Three victims recovered from the scene of Davenport building collapse

May 03, 2023

Gov. Kim Reynolds talks with Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten as the governor tours the site of The Davenport building collapse, Monday, June 5, 2023, in Davenport. The 80-unit apartment building in downtown Davenport collapsed May 28.

Gov. Kim Reynolds tours the site of The Davenport building collapse.

The remains of three victims have been recovered from the collapsed building, Davenport Police Chief Jeff Bladel said at a Monday news conference.

He said the police department did not have any information at this time that additional people were missing.

Later Monday evening, the Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team suspended its search, rescue and recovery efforts at the collapse site, Sarah Ott, Davenport's Chief Strategy Officer, said in an email issued at 6:35 p.m. The task force determined that the building had no more collapse victims inside.

Collapsed building material had been removed from the foundation of 324 Main St. as of that time, she said.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, center, tours the site of The Davenport building collapse Monday, June 5, 2023, in Davenport. The 80-unit apartment building in downtown Davenport collapsed May 28.

Branden Colvin Sr. was found Saturday, Ryan Hitchcock was found Sunday and Daniel Prien was found early Monday morning. Families of all three have been contacted, Bladel said.

The medical examiner has met with the families, he said. There will be autopsies done on all three. He did not say whether the three died immediately upon the collapse May 28.

Officials said an investigation was ongoing.

Inside the doors to the lobby of the Davenport Police Department Monday morning, Desiree Banks, the mother of Branden Colvin Jr., questioned Bladel after the news conference on whether more people could be under the rubble.

Iowa Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue, talk outside The Davenport, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. Three men died from the collapse.

Bladel told her in front of a reporter that the remains of Prien and Hitchcock had also been found in the rubble, which brought tears to Banks' eyes.

Bladel assured her they knew of no one else who was missing.

Officials rescued seven people immediately after the collapse, escorted another dozen out of the building and rescued another person from the rubble with an on-site amputation.

Less than 12 hours after the collapse, officials said they had no credible information that anyone was missing under the rubble and ordered the "immediate demolition" of the building, which was deemed structurally unsound.

The response drew community backlash from families and friends of those who were missing and others, who urged the city to continue searching. Monday night, another person, Lisa Brooks, called her daughter and was rescued from a fourth-story window.

Rescue and recovery efforts continued Thursday after the city activated a state rescue task force. Friday and Saturday onlookers could see parts of the collapsed building being pulled down, an action the city said was to get rid of hazards to rescue and recovery crews.

Colvin Sr., 42, was recovered at 11:59 a.m. Saturday, Bladel said. On Sunday, the remains of Ryan Hitchcock, 51, were recovered and identified at 12:25 p.m. And the final person, Daniel Prien, 60, was recovered at 2:30 a.m. Monday.

Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue chief Rick Halleran said during the news conference that they had brought some closure to families over the weekend and that crews may transition to a "new phase in the process."

"As we come into today's operations, following the goals and objectives by the command staff of the city and the incident management team, in all hopes, it looks like we'll be wrapping things up shortly," Halleran said. "That being said, they are still working, things are dynamic, and they still can be changing. The hope is that we will be entering a new chapter, a new phase in the process of working through the aftermath of the collapse."

Mayor Mike Matson said Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds was on site and would tour the wreckage Monday. He cut short the news conference after only a few questions because he was set to update her, Matson said.

"Gov. Reynolds has been in contact with Davenport city officials since the collapse of the building and will be on the ground today to get an update on the latest information," Reynolds' spokesperson, Kollin Crompton, wrote in an email.

Gov. Kim Reynolds, right, talks with Davenport Fire Chief Michael Carlsten as the governor tours the site of The Davenport building collapse Monday, June 5, 2023, in Davenport.

Reynolds was seen at the collapse site later Monday morning.

The city last held a news conference Friday morning. Over the weekend, family members of Branden Colvin Sr. said they were notified his body was found, the first public disclosure of remains having been found and identified.

A vigil for the victims was held Sunday evening, with family members, friends and others lighting candles, saying prayers, and sharing memories. Some attendees there also planned a march ahead of Wednesday's 5:30 p.m. Davenport city council meeting.

Sunday morning the city said crews had continued working on The Davenport apartments, at 324 Main St., which collapsed around 5 p.m. May 28. Workers on site now include members of Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue and the Northwest Illinois Incident Management Team.

Bladel said an investigation had been initiated through the city fire marshal's office. Also assisting are the Division of Criminal Investigation, the Davenport Police Department's investigation team, and the medical examiner's office, Bladel said, and more subject matter experts may be on site as needed.

"This is an active investigation," Bladel said, adding more information would be released when it could be.

Gov. Kim Reynolds tours the site of The Davenport building collapse, Monday, June 5, 2023, in Davenport. The 80-unit apartment building in downtown Davenport collapsed May 28.

Matson said the city was looking into a 911 call that was placed May 27, in which the caller said he had heard the building wall was bulging and should be checked out.

Asked whether owner Andrew Wold, who bought the building in 2021 for more than $4 million, has been in contact with the city, Matson said: "I have had no contact with him."

Asked again whether Wold had been consulting or helping, Matson said "Not that I'm aware of."

Reporter Anthony Watt contributed to this report.

Mike Collier, Branden Colvin Sr.'s cousin, leads a prayer on Sunday, June 4, 2023, during a vigil at the site of the building collapse on May 28 which led to his cousin's death. Next to him are Colvin's sons.

Branden Colvin Jr., center, lights candles for his father, Branden Colvin Sr. with Devina Henderson, left, and Malia Rush, right, during a candlelight vigil for Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien on Sunday night at the site of The Davenport collapse in Davenport. The building partially collapsed last week.

A man kneels and holds a cross after tying it to the fencing surrounding the site of The Davenport apartment building collapse, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport.

Iowa Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue, talk outside The Davenport, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. Three men died from the collapse.

A woman reacts during a candlelight vigil for Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, outside of Davenport City Hall, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The three men were presumed missing in the debris of The Davenport apartment building after it partially collapsed last Sunday. Colvin's body was recovered on June 3rd.

Community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, outside of Davenport City Hall, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The three men were presumed missing in the debris of The Davenport apartment building after it partially collapsed last Sunday. Colvin's body was recovered on June 3rd.

Iowa Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue, talk outside The Davenport, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport, one week after the building partially collapsed, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

A sign reading "official notice do not enter" is posted on the door to The Spot Bar & Lounge, located near the scene of an apartment building that partially collapsed last week, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

A sign reading "official notice do not enter" is posted on the door to Me & Billy, located near the scene of an apartment building that partially collapsed last week, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. )ne fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

A look at The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. Heavy equipment has started going through the rubble and the rest of the building, as the search continues for two men still unaccounted for.

A sign reading "official notice do not enter" hangs on a fence on Sunday, June 4, 2023, around the scene of an apartment building that partially collapsed last week in Davenport.

A Davenport Police crime scene unit SUV arrives at the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport.

Signs with the pictures of the three missing men from The Davenport building collapse hang on the fence line around the collapse site, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport.

A Davenport Police officer walks through the site of the partial building collapse of The Davenport, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport.

A look at The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport.

The reflection of The Davenport is seen in the front windows of Davenport City Hall on Sunday, June 4, 2023, after the 80-unit building partially collapsed last week in Davenport.

A look at front of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. The orange boxes hold equipment being used by search teams on site, which include Iowa Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023 one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. Support teams from both Iowa and Illinois have come to Davenport for the effort.

Tokens and flowers sit on the road against the fence surrounding the partial building collapse at The Davenport, 324 Main St., Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

Signs and pictures of the three missing men from The Davenport building collapse hang on the fence line around the collapse site, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport.

A look at The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

A Davenport Police crime scene unit SUV arrives at the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, after the 80-unit apartment building partially collapsed last week in Davenport. Branden Colvin Sr.'s body was found Saturday, his family said. Two men are still missing.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, June 4, 2023, one week after the building partially collapsed in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

A sign reading "corruption kills!" hangs on a fence around Davenport City Hall on Sunday, June 4, 2023, a week after an apartment building partially collapsed in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

Emergency crews work the scene of The Davenport on Sunday, one week after the building partially collapsed, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted for after the rear section of the 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

Iowa Task Force 1, Urban Search and Rescue, stand on Fourth Street while conducting search and rescue operations inside The Davenport, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. One fatality from the collapse has been reported from the building, The Davenport, and two others remain unaccounted.

A man kneels and holds a cross after tying it to the fencing surrounding the site of The Davenport apartment building collapse, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The six-story, 80-unit building partially collapsed last Sunday.

Malia Rush holds a candle during a vigil for Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, at the site of The Davenport collapse, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The building partially collapsed last week.

Devina Henderson places candles on Fourth Street in the initials of Branden Colvin Sr. during a candlelight vigil for Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The three men were presumed missing in the debris of The Davenport apartment building after it partially collapsed last Sunday. Colvin's body was recovered on June 3rd.

Branden Colvin Jr. lights a candle during a vigil for his father, Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, at the site of The Davenport collapse, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport.

Malia Rush lights candles in the shape of BC for Branden Colvin Sr. during a candlelight vigil for Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, at the site of The Davenport collapse, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The building partially collapsed last week.

Kelsey Wethington and her daughter Amelia, 6, hold candles during a vigil for Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien on Sunday night at the site of The Davenport collapse in Davenport. The building partially collapsed last week.

Community members gather for a candlelight vigil for Branden Colvin Sr., Ryan Hitchcock and Daniel Prien, outside of Davenport City Hall, Sunday, June 4, 2023, in Davenport. The three men's bodies were found in the debris of The Davenport apartment building after it partially collapsed Sunday, May 28.

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It has been seven days since The Davenport collapsed, killing at least one person and injuring and displacing more.

"This is just the start. Wednesday during the city council meeting they’re going to hear our voices," one vigil attendee said.

Branden Colvin Sr.'s family was notified Saturday that his remains had been found at the building which collapsed a week ago.

It was quieter on the scene of 324 Main St., on Tuesday, nine days after the six-story building partially collapsed.

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Family members of Branden Colvin, Sr., who died in the collapse of 324 Main St., questioned council members, saying they'd failed them.

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