Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd, the longest-serving prosecutor in county history, died Sept. 17 at the Platte County Courthouse. He was 58.
The Platte County Courthouse was cleared and closed around 2:15 p.m. that afternoon as the Sheriff’s Office conducted a death investigation, according to authorities. No information about the cause or circumstances of Zahnd’s death have been released. Authorities said there was no threat to the public.
Capt. Jeff Shanks of the Platte County Sheriff’s Office told The Landmark this week that the cause of death will be determined by the medical examiner’s office. He said there is no timeline for when that determination may be made.
In a statement released following his death, Zahnd’s family described him as “a loving husband and father and a great friend and colleague to so many.”
“Losing Eric has been a staggering blow and our hearts are shattered,” the family said.
The family said Zahnd had recently begun seeking help for the effects that more than two decades of prosecuting criminal cases had taken on his mental health.
“Every case carried a solemn responsibility to pursue justice and it meant sharing in the pain of victims, wading through images, evidence and testimony that seared the heart,” the statement said. “The accumulated wounds of over two decades of service left their mark.”
According to the family, Zahnd had begun developing a plan to help himself and others facing similar mental health challenges, particularly those working in law enforcement, emergency response and the military. He also had concluded that he needed to change vocations.
Zahnd announced in April that he would retire when his current term ended Dec. 31, saying it was the right time to turn over the office after what would have been 24 years as prosecutor.
“This job has brought great joy to my life and also considerable pain along the way. It’s high time for me to pass the baton,” Zahnd said when announcing his retirement.
The family’s statement also addressed an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol that had been referenced in news reports, saying the lack of publicly released context had led to speculation that Zahnd faced possible criminal prosecution.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” the family said.
According to the statement, Zahnd had used his official county email account to indicate that he would not support a candidate’s reelection. His family characterized the matter as a mistake involving the use of a government email account in a political dispute and called on the Highway Patrol to clarify the scope of its investigation.
“We hope that clarification will end the rumors and speculation that place undue condemnation on a dedicated public servant,” the statement said.
Zahnd was elected in November 2002 and took office in January 2003. He was the longest-tenured elected prosecutor serving in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
Zahnd prosecuted some of Platte County’s most serious criminal cases and was involved in efforts to change Missouri criminal law.
In 2006, he pushed for passage of Jessica’s Law, which imposed tougher sentences for child sex offenders. He later wrote a proposed Missouri constitutional amendment allowing juries to hear evidence of prior criminal acts by repeat child sex offenders and chaired the effort that led to its passage in 2014.
Zahnd also helped write legislation increasing penalties for repeat drunken drivers and a 2009 law requiring law enforcement officers to record interrogations of suspects in dangerous felony cases.
The family said it was grateful for those who had reflected on Zahnd’s character, integrity and work in the justice system, describing him as “a champion of the most vulnerable.”
“We pray that you remember Eric for who he was and the values he stood for,” the family said. “We ask you for your respect, prayers and space so that we may mourn a devoted husband, admired father, loved brother and a truly decent man.”
