Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations report on The Davenport shares investigation conclusions

A report detailing the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations’ investigation into the partial collapse of The Davenport on May 28, 2023 was recently obtained by Our Quad Cities News.

The report details the limitations of discovery of police reports and names the people who died or were seriously injured in the partial collapse, including Ryan Hitchcock, Daniel Prien, Brandon Colvin Sr. and Quanishia (Peach) White-Cotton Berry. It also offers a synopsis of the events leading to the partial collapse and the aftermath. Some items were redacted on the report, such as the victims’ causes of death.

The report says that based on the investigation performed to date, White Birch Group and SOCOTEC Engineering, the companies hired to investigate the cause of the partial collapse, they reached these conclusions:

Root causes of collapse: (1) inadequate capacity of wall system; (2) inadequate shoring

Proximate causes of collapse: (1) improper understanding of original building construction; (2) inadequate construction documents; (3) neglect of composite wall; (4) inadequate oversight of repairs; (5) inherent weakness of west wall; (6) inadequate repair techniques; (7) inadequate frequency and type of maintenance.

The report ends with “through the course of the investigation to date, regular communications have been had with Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham in continually assessing how the findings of the investigation apply to Iowa criminal law.”

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