3 still unaccounted for in collapsed Iowa building as documents reveal over 100 interactions between city and property

NBC News 01.06.2023 21:02:35 Marlene Lenthang and Shaquille Brewster
Police continue to secure a six-story apartment building on May 29, 2023, in Davenport, Iowa, after it collapsed the day before. (Scott Olson / Getty Images)

Three people are still unaccounted for in the 116-year-old Iowa building that collapsed Sunday, police said Thursday.

Those three individuals were identified as: Branden Colvin, Ryan Hitchcock and 60-year-old Daniel Prien.

Earlier this week police said five were unaccounted for, but two of those people have since been located: one moved out a month ago and was found in Texas and another was located in Davenport.

Davenport Police Chief Jeffery Bladel said there's a "high probability" the three missing individuals were home when a portion of the building caved in and are in "that collapsed space."

"All the information provided to us is that space is not sustainable to life," he added.

Davenport Mayor Mike Matson said there's no timeline for demolition as officials work with experts to find a way to safely demolish the building while acknowledging it as a "resting place."

The city released a cache of documents and permits Wednesday evening showing a history of tenant complaints and issues plaguing 324 Main Street.

When asked by reporters during a Thursday press conference on why the building wasn't shut down despite a myriad of problems, city officials said the collapse is " a new thing for our city" and that they trusted a May report from an engineering firm hired by the property owner which deemed the structure safe.

Here are most damning revelations in the released documents:

Since the collapse, there's been outrage and frustration with the city's handling of the building and collapse aftermath.

A citation was filed against Wold on Tuesday in Scott County Court for failing to maintain the building in a safe and sanitary condition. The city asked for a $300 fine plus court fees.

"The city of Davenport requests that the Court order the defendant from committing any further violations of the city code provisions," the citation said.

City Attorney Tom Warner said that the citation was filed to prevent Wold from transferring the property to avoid the demolition order.

A court date is set for June 9.

Former and recent tenants of the historic Iowa apartment building said they had complained to management for years about cracks in the walls, a lack of heat and air conditioning, and plumbing woes - but were consistently ignored.

When asked Thursday if the city should have vacated the building to prevent such a disaster, Mayor Mike Matson simply said: "I have the same anger and concern."

Wold purchased the historic property in June 2021. He issued his first public comment since the Sunday collapse on Tuesday.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with our tenants and families during this difficult time," a statement signed by Andrew Wold and the Village Property Management team said.

"We have been working closely with the American Red Cross and other agencies to assist the displaced tenants affected by this event. We are forever grateful to them for all of their assistance with our tenants," the brief statement said. 

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

vendredi 2 juin 2023 00:02:35 Categories:

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