Candlelight Vigil For Missing Iowans To Be Held In Waterloo

As the search for a missing college student continues in central Iowa, a Waterloo-based advocacy group that works to prevent child abuse and strengthen families plans a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening (Aug. 1, 2018).

The Family and Children’s Council of Black Hawk County is holding the community event at the RiverLoop Amphitheatre in downtown Waterloo, starting at 7 PM.

Hundreds of people are expected to come together in a show of support for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbets of Brooklyn and for Jake Wilson, the 16-year-old with autism who disappeared from La Porte City on April 7th when he went for a walk near a local creek and never returned home. Tibbetts vanished 13 days ago. She was last seen jogging near her hometown on the evening of July 18. Investigators have declined to label either case a kidnapping.

According to organizers, the candlelight vigil is also being held to support Kaiden Estling of Maynard, the 14-year-old killed in a hit-and-run accident in June. Estling died after the moped he was driving on Iowa Highway 150 in Fayette County was struck by another vehicle that fled the scene before deputies arrived. Authorities are still searching for a suspect in the fatal crash.

Event organizers also plan to remember the two young cousins who disappeared while riding their bicycles in Evansdale six years ago. Investigators have determined that Elizabeth Collins and Lyric Cook-Morrissey were kidnapped and killed in 2012. The case remains unsolved.

Collins would have celebrated her 15th birthday on Tuesday.

According to event planners, the candlelight vigil will conclude with dozens of sky latterns being launched over the Cedar River.