IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #22

[CountryGirl]

What a sad ending. I watched the PC. SMH. I feel almost angry about it -- is it just me or was it a bit offputting? Not only no real information, seemed a lack of wanting to know (ie, was the area searched before), etc. Or is this just his normal demeanor (Abben)?

And after all this time I find the term "bodies" odd. I would think skeletal remains would be what was found. RIP sweet angels. I sure hope the ME can shed light on this case.

 

[Snufamonbobball]

If the remains were clothedor clothing was found with them, there is a reason LE did not simply say so.

I am trying to decide why they might withhold that info. Anybody got ideas?

Iowa LE is EXTREMELY tight lipped-I don't expect too much info to come out or to be leaked at all.

Abben never seems to have ever talked to anyone, or know much about anything...he knows and has talked to everyone, he just plays it otherwise.

 

[Marilynilpa]

If the remains were clothedor clothing was found with them, there is a reason LE did not simply say so.

I am trying to decide why they might withhold that info. Anybody got ideas?

I don't know why LE won't come right out and say that clothing was found on or near the bodies. Maybe the clothing was arranged in a certain way or found in a certain spot that only the killer(s) would know. By keeping that info to themselves, LE could use that to rule out any crackpots who might come forward claiming to be the killer. Maybe?:waitasec:

 

[CHERIE.T]

Not "creepy" about the location, "creepy" about the conversation back in July and the tweeters discussing about going there to search and the references made by the craigslist guy!

I agree about forests and wilderness areas being common "dumping grounds" for predators and perps to dispose of their victims....the first areas that should be checked out, but are often the last or never checked out. There have been similar victim "findings" here in Ohio too.

Exactly! That conversation WAS creepy!

 

[Elley Mae]

This picture shows where the road seems to end and the location of the bodies. IMO, not that far to walk/carry.
http://thegazette.com/2012/12/06/bremer-county-sheriff-confirms-bodies-were-found-in-wildlife-area/

I see 6 plus vehicle's in that picture yet I see no people. :waitasec:

 

[CountryGirl]

I don't mean to be all conspiracy theory with you but.....Abben hasn't spoken to the hunters yet??? huh??? what? :waitasec:

I was blown away at that remark too!!

 

[tlcya]

I agree. It wasn't long after the bodies were found yesterday, that someone reported Heather, I believe commenting on facebook that the bodies were the girl's. Now how could she and the family have concluded that so soon without any family member seeing the bodies? As a parent, clothing alone would not confirm it for me. Would dental records confirm it that fast? Maybe pictures? I don't know.

MOO

I think there were identifying articles (clothing, footwear, jewelry, something) that cause LE to be confident its the girls despite lack official ME or parent or visual ID. Whatever that info is LE shared it with parents. It was strong enough that Heather believes 100% it is the girls.

To veiw remains that decomposed. Probably would not be recomended for a parent. What a horrible image to have to live with as the last of your child.

 

[Foxfire]

Could someone proficient in google maps and not on a tablet (arg the limitations) find a minute t post a topographical image of the site bodies were found? Interested in the elevations and slopes as I think they my be key to why the bodies were left where they were.

TIA

Due to the proximity to the river, the area where the bodies were located would have a sand and silt consistency allowing for easily digging of shallow graves. Although the forest canopy, high grass, and underbrush would have provided cover from vulchers for an extended period of time. If the bodies were in shallow graves the river and other scavengers would eventually uncover the remains, imo..
Imo, the girls were compliant and walked to the area where they met their demise, and their remains were located.

 

[CoachSue]

Which may be why the girls weren't found together. If the perp carried the bodies from the car separately, maybe he couldn't find the exact spot he left the first body.

I think I missed something - the girls were NOT found together? I thought they were? Can someone please clarify? TIA.

 

[Wolf Dreamer]

If the remains were clothedor clothing was found with them, there is a reason LE did not simply say so.

I am trying to decide why they might withhold that info. Anybody got ideas?

Possibly because the circumstances of the clothes might reveal something about the crime they aren't willing to discuss at this point. If they were fully clothed then it puts a different slant to the crime. Or perhaps one was clothed and one not, and they want to confirm and speak with the parents before revealing that.

The distance apart is odd... can't imagine they were carried in one by one - there would be a trail to follow second time surely? However it makes me wonder... perhaps they were restrained in some way and one of the girls tried to escape, resulting in the perp losing his temper and killing her.

Is it considered certain only one person was involved?

I've not read all the threads on Lyric and Elizabeth as there were so many when I started here, but I've been trying to read through. I feel for the sleuthers here who have worked so hard on the case (particularly downstairs) butat the same time, I'm relieved that the families will have their children back. Just hope that LE can come up with something now that leads them to a POI.

 

[Boodles]

I see 6 plus vehicle's in that picture yet I see no people. :waitasec:

They're probably over in the area of the crime scene tape.

 

[Elley Mae]

I agree. It wasn't long after the bodies were found yesterday, that someone reported Heather, I believe commenting on facebook that the bodies were the girl's. Now how could she and the family have concluded that so soon without any family member seeing the bodies? As a parent, clothing alone would not confirm it for me. Would dental records confirm it that fast? Maybe pictures? I don't know.

I caught that as well and wondered if there may have been an article of clothing that was identifiable. Shoes?

 

[LaborDayRN]

I see 6 plus vehicle's in that picture yet I see no people. :waitasec:

Hmmmm....interesting. I wonder if the location of the girls was actually up river (in the photo) and the vehicles could not get any closer. They may have driven as far as they could and then have walked the remainder of the distance.

 

[Wolf Dreamer]

I think I missed something - the girls were NOT found together? I thought they were? Can someone please clarify? TIA.

I presume they mean looking at the photo, the areas of interest are several metres apart rather than side by side.

 

[tlcya]

I think I missed something - the girls were NOT found together? I thought they were? Can someone please clarify? TIA.

Girls appear to have been located approx 50 feet from one another. People are finding that odd. So near and so far at the same time.

 

[CoachSue]

FYI, link to today's presser:
http://wcfcourier.com/news/evansdal...cle_87cfad40-3ff1-11e2-a099-001a4bcf887a.html

 

[RNER]

I don't mean to be all conspiracy theory with you but.....Abben hasn't spoken to the hunters yet??? huh??? what? :waitasec:

I sure hope he has. No conspiracy theory either. I am just puzzled that in the briefing there was no mention of whether or not LE had a POI, witness, suspect, arrest, etc. I am purely speculating with a far-fetched idea that someone is talking, and told LE/"hunters" where the bodies were.

It is not uncommon for LE to withold information and alter statements to protect the integrity of the investigation, witnesses, and even suspects.

 

[xheraldina]

Very good point. Also it's possible they were killed more recently than when they first went missing. But yeah, the bodies would be scattered had they been there any length of time.

Exactly!
But than again if they have been killed more recently they would not be wearing the same clothes as the ones they had on when they went missing :banghead:
How were they identified than?
Even with dental records it would have taken longer.

 

[iamnotagolem]

Just a thought, no opinion or anything on it yet b/c I just thought it.

The "hunters" found both girls. Did they find one body, realize who it must be and wander around until they found the other? Were they easy to see 50 feet from each other?

In the press conference Abben said he wouldn't comment on whether or not they had been buried, partially buried or if there was any attempt to hide the bodies.

 

[Copper]

I'm not too perplexed by the distance between the white sheets. Maybe, if the girls were taken there after death, there are questions about how. But if that area is the scene of the crime, marching them out there, shoving one to the ground and then dragging the other a distance away for abuse seems logical.