IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) – A sheriff says hunters discovered the bodies believed to be two missing cousins in a secluded wildlife area about 25 miles from where they vanished in July.  Bremer County Sheriff Dewey Hildebrandt said Thursday the bodies were found in Seven Bridges Wildlife Area, a county-maintained park along the Wapsipinicon River that is popular for hunting and fishing.

Hildebrandt says investigators from his office, the FBI, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and other agencies are processing the crime scene.   Authorities said hunters on Wednesday discovered bodies believed to be 9-year-old Elizabeth Collins and 11-year-old Lyric Cook. They vanished while riding their bikes in Evansdale on July 13.

The bodies have been sent to the state medical examiner’s office in Ankeny for identification, and authorities hope to release more information Thursday.