DAVENPORT, Iowa — Iowa officials are at odds over whether to release the full report on the deadly 2023 building collapse in downtown Davenport that killed three residents and injured others. While portions of the Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) report have been shared by a private citizen, authorities continue to weigh transparency against safety concerns and ongoing litigation.

A summary of the report, shared with media outlets by Ezra Sidran, offers an overview of the case: how DCI was brought in, who conducted the investigation, and findings from a forensic engineering report commissioned by the city last fall. However, the synopsis provides no new insight into the cause of the collapse, instead deferring to previously published engineering conclusions.

The synopsis outlines the timeline of DCI’s involvement, noting that special agents began leading a criminal investigation on June 1, 2023, at the city’s request. It also identifies the agents involved in the extensive probe, including Special Agent in Charge Richard Rah (now retired), case agent Ryan Kedley, and a team of over a dozen local and state investigators. Their work included aerial assessments conducted by drone overnight.

The synopsis names the three men who died in the collapse:

• Branden Colvin Sr., 42, of apartment 511
• Ryan Hitchcock, 51, of apartment 208
• Daniel Prien, 60, of apartment 309

Although the cause and manner of death were redacted in the public summary, prior reporting confirmed the state medical examiner ruled all three men died from “multiple blunt force injuries with mechanical asphyxia.” Colvin’s family, who have filed a wrongful death lawsuit, believe he may have survived under the debris for a significant time — possibly days — before dying.

The summary also mentions Quanishia White-Cotton Berry, who lived in apartment 411 and was dramatically rescued from the rubble. During her rescue, emergency responders were forced to amputate her leg to save her life.

DCI’s synopsis echoes the findings of engineering firms White Birch Group and Socotec Engineering, Inc., which determined the collapse resulted from the inadequate capacity of the wall system and lack of proper shoring. Their investigation also cited seven “proximate causes” contributing to the disaster:

• Improper understanding of the original construction
• Inadequate documentation
• Neglect of the composite wall system
• Poor oversight of repairs
• Inherent west wall weakness
• Faulty repair techniques
• Insufficient maintenance

The building’s owner, Andrew Wold, had pulled multiple permits for work on the structure after purchasing it two years earlier. Just days after the collapse, the city issued a citation for maintaining an unsafe structure.

While DCI has concluded its criminal investigation, Scott County Attorney Kelly Cunningham announced in February that her office would not pursue criminal charges.

“Based on my review of the information in the investigative report,” she told the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus, “there will be no criminal charges in the building collapse case.”

Yet Cunningham has declined to release the full DCI report, citing ongoing threats against the building’s owner and manager and the potential for interference with civil litigation. Her office has received several public records requests from media outlets and citizens but has maintained the document should remain confidential.

On Friday, Cunningham’s office formally petitioned the Iowa Public Information Board to determine whether the report should be withheld. The filing includes affidavits from both the building’s owner and manager describing threats received after the collapse.

During the investigation, agents were in regular contact with Cunningham’s office. “Agents regularly communicated with Cunningham in continually assessing how the findings of the investigation apply to Iowa criminal law,” the synopsis states.

Kedley, the lead DCI agent, confirmed to the Quad-City Times/Dispatch-Argus a year ago that his team coordinated closely with Cunningham during the entire investigation.

The ongoing legal and public debate reflects broader questions about accountability, transparency, and public safety following one of Iowa’s most tragic structural failures in recent memory.

Originally reported by Sarah Watson in Fire Rescue 1.