'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQG/8QAFAEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABf/aAAwDAQACEAMQAAAAxE4OX//EAB0QAAEEAwEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECAwQRAAUhEmH/2gAIAQEAAT8A18yMzCQyNXEKfIv6edxwxFOKUNdGTZuh65n/xAAWEQADAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARL/2gAIAQIBAT8AhH//xAAWEQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAL/2gAIAQMBAT8Adt//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? premiered on Prime Video on August 8, 2024. This three-part docuseries delves into a tragic and unsolved case from 2012, where two young cousins were kidnapped and murdered in Iowa.
The series focuses on the disappearance of 8-year-old Elizabeth Collins and 10-year-old Lyric Cook, who were kidnapped while riding their bicycles in Evansdale, a tight community in Iowa.
Now available on Max, the documentary seeks to shed light on the investigation and intricate web of suspects swirling in the case. It takes a methodical approach, taking viewers through the events leading up to the abduction and the long search for the missing girls.
Trending
The series showcases the struggle of the families concerned and how investigators were baffled. The real question the series asks is: who kidnapped and murdered Lyric and Elizabeth? The episodes describe the investigation in minute detail, but no conclusion is reached. This retains the mystery that has stalked this small community and both families to this day.
Taken Together: Who killed Lyric and Elizabeth?: Diving deeper into the case
The series opens in Evansdale, Iowa, where the abduction took place. It brings out the mentality of the small town, where everybody knows each other and the bonding between Lyric and Elizabeth's families runs deep.
The initial investigation focuses on the immediate family members, especially Lyric's parents, who have had their fair share of run-ins with the law. This scrutiny complicates the investigation, as their previous records lead police officers to consider their potential involvement.
The first episode brings the audience as close as possible to this community and major players in the case via interviews with family members, friends, and investigators.
This archival footage and talking head series—both elements woven together for developing this narration of the investigation—can also look into the challenges the case presents to law enforcement in finding the missing women, sorting out facts from suspicion, and monitoring any gossip floating in the community.
Investigation challenges
One of the series' prevalent themes is how the investigation is plagued by a lack of solid leads to solve the case.
The law enforcers have done much in terms of interviewing suspects and gathering evidence, yet the case remains unsolved. The series makes a compelling attempt to explore various suspects and theories, including that of a larger child abduction ring.
It presents the investigation from various angles pursued by the investigators, coupled with odds that worked against them, including no physical evidence and even conflicting statements from eyewitnesses.
Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? also shares the impact of the investigation on the families. The series effectively shows that even years after the events, both Elizabeth's and Lyric's families are taking a lot of emotional baggage from what transpired.
There is tension and a sense of distrust between them, as Elizabeth's family did not believe that Lyric's parents either directly or indirectly had nothing to do with her murder, even when they were eventually ruled out of the police list of suspects.
This doubt lingers and further complicates the case, adding to its emotional depth for those involved in and affected by the tragedy.
Presentation and conclusion of Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth?
The style of Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? is a bit conventional, conforming to the genre of the true-crime format, but it works well for the case at hand and its undying enigma.
The show opens and concludes with haunting images of the missing girls and personal accounts from those closest to them. The final episodes are full of suspense and give insight into the investigation, including a possible connection to a broader child abduction ring.
However, the series does not provide a definitive answer to the central question of who killed Lyric and Elizabeth.
Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? concludes with a chilling update, stating that months after the abduction, a 911 call from a girl claiming she was kidnapped in Dayton, OH, possibly links her case to theirs.
This cliffhanger leaves viewers with so many unanswered questions, underscoring the fact that the investigation remains open.
Taken Together: Who Killed Lyric and Elizabeth? is available for streaming on Prime Video and Max.
