As a gamer with a knack for true crime documentaries, I found Dylan Sires’ debut documentary, “Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric & Elizabeth?” to be both gripping and thought-provoking. With my fingers poised on the controller, I navigated through the decades-old mystery of the Evansdale double murders, feeling as if I was a detective myself.
Dylan Sires’ first directorial effort, titled “United in Tragedy: The Mystery of Lyric and Elizabeth’s Death“, revisits the infamous Evansdale double murders. Sires, a long-time news photographer from the area, has been involved with this unsolved case for over a decade.
Back in July 2012, cousins Lyric Cook, aged 10, and Elizabeth Collins, who was just 8, went missing while they were cycling around their local neighborhood. Tragically, it wasn’t until December of that same year that hunters stumbled upon their remains deep within a secluded wildlife preserve. To this day, despite an extensive investigation spanning years, the detectives have failed to uncover who was responsible for the murders of Lyric and Elizabeth.
Initially, investigators aimed to connect a former sex offender named Michael Klunder with the committed killings. Notably, Klunder had been involved in an abduction of two girls, Kathlynn Shepard and Dezi Hughes, back in 2013, in nearby Dayton, Iowa. While Dezi was able to escape, the perpetrator ended up murdering Kathlynn, leaving her body in a river, and then taking his own life on the same day. Eventually, authorities concluded that Klunder was not responsible for the murders of Lyric and Elizabeth. The article ‘Taken Together’ provides additional insights into other potential parallels being considered by detectives and theorists.
Taken Together: Who were the suspects in Lyric & Elizabeth’s Evansdale murders?
As an ardent follower of true crime stories, I recall the chilling tale of Michael Klunder, initially suspected as a possible culprit in the murders of Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins back in 2012. However, despite intense investigations, no concrete evidence could be linked to him, leading to his dismissal as a suspect in 2014. This grim turn of events came after Klunder, a convicted sex offender with a history of violence, had already taken his own life by hanging himself. His desperate act was driven by the escape of one of his kidnap victims, Dezi Hughes, whom he had abducted. He feared imminent capture and, in an attempt to evade justice, disposed of Kathlynn Shepard’s body in a river before ending his life.
As reported by KCRG, Lyric and Elizabeth went missing from Evansdate, Iowa, on July 13, 2012, during the afternoon while they were riding their bikes around their neighborhood. They failed to return home, leading to a comprehensive investigation. Tragically, on December 5 of the same year, hunters discovered their bodies in the Seven Bridges Wildlife Area.
The authorities announced through a statement that an autopsy confirmed the identities of the remains as Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins, yet they chose not to disclose specific findings from the autopsy regarding the cause of their deaths. They felt that sharing such details might compromise the ongoing investigation by disrupting the continuity of evidence. The investigators are also convinced that the exact location where their bodies were found could be crucial in identifying and apprehending the possible perpetrator.
Detective Jason Ellison of Bremer County stated, “We suspect someone who is acquainted with the vicinity of Meyers Lake and Seven Bridges.” From the outset, investigators from Iowa’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) have been actively working on the case of Lyric and Elizabeth’s murder. Lead DCI investigator Scott Reger also shares this view, stating, “One would need to be aware of its existence, to be familiar with it, rather than randomly discovering Seven Bridges while driving along Highway 20. One must know that it’s there.”
Dylan Sires’ documentary “Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric & Elizabeth?” delves further into other possible connections beyond Michael Klunder. The three-part series also investigates similar cases and potential suspects like Jeff Altmayer, a known pedophilic sexual abuser. Furthermore, it attempts to find links to the murders of Abigail Williams and Liberty Germane in Delphi, Indiana (often referred to as Abyy and Libby). However, these connections are only circumstantial at this point.
As a true crime enthusiast who has followed numerous unsolved cases throughout my years of investigating the darker corners of society, I find myself captivated by the recently released documentary titled “Taken Together.” With its unique blend of home movie clips, archival photographs, and deeply personal interviews with Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins’ loved ones, this documentary offers a heart-wrenching account of a tragic case that has left a lasting impact on the small town of Evansdale.
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2024-08-12 22:10