MSHP: 'Active, ongoing' investigation of Eric Zahnd at time of death

Eric Zahnd was 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. And while we would prefer to grieve in private, we recognize Eric was a public figure. The tragedy of his passing is not only shared by his many admirers but also exploited by those who opportunistically use the occasion to damage his stellar reputation.

We are grateful to so many who have expressed their admiration for Eric’s accomplishments as a leader in justice. We deeply appreciate the leaders from all over Missouri and Kansas City who have taken the time in this awful moment to reach out and reflect on Eric’s character and integrity. We also appreciate the media whose work has helped remind us all of Eric’s accomplishments and his legacy of building a better world in the justice system in Platte County, in the KC metro, and in Missouri. Eric truly was a champion of the most vulnerable.

Eric paid a great cost for his accomplishments. 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 accumulated wounds of over two decades of service left their mark.

In recent months, Eric began to get the help he needed in assessing the toll his life’s work took on his mental health. We were so glad that he did, although it was humbling to acknowledge the challenge. Knowing he now shared what so many in America’s law enforcement, emergency responders, and military communities face, Eric had started to lay out a plan to help himself and others get the help they need. But he also knew he would have to change his vocation. In quiet conversations with family, colleagues, and close friends, Eric decided to close the chapter of his life serving as Platte County Prosecuting Attorney. He was choosing the moment to explain why and how he wanted to help lead in a new way. When he made that decision, Eric noted that while the “job had] brought great joy to [his] life,” it had also been accompanied by “considerable pain.”

Recent news has referenced an investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MHSP), offering no context and understandably causing many to speculate Eric may have been facing criminal prosecution and that these circumstances were the cause of his death. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Eric made a mistake and used his official county email to indicate that he would not support the reelection of a candidate. It was a mistake. We know in full health Eric would never have made that error. In the rough world of politics and government leadership, some wanted to exploit a mistake by a good man. We hope that controversy may be ended, and that our family may be allowed to grieve in peace.

We, therefore, call on the MSHP to clarify its statements. We are confident the MSHP will confirm what we believe—that the bulk of this “ongoing investigation” relates to allegations of the wrongful use of a county email address in connection with an ongoing political dispute. We hope that clarification will end the rumors and speculation that place undue condemnation on a dedicated public servant.

Finally, as Eric’s family, we hope all of us—leaders, public servants, and fellow citizens—see this story and take this moment to reflect. Leadership is never easy, especially in justice and law enforcement. Criticism has its rightful place. So does commendation and celebration. So does grace.
We pray that you remember Eric for who he was and the values he stood for.

He fought a war on a battlefield where every victory hurts. He fought these battles so the rest of us would never have to and so the world could be a better place.

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.