Overview
- Law enforcement found Eric Zahnd dead inside the Platte County Courthouse and deputies launched an on-site death investigation that closed the building on Thursday.
- Authorities have not released a cause of death and the local probe remains active with limited public detail to protect investigative integrity.
- The Missouri State Highway Patrol says its Drug and Crime Control division received a June 15 request from the Platte County Sheriff to investigate criminal allegations against Zahnd and that the inquiry is still active.
- The Platte County Sheriff’s Office, through Capt. Jeffrey Shanks, said it was unaware of any referral to the MSHP or of a county criminal investigation, creating a direct dispute with the state police account.
- Zahnd, who led the county prosecutor’s office since 2002 and had announced his retirement for the end of 2026, drew public condolences and leaves questions about case handling and the office’s transition to his endorsed successor, Mark Gibson.