Eric Zahnd, the longtime prosecuting attorney of Platte County, Missouri , died Thursday at the age of 53. His death took place inside the Platte County courthouse, Sheriff Erik Holland confirmed. The circumstances of the death are unclear, but an investigation is underway.
The courthouse was closed at 2:15pm CDT as the sheriff’s deputies conducted an investigation. As of this writing, a cause of death of the 53-year-old has not been revealed. Eric Zahnd has been serving as the Prosecuting Attorney for Platte County since 2002 – the longest in the county’s history.
This story is being updated.
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway mourned Eric Zahnd as a “true patriot” and called him someone who “cared deeply about his community. It is unclear if the courthouse has since opened. “I have known Eric for many years and have always held him in the highest regard. Eric was a true patriot, a person of remarkable character and integrity, and a public servant who cared deeply about his community,” Hanaway wrote.
He was slated to retire in April after announcing earlier that he will not be seeking reelection.
