Max’s three-part documentary Taken Together delves into the heartbreaking case of young cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins, who vanished without a trace in the summer of 2012 in Evansdale, Iowa. Directed by Dylan Sires and premiering in 2022, the documentary aims to honor Lyric and Elizabeth’s memory through a compassionate investigation of the girls’ abduction and murder.
Over its episodes, the program examines the police work to find answers and highlights the families’ resilience in the face of senseless tragedy. While many questions remain, Taken Together stands as a tribute that refuses to let Lyric, Elizabeth, and their heartbroken loved ones be forgotten.
On a sunny July day ten years ago, ten-year-old Lyric and her eight-year-old cousin Elizabeth rode their bikes as they always did, waving to neighbors in their tight-knit community. But on this afternoon, the girls never returned home. What began as a search for two missing children soon revealed an even darker reality: Lyric and Elizabeth had been kidnapped.
In the months that followed, a massive law enforcement effort and nationwide attention failed to locate the girls or identify who took them. Tragically, their bodies were eventually found in a wildlife area, and no suspect was arrested for their deaths.
Taken Together handles this unimaginable crime and its aftermath with great care. Over three episodes, the series paints a picture of the victims’ all-too-short lives, the investigations that left so many questions unanswered, and the indelible scars the ordeal left on friends and family.
Director Sires relies on interviews with investigators and people close to Lyric and Elizabeth to craft a tribute that honors the girls’ memories while shining a light on the cruelty of crimes against children. Though it brings no easy answers, the documentary ensures Lyric and Elizabeth will never be forgotten, keeping their spirit alive through a story of courage in the face of unspeakable loss.
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Tragic Disappearance
On a summer day in 2012, cousins Lyric Cook and Elizabeth Collins set out on a bike ride in their small hometown of Evansdale, Iowa, as they had many times before. Lyric was a bright 10-year-old, while Elizabeth, just 8, loved spending time with her favorite cousin. But that sunny afternoon would end in ways nobody could have imagined. When the girls didn’t return home by dusk, their families knew something was seriously wrong.
A massive search swung into action. As a local news photographer at the time documents, police commandeered all possible resources. Helicopters canvassed the skies, and teams of volunteers combed the wooded areas and fields nearby. It was completely out of character for Lyric and Elizabeth to not come back or call for help, adding to the panic. Two days later, the searchers made a discovery that chilled them to the bone—the girls’ abandoned bicycles near a local lake. Nearby, in some brush, also lay Elizabeth’s purse and cell phone. But still no sign of the cousins.
As the autumn came with no answers, the FBI joined longtime investigators from the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation in the swelling probe. They learned Lyric, then 10, lived with her father Dan, while Elizabeth, 8, lived with her parents Heather and Drew. The tight-knit families offered any info they had, yet no credible leads emerged from the devastated community. Then in December, hunters out in a remote wildlife area made a find no one wanted—the remains of Lyric and Elizabeth, confirming this was no ordinary missing persons case. It was a small town’s worst nightmare come true.
In the years since, police have uncovered no definitive clues about who abducted and murdered the cousins. The case grows ever more perplexing while their families continue struggling to find peace without the girls or justice for what was done. Despite many twists and tails of other crimes explored, the trauma of that day remains an unsolved mystery in Evansdale.
The Shattered Families
Losing a child is unthinkable. Yet that’s the unimaginable tragedy that Heather, Drew, and their extended clan have lived with for over a decade now. Taken Together offers an intimate look at the toll Elizabeth and Lyric’s disappearance took on their loved ones.
We see Heather and Drew in their quiet home, forever changed. Before, they lived life like most parents—dreaming of seeing their daughter grow up. But that was stolen in an instant. Now they manage the pain each new day brings, kept company only by memories.
Lyric’s parents, Misty and Dan, faced scrutiny as the investigation unfolded. As Lyric split time between them, both searched desperately when she vanished. Though cleared of wrongdoing, the stigma of past mistakes lingered in some eyes. The strain took its toll on their relationship too.
Yet through the darkness, one light remained—the fierce love between these families. When others might have blamed each other, they leaned on one another instead. Nothing could rip apart the bond Lyric and Elizabeth forged or erase the pride grandparents feel watching archived home videos of them playing.
Most powerful are the tears shed without restraint in Taken Together’s interviews. No protective wall can blunt the sharp edges grief carries. We sense wounds may heal someday, but scars will remain far deeper. Though justice remains elusive, these families show the power of persevering with compassion through shared sorrow no parent should face—keeping two young spirits alive in their hearts until the end of time.
Piecing Together a Nightmare
The investigation into what happened to Lyric and Elizabeth would stretch on for years, involving many hands trying to solve the unthinkable. Right away, the sheriff’s office and Iowa DCI started combing for answers, yet finding none wasn’t an option anyone could accept.
Naturally, Lyric’s parents Misty and Dan faced tough scrutiny as the girls’ nearest relatives. Both had criminal pasts, raising suspicion. While never charged, the strain took its toll on their relationship during those dreadful months.
Others speculated the abduction related to Dan’s drug activities or associates seeking payback over a deal gone sour. But Dan denies such claims, and police eventually ruled him out as a person of interest.
As time passed without a break, investigators widened their search. They look into Michael Klunder, a convicted sex offender who’d soon kill another girl, Kathlynn. Could he somehow be tied to Lyric and Elizabeth’s abduction? But when Klunder took his own life, any chance at justice through him was lost.
Authorities didn’t stop pursuing every lead, no matter how slim. Tips came regarding other known offenders in the area who liked hanging around the wildlife reserve where the girls were found. Or theories about a wider abduction ring at work stretched across state lines.
Sadly, none of it peaked out. More dead ends emerged than answers. You can feel law enforcers’ frustration knowing someone out there got away with these heinous crimes for years, eluding the determined manhunt every step of the way.
While the investigation highlighted several interesting persons of interests and avenues to chase, in the end it left as many questions as when it began. The real perpetrator managed to stay invisible, continuing to avoid responsibility for the nightmare inflicted on two families and an entire community.
Unraveling the Mystery
Director Dylan Sires took a careful approach to sharing this difficult story. Across three episodes, Taken Together lays out the case through interviews and archival materials from law enforcement.
We see footage and pictures from the years-long investigation, gaining new context as details emerge. Hearing straight from those involved gives glimpses into the non-stop efforts to find answers.
Sires’ interviews are his prime storytelling tool. With families and investigators alike, emotions often surface as they revisit heartache. Yet the director shows tact in handling raw moments, letting the realness of those experiences move viewers.
While focusing heavily on conversation, physical recreations of key events feel missing. Static records work, but seeing moments play out could bring investigation stages to life in a visceral way. More of that and the story may have landed with even more impact.
At its best, the program keeps attention centered around Lyric and Elizabeth’s circle of support. But shifting to multiple suspects sometimes obscures the personal core. Tighter spotlights preserving that human focus may have flowed smoother.
All the same, Sires excavates the case methodically. Though leaving the central mystery unsolved, it honors the victims by sustaining interest in their case. And perhaps bringing more public understanding will yet aid its resolution one day.
Taken Together takes a diligent approach to weaving a documentary out of tragedy. If not perfect, the care shown to every person touched makes it a meaningful tribute.
Piecing Together a Mystery
Director Dylan Sires faced immense challenges in crafting Taken Together. Respectfully, his documentary chronicles the anguish of Lyric and Elizabeth’s loved ones during their pursuit of answers.
The intimate family interviews provide a look into their persevering spirits, refusing to let the girls’ memories fade. Sir treats each participant with deep care and empathy.
While unconcluded court proceedings can propel some true crime series, the lack of resolution in this case is unavoidable. But the unsolved nature also mirrors the frustrations investigators have endured for so long.
More could have been done improving the physical visuals accompanying personal recollections of pivotal moments. But Sires makes the most of the archival assets available to him.
In the end, more questions hang than when the documentary begins. Though not a flaw of the filmmaking, it captures how incomplete the picture remains. Perhaps bringing added understanding to such tragedies can indirectly aid their resolution someday.
Taken Together achieves its aim of honoring Lyric and Elizabeth through shining light on the impacts rippled from their brief lives. If unable to provide definitive answers, it serves to remember two young souls and keep their case in the public consciousness until the perpetrator is unmasked. Some closure is still denied to this community, but this tribute ensures the girls’ story will not be forgotten with time’s passage.
Seeking Closure
Over a decade has now passed since that tragic summer day that forever altered two families. Yet for Drew, Heather, and all affected, the ache of not having answers remains.
Taken Together tells their story with great care and empathy. While unable to put names to those responsible, the documentary stands as a moving memorial, ensuring Lyric and Elizabeth are not forgotten.
Director Sires is to be commended for crafting such a tribute in the face of inherent limitations. Not all will find resolution, but perhaps sharing their anguish more widely can aid the investigation still ongoing.
As for wider implications, this case highlights how vital continued funding is for small-town departments solving complex crimes. It also shows that even the most heinous of acts can somehow still evade punishment for far too long.
Most of all, the unending pain shown reminds us that the impacts of violence can last lifetimes. One can only hope that for Drew, Heather, and their distraught community, closure may yet come before their loved ones’ senseless loss fades completely from memory. Their story deserves no less.
The Review
Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth?
Taken Together delivers a respectful tribute to two young lives tragically cut short but falls short of its full potential through an uneven narrative structure and lack of immersive reenactments. While Director Dylan Sires handles sensitive interviews with care, a tigher edit was needed to consistently maintain focus on the victims' families. Nonetheless, shining light on this unsolved case ensures Lyric and Elizabeth will never be forgotten, and their memory honors through a raw look at the indelible trauma inflicted on all affected.
PROS
- Respectful and empathetic treatment of grieving families
- Thorough exploration of complex investigations from a law enforcement perspective
- Authentic interviews that capture the visceral emotion of unhealed trauma
- Sustains interest in an unsolved case to honor victims' memories
CONS
- Unfocused narrative loses structural cohesion between episodes.
- Overlong runtime for story that could be tighter
- Lack of immersive recreation hampers storytelling.
- Insufficient integration of historical context
