IA IA - Elizabeth Collins, 8, & Lyric Cook, 10, Evansdale, 13 July 2012 - #3
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First pic is from where the trail intersects Lafayette, looking east.
Second is looking back to the west, with that same Casey's in the background, to give an idea of the distance from Collins home to trail.
Third pic is looking south down the trail, showing how it borders back yards.
Second is looking back to the west, with that same Casey's in the background, to give an idea of the distance from Collins home to trail.
Third pic is looking south down the trail, showing how it borders back yards.
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Chris_Texas
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Randomish two in the morning thoughts...
Why THERE? I think the location the bikes were discovered is important.
This location is apparently the only place along the path that one would expect to be unobserved. It is apparently very small, perhaps only a couple dozen feet long. So why were they left there?
The girls did not HIDE them, the bikes were left (reportedly) in plain sight and perhaps actually blocking the path.
This (random late night thoughts again) leads me to conclude that the girls encountered someone at that location. However, the odds of a child EVER encountering a random maniac (for lack of a better word) are vanishingly small. And the odds that they would just happen to stumble across one THERE, at this location, by random chance, stretch believability beyond breaking. It is beyond far-fetched.
Which leads me, at this hour, to conclude that the girls had visited that lake previously, perhaps several times, and that over the course of these visits they made a special friend who wasn't really their friend at all. I suspect, random thoughts again, that this friend anticipated their coming and waited for them there. This was someone they knew and were comfortable with, and when they found him on the path they were not alarmed at all.
Just my opinion and all that.
Why THERE? I think the location the bikes were discovered is important.
This location is apparently the only place along the path that one would expect to be unobserved. It is apparently very small, perhaps only a couple dozen feet long. So why were they left there?
The girls did not HIDE them, the bikes were left (reportedly) in plain sight and perhaps actually blocking the path.
This (random late night thoughts again) leads me to conclude that the girls encountered someone at that location. However, the odds of a child EVER encountering a random maniac (for lack of a better word) are vanishingly small. And the odds that they would just happen to stumble across one THERE, at this location, by random chance, stretch believability beyond breaking. It is beyond far-fetched.
Which leads me, at this hour, to conclude that the girls had visited that lake previously, perhaps several times, and that over the course of these visits they made a special friend who wasn't really their friend at all. I suspect, random thoughts again, that this friend anticipated their coming and waited for them there. This was someone they knew and were comfortable with, and when they found him on the path they were not alarmed at all.
Just my opinion and all that.
First is standing at the Meyers Lake parking lot, facing west towards the playground.
Second is turning about 45 degrees, facing southwest, showing the shelter house. The man by the police tape is standing on the trail, behind him you are seeing the trees on the island. The tank is like a playground thing - no clue, some Kiwanis deal, I believe. Well behind the shelter is a red shed, belonging to people who live across the street from me. (The hot blonde is my wife, the little boy throwing away trash is my son.)
Third is facing south, onlookers on the trail watching the lake drain. You can see the eastern tip of the island, with the lake in the background. In the very back, you can see the trail on the other side of the lake.
Second is turning about 45 degrees, facing southwest, showing the shelter house. The man by the police tape is standing on the trail, behind him you are seeing the trees on the island. The tank is like a playground thing - no clue, some Kiwanis deal, I believe. Well behind the shelter is a red shed, belonging to people who live across the street from me. (The hot blonde is my wife, the little boy throwing away trash is my son.)
Third is facing south, onlookers on the trail watching the lake drain. You can see the eastern tip of the island, with the lake in the background. In the very back, you can see the trail on the other side of the lake.
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Helenstreet
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Thanks for the links! I just came over to this thread and starting reading about this case. The first three links were so interesting that I have been reading for the last hour. Wow, what a wealth of information I must say....
WholeLottaRosie
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I have never shared this on WS. But, in Feb. of this year, I (thankfully briefly) experienced my 14 yr old daughter being missing.
It was a chilly Saturday. About noon that day, I learned DD had lied to me the previously evening about a doing a chore. I was mad yes, but, DH sd on a scale of 1 - 10, about a 4.
She wanted to know punishment, I told her would think about it. I was planning extra chores, LOL. She sd she was taking our dog out for a walk - normal thing. She did, and then dog was back in house as when cold he likes to come jump on my lap with cold paws. I thought or assumed I heard DD go upstairs. DH and I in great room, he watching movie, me online. I got up to got to bathroom, maybe 20 min or so after dog back. On way to bathroom, for some reason I looked at coat rack. DD coat and hat not there.
I don't know why I looked, but, I knew it was wrong. She has mild Asperger's and is compulsive about things like that. Also, she always says what she is doing or if going outside. I looked in back yard and didn't see her - she has a bright purple coat and hat/scarf. I called to DH and went upstairs. Not there. Noticed her bag was gone. We searched house, and yard not there.
I FRIGGING WIGGED. My goodness, I have been a member here a long time! DH took car and went around neighborhood - no sign. I am really freaking out. Friend who was coming over anyway got here, and she helped search in car. I called 911, I thought I would have a heart attack - and am having trouble telling this even now. 911 took description and put it out on air, then continued to talk to me. She was great, said car on way to our home, then I head in the background a radio transmission of I think this is her. She put me on hold and I liked to died.
She came back and said, we think she is at a local nursing home - would she go there? I was like, YES my dad is there - but, that was too far to walk (we thought). Turns out a police officer had seen her before my call and thought she looked upset walking on road near nursing home. He stopped, rollled down window and asked if she was okay - and she said FINE. But when he got the call her turned around went back down the road and saw her walking in nursing home. He pulled in, went in and saw her in the rec room. She was going to go visit my dad. Officer asked her to come out to lobby and sat her down in a visiting room and called it in. This all happened within 5 minutes maybe but my goodness it seemed like hours.
The dispatcher said, Mrs. Rosie you are in no shape to drive, can someone drive you or go get her, sd DH would and he did. The officer asked if she was running away from home, and she told him no, visiting her Grandpa. He told her okay, but, make sure you let mom and dad know when you leave, she promised him she would. So all ended well.
Thank the Goddess, my daughter was safe. But, you can only imagine what those minutes of realizing her gone and then looking and then calling 911 were like. I was just about to die. Really. And I knew if she was really gone gone, I would be one picked apart - we are Wiccan, we home school, goodness knows what. My instinct is normally great, but, that day, it all just left me. I had no idea where or what. My mind just went all over the place.
We instantly thought maybe she met someone walking dog and brought dog home before going off. And neither hubby or I thought the argument over chore not done was that big a deal. She told me later she thought she could hide at NH for a while - she wasn't sure how long -and the bad thing is, she probably could have, I don't know. She probably could have been there till 9 or so that night at least without the staff thinking anything of it, as we are there often. And she might have found an empty room to sleep in. I am very sure she is convinced not to ever do this again. But, oh do I feel for the Mama's of Lyric and Elizabeth. And the Grandmas, Daddies, Grandpas and everyone else.
I hope the girls come safely home soon.
First pic is another 45 degree turn from the last, looking southeast, facing the corner where the bikes were found. More onlookers, the parking lot as busy as I've ever seen it, with news crews on the ready.
Second pic: walked up to the sign that greets you as you enter the trail/lake area. Behind is the lake, I am standing on the trail at this point, facing south. In the distance, across the lake, you can see the ever-emerging bottom of the lake at the shoreline, the trail is visible above that, and cars passing on the highway above the trail. On the very right is the easternmost tip of the island, a muddy spot that is usually submerged, showing how much of the lake has drained.
Second pic: walked up to the sign that greets you as you enter the trail/lake area. Behind is the lake, I am standing on the trail at this point, facing south. In the distance, across the lake, you can see the ever-emerging bottom of the lake at the shoreline, the trail is visible above that, and cars passing on the highway above the trail. On the very right is the easternmost tip of the island, a muddy spot that is usually submerged, showing how much of the lake has drained.
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Very moving story with insight into a mother's panic. Thank you for sharing that.
It's weird there is not a no swimming sign here.
First pic is of where the fishing dock was, facing south. This is the very beginning of the trail, it curves out of this dock entrance and follows the lake from here, counterclockwise. Trail is again visible in background, across lake, with highway traffic above it.
Second is boat ramp and also where the boat dock was, still facing south, just a few step east of the last pic.
Third, turning 90 degrees left and facing east, these are the docks, deconstructed at lake's edge. The fishing dock has railings, the boat dock has a bench. I believe they are both floating docks.
Second is boat ramp and also where the boat dock was, still facing south, just a few step east of the last pic.
Third, turning 90 degrees left and facing east, these are the docks, deconstructed at lake's edge. The fishing dock has railings, the boat dock has a bench. I believe they are both floating docks.
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BelieveinUFO
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hey Oliipop,
do you have photos of where you saw tire marks?
Is it the same place as below?
May be if you are free this week sometime, you can drive and take a photo at the intersection of S Evans and Arbutus ave towards the bush as shown in the image below
The other attached image is the 3 most deserted places with possible car/truck path close to the trail.
do you have photos of where you saw tire marks?
Is it the same place as below?
May be if you are free this week sometime, you can drive and take a photo at the intersection of S Evans and Arbutus ave towards the bush as shown in the image below
The other attached image is the 3 most deserted places with possible car/truck path close to the trail.
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I was thinking when I walked over to get the pic that there would be one there. I know there is one nearby, maybe on its own sign back to the left of this one. Not sure where, but my wife and I know there is signage to that effect somewhere. Remember, we are here very often, but today was weird: so many people, news crews, LE, that we didn't feel comfortable. It was like having strangers in our living room. And the fact that we couldn't take the trail around the lake meant I really couldn't get the pics I truly wanted. (I wanted to make a vid of the walk thru the tight area, may yet at some time if it becomes accessible.)
WholeLottaRosie
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Ollipop, these are GREAT pictures and have given me a much better idea of the area. Thanks for doing this!!!
I do have pics of that first area coming...working my way thru them.
The other areas are not as "deserted" as you may think. We usually access the trail from just north of those spots, where the trail splits and one part heads off to Gilbert Ave. The houses across the street from us are the ones whose backyards abut this area, it doesn't feel secluded at all, tbh, although you are correct, there are woodsy spots along there, but they are not dense, fairly maintained recently (cutting back kudzu or some vines that are threatening all areas near Iowa interstates these days). On that west edge of the lake is a bench, a great spot with a great view, very popular. Behind it leads to a field - corn now, I think - and then houses on River Forest Road. Somewhat remote, but well-scoured in the search, early and often.
The "A" in your second pic is private drives, not likely to be used without being noticed. My house is just across the street, just out of the crop, to the north, in that pic, btw.
First pic is standing on that boat ramp, looking west along the trail as it begins. It sort of winds/meanders a bit to start. You can see the sign I shot earlier, and the tank off behind it. The people in chairs are essentially in the same spot the grannies were photo'd with their feet up the other day. There is a truck barely visible in the back, behind the tank, parked at the residence with the private drive I just mentioned in my previous post.
Second is facing same, just further up the trail, showing the distance from this side of the lake to the island. The trail is like this - this width, in asphalt - all the way around.
Third is standing on the boat ramp, looking across the lake to the southeast, at the jetty. On the left, where the deer is, is a yard, giving some idea as to the affluence of those houses on the lake there. I'm not sure exactly how many houses are right on the lake, but they are all desirable, while not overly luxurious, homes. In the background is the jetty, where the gate is, where the trail narrows and is just off the water. You can see the jetty is narrow, as the little tractor is barely on it, and the pump is actually hanging off the edge. I believe they are pumping water down up and into that drain pipe.
Fourth is just a zoom on that jetty. You can hear the pump running very well. From what I understand, the bikes would have been found somewhere within a few feet of directly behind that little tractor, on the trail. We are facing southeast, so the "spooky" part starts right there, and continues for maybe 30-ish steps to the left of this pic. You can see where the lake just begins to curve away from the trail, as there is a tree between the lake and the fence on the left. It gets pretty dark behind there.
Second is facing same, just further up the trail, showing the distance from this side of the lake to the island. The trail is like this - this width, in asphalt - all the way around.
Third is standing on the boat ramp, looking across the lake to the southeast, at the jetty. On the left, where the deer is, is a yard, giving some idea as to the affluence of those houses on the lake there. I'm not sure exactly how many houses are right on the lake, but they are all desirable, while not overly luxurious, homes. In the background is the jetty, where the gate is, where the trail narrows and is just off the water. You can see the jetty is narrow, as the little tractor is barely on it, and the pump is actually hanging off the edge. I believe they are pumping water down up and into that drain pipe.
Fourth is just a zoom on that jetty. You can hear the pump running very well. From what I understand, the bikes would have been found somewhere within a few feet of directly behind that little tractor, on the trail. We are facing southeast, so the "spooky" part starts right there, and continues for maybe 30-ish steps to the left of this pic. You can see where the lake just begins to curve away from the trail, as there is a tree between the lake and the fence on the left. It gets pretty dark behind there.
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CHERIE.T
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Thank you for your time spent taking the pics, posting them here and for your excellent explanations of all. This helps me get a feel for the area.
Again thank you!
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