Nearly a decade later, the death of Gregory “Greg” Dunbar remains a source of heartbreak and unanswered questions for his family.
The body of the 35-year-old Davenport man was recovered from the Mississippi River near Buffalo, Iowa, on Friday morning, May 13, 2016. A caller reported seeing a body near the boat ramp off Front Street around 9:20 a.m., prompting a response from the Buffalo Fire Department, Buffalo Police Department, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office.
When first recovered, Dunbar had no identification on him and was described by officials as a white male, approximately 5-foot-11 and 170 pounds. Authorities initially stated the individual was unidentified and that the cause of death was unknown.
Dunbar’s family would not learn of his death for three days.
Following identification, Dunbar’s mother, Lisa Duffy of Davenport, expressed deep concern that her son’s mental illness may have made him vulnerable to harm. In a 2016 interview with WQAD Channel 8, Duffy described Greg as trusting and gentle, noting that he was on medication for a mental health condition.
“He was very trusting of everybody,” she said. “He had a mental illness and was on medication for that.”
While the cause of death was later listed as drowning, Duffy has consistently said she does not believe her son would have taken his own life.
At the time he was last seen alive on May 8, 2016, Dunbar lived in an apartment building on Davenport’s 37th Street — more than four miles from where his body was found. He did not own a vehicle. According to Duffy, some residents of the apartment building reported that Dunbar may have been assaulted shortly before he disappeared.
“One said he had a cut lip and black eyes,” Duffy told WQAD, adding that she did not know whether those injuries were connected to his disappearance.
Investigators have said they are unsure whether Dunbar’s death was accidental or the result of foul play. Scott County Sheriff’s investigators and Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities continue to seek information related to Dunbar’s movements in the days leading up to his death.
A tip line was established at (309) 762-9500, where callers could remain anonymous. At the time, a $1,000 reward was offered for information leading to a felony arrest.
“I’d really love to have that closure,” Duffy said. “I just hope somebody knows something and comes forward.”
Another detail surrounding her son’s death has continued to weigh heavily on her.
“They thought he was homeless,” she said. “That breaks my heart.”
Gregory Oliver Dunbar was born on March 3, 1981. He was a lifelong sports fan who loved the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Chicago Bears. Friends and family remember him for his kindness, love of basketball and pool, and for the time he spent boating with his father.
A memorial visitation was held on May 20, 2016, at Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home in Davenport, followed by a private burial at Oakdale Memorial Gardens.
Those who knew Greg describe him as quiet, unassuming, and deeply loved — a man whose life mattered and whose story is still waiting for answers.
