ADAMS COUNTY, Ohio — Monday marks 25 days since a collapse at the Killen Generating Station demolition site, which trapped worker Jamie Fitzgerald inside.

 

What You Need To Know

  • Crews expect to continue searching at the Killen Generating Plant

  • Jamie Fitzgerald has been trapped in the rubble since Dec. 9

  • His loved ones urge patience now and answers when he's out of the debris

  • OSHA is investigating the collapse


Crews continue their search as his loved ones hold out hope they'll find him soon.

Lora Conley, Fitzgerald's fiancée, has been at the site every day. She said at this point, the plant is nearly unrecognizable.

"I think it looks worse every day," she said. "They keep digging and they keep digging, and you think more’s gone away, but then it keeps getting worse.”

Since Dec. 9, Conley has been waiting for news about Fitzgerald.

"Last night, we just stayed here because I thought, 'We can’t leave him here alone,'” she said.

The 47-year-old was one of the several contractors with Adamo Group working on a planned demolition at the Generating Station.

The building collapsed at 8:36 a.m. Five workers were trapped inside. Crews rescued three that day.

They recovered the body of Doug Gray, a truck driver with L.R. Daniel's Trucking, four days later.

Conley said Gray's family has been one of her strongest sources of support as she waits to hear about Fitzgerald.

“I ended up going to Doug’s funeral," she said. "Actually, one of their family members contacts me every day.”

Adamo Group declared their efforts a recovery mission the night of the collapse. Crews said it was unlikely they'd find Gray and Fitzgerald alive.

Adamo has hired an outside engineering firm, Thornton and Thomassetti, to help search the site. Crews are out every day to go through the rubble.

Adamo said they expect to find Fitzgerald in mid-to-late January.

“Our focus continues to be on recovering Jamie and protecting the workers who are on site," the group wrote in a statement sent out Dec. 29. "Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with Jamie’s loved ones.”

The demolition site remains dangerous for search crews, delaying the process. Heavy machinery has to sift through the debris carefully so as to not cause it to collapse any further.

"You get mad. I’m mad," Conley said. "But I’m more upset now. I just want him out."

She said there's a lot of frustration among Fitzgerald's friends and loved ones. Conley said she understands it, but at this point, it's not helping.

“After we get him out, there will be a time and place and everyone will have to answer," she said.

Until then, Conley is urging patience.

"I believe in my heart that if there’s any ounce of Jamie that could survive, he did," she said. "He wouldn’t give up on me. He wouldn’t give up on the kids."

OSHA is investigating what lead up to the collapse. Adamo is cooperating with their investigation and with local authorities as the search continues.