Student Graduates The Same Day His Father's Body Is Recovered In Iowa Building Collapse
By Melanie VanDerveer on June 7, 2023 at 5:30 PM EDT
As Branden Colvin, Jr. walked across the stage to receive his high school diploma, family and friends cheered loud for him. But one important person was missing from the crowd. Branden's father, Branden Colvin, Sr. was one of the victims of the Davenport, Iowa apartment building collapse, and it wasn't until Colvin Jr's graduation day that his body was recovered.
Branden Colvin, Jr. Shared An Emotional Video On TikTok Before Graduation
In a now viral video on TikTok, Colvin Jr. shared a little glimpse into what he's been going through not knowing if his father is alive and trapped in the building.
At the top of the video he wrote, "How am I supposed to walk across the stage & graduate in 2 days & I still don't know if my dad is alive or not trapped in this building." The caption added more information about what the 18-year-old was going through. "I've been sitting outside this building for 4 days with no sleep no food no nothing I'm trying to say strong and not break down but this hard I need my dad rn."
The video received more than 4.4 million views and thousands of prayers and supportive comments.
"Please promise me no matter what you will get up there and walk across that stage! Your father loves you and is so proud of your accomplishments," one person wrote.
Another added, "You walk across that stage honey! you hold your head high! your dad is proud and i just know he wants that for you!❤️🙏🏽"
Branden Colvin Jr. Spent Days At The Collapsed Building
According to CNN, following the collapse on May 28, Colvin Jr. slept on the pavement near the building and refused to leave.
"I haven't slept. I have been out here three days, at night, all night, just waiting for anything," Colvin Jr. told CNN before graduation. "We had finals this week, Tuesday, and I tried to go to school. As soon as I walked in, I just broke down, and I was just crying. So, I don't know if I am going to be able to go to my graduation."
Colvin Jr. did walk across the stage and received his diploma in front of family and friends. He shared a video of his big accomplishment on TikTok.
After graduating, he told CNN, "He's proud of me. He is the reason I was even able to have enough strength to walk across the stage. I walked across that stage today knowing my dad is proud of me and will forever be proud of me."
On Saturday, June 3, Colvin Sr's family was informed that his body was recovered, the same day Colvin Jr graduated high school.
The Colvin Family Has Set Up A GoFundMe Page
Colvin Jr. shared a TikTok video explaining his story and the GoFundMe page that was set up to help the family with funeral expenses.
"So a lot of people have been basically asking me what happened, like what's going on. If you haven't seen the news or whatever, basically, this is my dad, and he was sleeping in his apartment building and his apartment collapsed or fell. He was trapped under it for like, I think like six days he was trapped under," he said in his video.
"On Saturday, that's when they found his body, which is the same day I graduated. After my graduation, they told me that they found him."
A GoFundMe page was set up to help with funeral expenses. In three days, the page has already raised $24,444 of their $25,000 goal.
A description on the page reads, "On May 28, 2023, in downtown Davenport, Iowa an apartment complex partially collapsed, taking the life of Branden Colvin Sr. The family is overwhelmed by the love and support received by not only family and friends but the entire community. If you would like to assist with the funeral expenses and the continued support of his children this will be the only Go Fund Me as authorized by his family."
