the family of Elizabeth and Lyric in prayer.

The picture of the three sisters smiling reminds me of tabloid fodder. Is it possible that the photographer has Misty standing where she is so she could get a good shot of the patch Misty is wearing? Is it possible that something was said just prior to the camera snapping that caused these sisters to smile? The smiling picture certainly has people gossiping. I wonder if visits to the WCF website are up today?

Was the picture of the three sisters smiling published to help find two missing girls? I think not. All that picture does is serve as material for people to gossip about the loved ones of two missing little girls. People who don't know where their little girls are, what they have endured, or whether they are alive. That gossip hurts a family that has endured pain that we cannot begin to understand. How can anyone hurt these people that are loved by two innocent children, Elizabeth and Lyric? No one in the investigation of their disappearance has ever stated that the family is any way involved in this nightmare.

 

[katydid23]

I only see them smiling in one pic at the vigil. I wasn't there. I've seen them smile other times, too. I've also seen them all crying. Unfortunately, people seem to want to see them smiling for some reason.

Someone was at the vigil, says, "wow," and we all want to hear the juicy gossip about how they were laughing and joking. But then we wonder why they aren't making more public appearances and appeals to some unknown perp.

Those are some of the other pics posted by the courier of the vigil. There is also the one where the sisters are all together, and smiling.

I guess some people will never get past it. The family is supposed to be on their knees, wailing and sobbing, 24/7, with a camera in front of them so they can plead for their girls release? They are not to find a shred of joy or any reason to smile?

Everyone deals with grief and stress differently. I don't like seeing it, either, but I don't judge a victim for it.

In my case, it is not that I 'want' to see them smiling. It is that I am surprised when I do see them looking so happy. I never said they should be sobbing uncontrollably 24/7. But how long is a vigil?

And a month later, it makes sense they would be getting some normalcy. But in the first few days, when we FIRST saw MCM, she was already smiling and grinning her way through her interviews. I just find it really odd and awkward. It does not mean I think she harmed the girls. It just seems very strange and I point it out because it is so different from what I usually see when a kid goes missing.

 

[FrayedKnot]

Don't forget that Somer Thompson's mom was BASHED by the public for her choice of clothing, and she also smiled when on camera. Jessica Lunsford's family was BASHED and accused outright. And of course, let's not forget the Susan Smith, who cried and begged and pleaded.

Does Misty's demeanor seem odd to me? I don't know, from everything I've heard that's just the way she is. We need to keep in mind that Lyric was never really with her, the impression I've gotten is Misty was more like a close aunt than her bio mom.

Do I think the family directly did anything to either of these girls? Nope.
Do I think someone who knew either family could have done something to the girls? Possibly.
Do I think the family knows where the girls are? Nope.
Do I think they have some idea of who could have done this? Maybe.
Do I think LE has a idea of what happened? I sure hope so.

In this one picture of Heather, yes she has a smile on her face. This is of course MOO, but I don't think she looks very happy behind that smile.

MOO. MOO, so please nobody get snarky about MOO.

You took the words right outta my mouth! Thanks button wasn't enough.

 

[Marilynilpa]

Thank you. We don't know for a fact, but we think it involved bath salts. So new, LE in our area said they had not even heard of it. Sold over-the-counter at local convenience store. It has been very hard... still is.

So very sorry about your loss.

 

[Bootsctr]

I only see them smiling in one pic at the vigil. I wasn't there. I've seen them smile other times, too. I've also seen them all crying. Unfortunately, people seem to want to see them smiling for some reason.

Someone was at the vigil, says, "wow," and we all want to hear the juicy gossip about how they were laughing and joking. But then we wonder why they aren't making more public appearances and appeals to some unknown perp.

Those are some of the other pics posted by the courier of the vigil. There is also the one where the sisters are all together, and smiling.

I guess some people will never get past it. The family is supposed to be on their knees, wailing and sobbing, 24/7, with a camera in front of them so they can plead for their girls release? They are not to find a shred of joy or any reason to smile?

Everyone deals with grief and stress differently. I don't like seeing it, either, but I don't judge a victim for it.

Thank you for the pictures Ollipop! I know grief, but I do not know it would feel to not know if your loved ones were alive and dead - limbo-grief. I have read some of the missing posters and they seem as if they are speaking directly to someone they could know. Hopefully, they had the FBI's help or an expert in abductions in making up these posters as to appeal to the person or persons who have the girls or may have much needed information. I don't believe this family had anything to do with the girls going missing. I do believe that a few members of the family actions are far reaching over several years. That makes me think it is possible that whomever took the girls could be familiar with the families, familiar with the area, perhaps familiar to the girls and knew they would be easy prey at some point. I hope LE/FBI did take Misty's advice about spreading out the area of search for the girls. She specifically mentioned she hoped they would expand the search to Cedar Valley. Still praying for the girls' safe return to home.

~ Boots

 

[Bootsctr]

So very sorry about your loss.

Thank you Marilyn. I sincerely appreciate it.

 

[dotr]

Perhaps for the first time in a long time, the family felt comforted by the community support- and joy in the LE belief that the children are probably still alive.Usually when kids go missing near water, it is because they drowned. It must have been tremendous relief to have confirmation that the girls were not in the lake.

 

[TxLady2]

I lost my first husband in a car accident. Several friends that we had in another state came to our home when they were notified of his death. We were sitting around, remembering some of the things he had said and done and there was a great deal of laughter, a lot of it coming from me. That was such a relief for me. Yes, he had passed away and I missed him so much, but the very fact that there was someone there who knew him, who loved him, and had so many funny stories to share was also very healing. I'm sure many people who were there that night thought I was terrible for laughing. I suppose in their minds I should have been sitting in sack cloth and ashes.

In the following weeks and months after his death, I smiled many, many times. I smiled because that is what was expected at that particular moment. However, I'm sure if you had really looked beyond the smile, you would have seen a very broken soul inside.

What you see on the outside is for everybody else. What is on the inside, nobody really knows or understands. There were several times that I literally went inside my closet, shut the door and sat and cried. Nobody ever saw those tears. Nobody ever saw that pain, but it was there.

I know nothing about these people other than what I have read on here, but I'm sure there is hurt, pain, and tears. We just don't see it.

As for the drugs and drinking, when people are addicted, they don't stop when something like this happens. They don't have the capability to stop. I am going out on a limb here and guessing that in fact, it probably increases under these circumstances.

So true and thanks!
I really can't say how I would react if I had a child missing, and I don't think any of us can truly know until it hits us.
I would think something like this would make some addicts lose their resolve to quit, hoping they will ease the grief and the pain of not knowing.