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A top Missouri prosecutor died inside a county courthouse, reportedly by suicide — forcing investigators to seal the building Friday, according to police.
Platte County Prosecutor Eric Zahnd, 53 — who fought for harsher penalties against child sex offenders — was found dead inside Platte County Courthouse at around 2:15 p.m. Thursday, the local sheriff’s office confirmed, according to FOX 4.
Zahnd, who has served as the county’s lead prosecuting attorney since 2002, played a key role in passing of Jessica’s Law, which puts child rapists behind bars for life.
Officials have not released details about his death but sources told the local station KCMO that Zahnd took his own life inside the courthouse.
The building remained closed Friday.
Zahnd had announced earlier this year that he was not seeking re-election — saying at the time that the job had “brought great joy to my life and also considerable pain along the way.”
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text Crisis Text Line at 741741.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
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