Platte County Prosecutor Found Dead Inside Courthouse; Building Remains Sealed During Investigation
PLATTE CITY, Mo. — Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, 53, was found dead inside the Platte County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon, prompting authorities to immediately close and seal the building as an investigation continues.
The Platte County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Zahnd’s death following a response to the courthouse around 2:15 p.m. Thursday. All employees were sent home, and the building remained closed Friday. Presiding Judge Myles Perry said it is expected to reopen Monday. Officials have not publicly released an official cause or manner of death, though sources told local station KCMO that Zahnd died by suicide inside the courthouse. There is no reported threat to the public.
Zahnd had served as the county’s elected prosecutor since 2002, making him the longest-serving prosecutor in Platte County history and the longest-tenured in the Kansas City metropolitan area. He played a significant role in the passage of Jessica’s Law in Missouri, which imposes life sentences for certain child sex offenses, and was named the state’s Prosecutor of the Year in 2014.
In April, Zahnd announced he would not seek re-election and planned to step down at the end of the year. At the time, he said the job had “brought great joy to my life and also considerable pain along the way.” He cited Missouri’s political climate as a factor in his decision.
Mark Gibson, who served as Zahnd’s first assistant prosecuting attorney for more than two decades, has been named interim prosecuting attorney. Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe called Zahnd’s death “a tremendous loss for Platte County and the entire state,” praising his leadership and dedication to public safety. Attorney General Catherine Hanaway also issued condolences, saying she had known Zahnd for many years and held him in high regard.
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