Woman charged with arson for allegedly setting fire inside MercyOne Genesis emergency room

A Davenport woman is facing charges after authorities alleged she started a fire in the emergency room of a local hospital and is a suspect in several burglaries.

Marissa Cheyanne Padavich, 28, is charged with first-degree arson, a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 25 years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Davenport District Chief Nate Wilson, firefighters and Davenport police officers were sent to MercyOne Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport, at 3:15 p.m. Sunday for a report of a fire.

Padavich is accused of setting a box on fire in the emergency department.

She was identified as the sole occupant of the room where the fire started, and she was seen on security video in the area where the fire started just before she alerted hospital staff about the fire in the room. Padavich also was found to be in possession of a cigarette lighter.

Padavich also is charged with reckless use of fire, a serious misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police officer Benjamin Betsworth, while in the back of the squad car, Padavich removed a lighter from the breast pocket of her hospital gown and tried to ignite a fire in the back of the squad car. She was able to melt a small piece of plastic on the seat belt buckle.

Padavich also is charged with second-degree theft, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police Cpl. Michael Schneider, at 2 a.m. Saturday, Padavich stole a 2015 Honda Grom motorcycle from the front yard of a residence in the 1400 block of South Nevada Avenue.

Padavich also is charged with second-degree attempted burglary.

According to the arrest affidavit filed by Davenport police Cpl. Gordon Morse, officers responded to a home in the 1300 block of West 38th Street at 10 a.m. Saturday to investigate a burglary.

Padavich used her foot to break the basement window and was caught by the resident. Padavich was attempting to enter the basement and had her leg inside. She asked the resident not to call the police and left the area on foot. The resident took the officers to the garage and advised she might be inside the garage. Officers located the stolen Honda motorcycle.

At 4:20 p.m. Saturday, officers then responded to the 1600 block of West 34th Street to investigate a report of a suspicious person.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by officer Betsworth, Padavich was captured on security cameras attempting to enter a garage. The owner confronted her.

Padavich was holding a gasoline can at the time and threw the can at the owner. She is charged with attempted third-degree burglary, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years, and assault causing bodily injury, a serious misdemeanor.

During a first appearance on the charges Monday in Scott County District Court, magistrate Cynthia Taylor scheduled a preliminary hearing for Nov. 26.

Padavich was being held Tuesday morning in the Scott County Jail on cash-only bonds totaling $39,000, set by Taylor.

Padavich is currently on probation until Feb. 1, 2026, in Scott County. She was sentenced during a hearing in Scott County District Court on Feb. 1, 2024, to two years on probation after pleading guilty to the lesser included charge of eluding going more than 25 mph, a Class D felony. She also pleaded guilty to the lesser included charge of operating a motor vehicle without the owner's consent, an aggravated misdemeanor.

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