Longtime Missouri prosecutor dies at county courthouse; cause not released
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PLATTE CITY, Mo. — A longtime Missouri prosecutor who helped shape several state criminal laws has died at age 53.
Platte County Prosecuting Attorney Eric Zahnd died Thursday at the county courthouse in Platte City, north of Kansas City.
Authorities said there was no threat to the public when they closed the courthouse to investigate. A cause of death has not been publicly released.
Zahnd had served as Platte County prosecutor since 2003 and was the longest-serving elected prosecutor in the Kansas City metro.
He had announced plans to retire at the end of this year.
During more than two decades in office, Zahnd was involved in efforts to strengthen Missouri laws involving child sex crimes, repeat drunken drivers and other serious offenses.
He was named Missouri Prosecutor of the Year in 2014 and previously served as president of the Missouri Association of Prosecuting Attorneys.
