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Three Tenants Missing, Davenport Employee Resigns

A sign placed on the fence surrounding the "The Davenport" disaster site
Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News
A sign placed on the fence surrounding the "The Davenport" disaster site

Police have located two of five tenants who had been unaccounted for from The Davenport apartment building collapse. One is living in Texas and the other is here in the Quad Cities. That leaves three tenants presumed to be in the building debris and probably haven't survived.

Chief Jeff Bladel says a resident named Daniel Prien is still missing, along with Branden Colvin and Ryan Hitchcock. All three lived in apartments located in or near the part of the building that collapsed on Sunday.

Police have also been trying to find out if any homeless people were in the building at the time. "Our community impact team cavassed not only our faith-based areas, we work with our shelters. We work with our street outreach people. We went out on the street and interviewed people to see if anybody had any additional information of anybody being in that building. At this point, we're not getting any further information that other people are in this building and missing."

Rich Oswald, Dir. of Director of Development and Neighborhood Services, speaks at Thursday morning's Davenport press conference as Chief Jeff Bladel listens.
Michelle O'Neill
/
WVIK News
Rich Oswald, Dir. of Director of Development and Neighborhood Services, speaks at Thursday morning's Davenport press conference as Chief Jeff Bladel listens.

Hundreds of documents are now available online. Rich Oswald, Director of Development and Neighborhood Services, says a May 25th permit was wrongly labeled "pass."

"We understand this was an administrative error. But the magnitude of the situation and the error that was made...the employee, staff member gave the resignation yesterday. They are no longer with the city. I want the public to know that the status of incomplete is accurate."

Incomplete means the repairs were not done, and no evaluation could be made.

Mayor Mike Matson says everything possible will be done to make sure the recovery of the remains of tenants from the debris will be done with dignity and respect, calling the site their "resting place."

Also listen to this interview with Zachary Oren Smith from our partner Iowa Public Radio stations. It aired during All Things Considered tonight.

Officially, Michelle's title for 28 years was WVIK News Editor. She did everything there is to do in the newsroom and whatever was needed around the radio station. She also served as Acting News Director from September 2023 - January 2024.
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