Dyersburg Housing Authority demolishes fire-damaged complex before residents could retrieve belongings

DYERSBURG, Tenn. (WBBJ) – It’s been nearly three months since a fire damaged a Dyersburg Housing Authority apartment complex.

“The housing authority had no concern. Expressed no care in the world,” said Myra West, the daughter of a resident.

West says while the building has been demolished, several residents and former residents say they’re still unable to retrieve sentimental belongings.

“They wouldn’t let me get none of the things out of my house. Including mom ashes and son ashes,” said Makeisha Jackson, resident.

“I lost my ex-husband eight years ago and everything I had that belonged to him was there,” said Beth Nagy, resident.

For many of these former residents, this isn’t just about furniture or clothing. They say what’s been the hardest is being unable to recover family photos, keepsakes and other personal items that can’t be replaced.

“And we have tried every which way possible. The right way to get our belongings,” said Nagy.

“Every legal avenue to try to do this the right way. We file paperwork and petitions to try to get the housing authority to cooperate with them, so they can retrieve items that are sentimental and personal,” said James Lanier, the brother of a resident.

Lanier says his sister lived in the apartment complex for nearly 20 years. He says the family has contacted the Dyersburg Housing Authority several times, hoping to gain access to recover personal belongings, but now their homes have been demolished.

“We try to pick up and go on with our lives, and that’s hard to do. When you’ve been in a place for almost 20 years, there’s a lot of memories there. There’s things there that’s not replaceable and being treated like you’re a nobody,” said Lori West, resident.

Several residents told WBBJ they feel they’ve been left without answers as they continue rebuilding their lives months after the fire.

“My things. There where things in there that yeah they were like well don’t you have renters insurance? There’s things in there that renters insurances does not cover,” said Nagy.

We also reached out to the Dyersburg Housing Authority for a response to the concerns raised by residents. During our conversation they did not provide a statement.

Myra West says demolition didn’t start until after she told the Dyersburg Housing Authority that she and other residents planned to take legal action to get access to their belongings. We’ll keep you all up to date if the Housing Authority decides to comment.