Arraignment of Davenport man accused of killing family member set for Thursday

DAVENPORT, Iowa – A Davenport man charged with murder is set to appear in court Thursday for arraignment.

OCT. 30 UPDATE: Arraignment has been continued to Nov. 13 at 11 a.m. in Scott County.

Donald Brentise Jr., 41, faces multiple felony charges including First Degree Murder. He is accused of killing a family member, Tammy Brentise, 49, on the evening of Sep. 27.

Shortly before 8:30 p.m., police responded to the home in the 3800 block of W. Locust St. in Davenport for a report of a woman bleeding from her head outside the home. Officers were informed the woman appeared to have been ‘hit with an object by another family member on scene,’ affidavits show.

According to police, Donald told officers, in a post-Miranda interview, he struck Tammy in the head with a hammer three times.

Donald is also charged with Interference with Official Acts with a Weapon, a Class D Felony. He is accused of obstructing officers by refusing to comply with orders to exit the home while in possession of the hammer allegedly used to kill Tammy.

Police say the hammer was seen near Donald when they took him into custody.

In 2019, Donald was charged with Domestic Abuse Assault in Davenport but the case was later dismissed in court.

Donald remains in custody without bond at the Scott County Jail.

This is a developing story. Updates will be provided as they become available.