Eric Zahnd, the longest-serving prosecutor in Platte County history, was found dead inside the county courthouse Thursday afternoon, prompting a law-enforcement response and closure of the building. Zahnd had led the prosecutor's office since 2002 and was just months from stepping down after a career that spanned nearly a quarter century.
The Platte County Courthouse closed shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday as law enforcement responded to an incident inside, according to KCTV5. The Platte County Sheriff's Office said a death investigation was underway at the courthouse for Zahnd, and authorities emphasized there was no threat to the public. Sheriff Erik Holland confirmed to the Kansas City Star that Zahnd was found dead inside the courthouse, though Zahnd's cause of death had not yet been determined as of Thursday, per Holland.
Zahnd was first elected Platte County prosecuting attorney in 2002, and county records list him as the longest-serving prosecutor in the office's history. According to the Platte County government website, his office of fifteen attorneys and fourteen staff members handled thousands of cases each year, and Zahnd was named Missouri's Prosecutor of the Year in 2014. The county's official biography also credits him with helping push the Missouri Legislature to pass Jessica's Law in 2006.
A Retirement Already in Motion
Zahnd had already set his departure from office in motion before Thursday. He withdrew from the primary minutes before the filing deadline in April, and the timing set off an immediate scramble: just one minute later, his longtime first assistant prosecutor, Mark Gibson, filed to run for the seat, according to the Platte County Citizen. Zahnd told the outlet at the time, “It's high time for me to pass the baton to Mark Gibson on December 31,” signaling he intended to remain in office only until his current term expired at year's end.
Gibson, who had served in the prosecutor's office for 22 years, had said he hoped to retain Zahnd in a part-time role after his retirement, per the same account. But Gibson's own candidacy did not last. State Sen. Tony Luetkemeyer, a two-term legislator from District 34 who served as Missouri Senate majority floor leader and previously chaired the Senate Judiciary Committee, ended up as the only name on the ballot for the office after Gibson withdrew and no Democrat filed to run, the Platte County Citizen reported.
Investigation Remains Open
The circumstances surrounding Zahnd's death had not been publicly detailed as of Thursday evening. Authorities have not said what led investigators to the courthouse or established a timeline beyond the closure that began shortly after 2 p.m. The Kansas City Star reported that Sheriff Holland confirmed the death and described the story as developing, saying it would be updated as more information becomes available.
