Been SuperDad all day, just catching up.
Can any of our wonderful locals say if its common to have transients/homeless/drifters in the area? I'd imagine in a town this small...you'd recognize someone who is "out of place" or is it common to have non-residents pass thru frequently?
There is a local transient or two. I am a disc golfer (was, anyway) and I and several of my discing friends consistently see the same couple guys on bikes - old, haggard, drunk, but very friendly. Earlier this spring, a member of my disc golf league (there is a course in Deerwood Park, a block from Meyers Lake), mentioned he'd sort of befriended a homeless guy (one of those two transients I'd seen and still see once in a while), and was taking him some blankets because its cold out. I have heard of a small camp on the other side of the interstate, in the woods near the river. By camp, I mean where one or two ppl sleep. I am certain the local police know of these ppl, I've seen them talking to them. I've personally talked to them once, when they were resting on the bench on the west end of the lake. They were articulate, friendly, but drunk. I had my kids with me. They were respectful, and did not strike me as dangerous or creepy in any way, just downtrodden. I've never seen either begging, loitering, or panhandling. They travel by bike, they keep to themselves, they apparently don't cause trouble.
Living in Evansdale
The Collins Family: Drew and Heather Cook Collins and their four children, one of whom is Elizabeth, 8.
Heather's mother, Wylma Cook, comes over most mornings to help Heather care for Drew and Heather's four children because Heather has a serious health problem. Lyric has been accompanying her grandmother to the Collins' home recently since her mother, Misti, began a new job.
Living in Waterloo
Wylma Cook: Misti Cook Morrissey lives with her mother, Wylma Cook, and Misti's daughter, Lyric, 10. Lyric is the daughter of Mysti and Daniel E. Morrissey. Wylma is the mother of three daughters: Heather, Misti, and Tammy.
Vicki Weikert: Paternal grandmother of Lyric Morrissey. Mother of Daniel E. Morrissey.
I think I have it correct about who lives where for those listed above, but does anyone know...
1) Does Lyric's brother live with Lyric and Misti Morrissey and their grandmother/mother, Wylma Cook, in Waterloo or does he live somewhere else?
2) Does Dan Morrissey live with Lyric, Misti and Wylma at Wylma's house or does he live with his mother in Waterloo or does he have his own place?
3) Are Misti and Dan Morrissey married to each other at this time or is he married to someone else (he mentioned a wife one night on TV)?
I'm confused....
Oh dear. JVM does have new info.
1. Daniel has long rap sheet of arrests, most recently meth (very recent). Caught with 3 meth labs. Trial coming up in 3 weeks. He is addicted to it and makes it.
2. Daniel and Misti have been separated for some time. Daniel is bio father (speculation was he was step-father)
3. Daniel has a 16 yo son and was at home with him when girls went missing.
I would think as far as the community goes, yes, we'd notice a transient in our neighborhoods. Especially in Evansdale, you tend to know more about the neighbors.
Are Misti and Dan Morrissey married to each other at this time or is he married to someone else (he mentioned a wife one night on TV)?
Aunt Tammy on the JVM show just said that Dan and Misty have been separated for some time due to his meth addiction
I have "inside" info that I was not comfortable mentioning before seeing this from JVM, but I can confirm all of the above. I have no specific knowledge of DM's criminal record, but do know that he and Misti are in the process of terminating their marriage, and from what I understand were not to be around each other. Obviously recent events have made that impossible. I'm not sure what of this is public record. I don't believe they are/were attempting to keep any of this secret, however.
I really am this far back in the thread, but reading this I wanted to mention it since it backs up what I'd said earlier about the pressure in this family and them not exactly wanting to be under the microscope.
I'm honestly not sure I should be mentioning this at all, but did because I see it was brought up on national TV.
It's funny you mention that. When I was looking at Ollipop's pics and some of the obscure trails, that came to my mind. We fish alot and those trails look to be walked by fisher people trying for better access to the lake looking for a good fishing hole.
I can imagine that would be a good spot to hide off the beaten trail so to speak.
Yup, that is my suspicion as well. Either someone hid there and lured them into an awaiting vehicle, or did so back up by their home, and either hurriedly dumped the bikes back behind the lake, or left them and some other kids, now too scared to speak up, hopped on them and rode them down there. Obviously confirming that someone spotted the girls near the lake solidifies only one of those possibilities.