Timothy Meinch

The timing between the puzzling death of former Des Moines developer Bob Knapp and the devastating fire at the Younkers building downtown is too coincidental not to investigate, according to a state agent investigating the origin of the fire that consumed the vehicle where Knapp's body was found Sunday.

"You don't have to be a rocket scientist to say, 'Hmm, something is weird there,' " said Ron Humphrey with Iowa's State Fire Marshal Division. "I know other agencies are looking into his past (downtown) just to verify if he had any other connections."

Knapp, who owned the historic Equitable Building at 604 Locust St., was released from federal prison March 25 after serving more than two years for improperly handling asbestos during a renovation project on the downtown building. He also owned Suites of 800 Locust, which his children took over until December, when it was sold to a Minnesota-based company.

On Sunday, Knapp, 64, was found dead in rural Guthrie County. His body was in "pretty pristine" condition in the back of a 1994 Honda Accord that was gutted by a fire, according to state investigators. The cause and time of death have not been released, pending toxicology and lab reports on the body.

Knapp had been missing since March 26, when he failed to return to a friend's house, where he was staying. The friend had let Knapp borrow the Accord.

Meanwhile a probe into the origin and nature of the Younkers fire, which broke out early Saturday at 713 Walnut St. in Des Moines, has not ruled anything out.

"We are still very much in the fact-finding phase in this investigation and we have not ruled anything out at this point," said John Ham, spokesman with the investigation team from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

When asked, Ham said he could not say whether Knapp is a part of the Younkers fire investigation because it is ongoing.

"We are actively investigating any credible lead in the case, but I cannot go any more specific than that," Ham said. "We've got people out in the Des Moines area doing interviews and collecting information."